JohnD1956

Welcome to the world of Buicks, and this forum. I think your car is a Special, as usually the Specials are the 40 series cars. In 42 there was a 40 A series and a 40 B series. The A series had a 118 wheelbase while the B series had a 121 Wheelbase. There is the Super series ( 50 Series) and Roadmasters ( 70 series) too but your Style # indicates you have the Special Series. The style # you show seems to not exist ( as per the standard catalogue of Buicks). The 2 dr cars would be model: A series: 42-44 2 dr Utility coupe 3 pass. or 42-48 2 dr business sedanette B series: 42-46 2 dr2 dr Business Sedanette 3 pass or 42-46S 2 dr family sedanteet, or a 42-46SSE which is a 2 dr Family Sedanette Super Equiped The 42-46S has the largest number produced, at 11K, the others are pretty low number cars. Of course 42 production was halted mid year and any of these in good condition is very rare. What parts are you looking for?

try closing it again and then lifting it by the handle while opening. I'm thinking the hinge pins are worn out.

Hi 56. I did not read where you tried changing the bulbs in the dash lights. My dash bulbs for the signals are difficult to see during the day but readilly show up after dark. Also, since your odometer works it's safe to say the speedometer cable is working. But I don't know the fix for the speedometer drum. Seems there should be a spring in there somewhere which would hold tension on the drum to prevent it from spinning. Perhaps it's anchor broke? As for the gas guage, if it works at all I'd suggest making sure the battery is fully charged. Mine is also eratic, but it's been much better since I put in the new battery late last summer. I noticed with the old battery that if I used the car without charging the battery first I'd get consistently low tank readings, even though I knew I had put gas in it. But charge the battery up and then use it, it would read correctly. Now with the new battery Willie suggested, that's not a problem any more.

These Rivs are nice, and maybe someday I'd consider one, but for a kid graduating high school, I'd be more inclined to look for an 89 - 90 Lesabre two door or a 92-94 2 dr Regal Gran Sport. I think you'd find parts just a tad less expensive and also less exotic, while still stylish. ps: how's the 46? Bill ( with the 41) just sold the car this spring. Sad to see it go.

Great color combo Pete. Are those wipers the same as the 56, with the dual switch for wide and fast as well as off and on?

Rob, great pics! The Electra looks fabulous. I also liked that 69 Electra except for the wide whitewalls. That just does not mesh well. Why do some people insist on putting wide whites on everything prior to 70?

Isn't that something, 16 years I didn't even realize that.

Doug, didn't the 87 Electra T Type have a higher final drive ration too. A 2.97 vs the stock drive ratio of 2.78? I thought that's what the Standard Catalog of Buicks said.

Did you check the Riv site below? I think this is a common problem and they probably know what it will cost to fix it.

As far as I know, there is only one choke stove pipe, from the exhaust manifold to the choke spring housing.

Hey there Mike. Nice looking 56. I like the way the wheels push the tires out to the edge of the wheel opening. Gives it a meaner stance.

Nice quick read in that article. Damn shame about the plant.

Nothing wrong with that Dan. Her Skylark ought to be a ton of fun too.

hi back at ya.

I don't know the engineering answer but I suspect you can figure this out by asking yourself how you felt about the engine before you tore it down. Did you have enough power before the tear down? How about oil burning? knocking? blowby oil leaks? It would seem if you did not bore it out you'd have all the same issues after the rebuild as before.

another thing to consider is the wheel opening. The Oldsmobiles have full openings, where as the Buick has half wheel openings. Since the inner housing meets the outer body at thwe wheel opening this part is critical. I like old Yellers idea of patching what you have with new, if you can.

How convenient, a portable tracheotomy?

Hey Ed, welcome to the Forums. As for the water pumpp bolts, assuming you mean the short small ones, I just went to the hardware store and bought stainless steel ones out of the rack. I can't recall the size but think i t was 5/16th, and I matched the length up to one of the existing bolts. As for the inner wheel housing, this is for the hardtop, correct? I believe the convertible and hardtop are different.

The 91 Park Ave was the new body style. I thought the 91 Lesabre was too, but I must be wrong. I know the 92 Lesabre was the same body style as the Park Ave and that makes me wonder if there was a CD available for the 91 Lesabre?

You would not believe the vacuum lines in the 69 Electra I had. Vacuum door locks looked like 2 miles worth alone, then there was the vacuum trunk, cruise control and the automatic A/C. Good lord, I felt sorry for those who had to install all that stuff.

Cool place! Hope the 63 is not a leaker on that nice new floor. Good luck with it....

Well, if not for anything else but assurance, it would not hurt to throw a gallon or two in and see what happens. I ran out just last year while thinking I had a full tank when I was scraping the bottom.

If you haven't done the other side yet I'd add that you might want to measure the length of the spring once it's out of the frame, and before removing the compressors. That way you know how far to compress the new ones when you put it back together.

Unless it's empty. It may sound stupid but I can't tell you the number of times I ran out of gas in my 56.

Have you visually inspected the fuel line? Perhaps it is rusted and developed a hole when it was blown out?