JohnD1956

Are you saying the speedometer, tach, gas guage and temp guage don't work, or that backlighting for nightdriving doesn't work?

Since purchase of the Wagon I have known it needed sparkplug wires. But I put it off for one reason or another. Then Wednesday the speedometer cable broke and Thursday we had torrential rains all day where upon the car was missing so bad I thought I would be stalling in traffic. So Friday I picked up some parts and had at it this AM. I pulled the speedometer cable between the transmission and the cruise control transducer and found the end snapped off in the transducer. The cable itself is a breeze to do, the end was a bit of a challenge, or so I thought. Upon removal of the cable the broken cable piece would not come out. So I decided I had to get the gear out to extract the broken piece. Two screws hold the unit in the car, two screws hold the unit together, one teeny tiny screw holds the torsion spring in place inside the unit. Guess which screw I dropped. I spent an hour looking for that screw in an ever widening circle but I was not successful. With rain predicted I figured I 'd better tackle the wires and then go back to it. The wires were easy, and this time I remembered to put the longer wires on plugs #2 and 6, because while they look closer than #4 and 8 respectively, the wires have to travel further at the cap. And just as I was finishing that, my son Andrew comes out the door and I stopped him. I described the teensy screw, and he looked straight down at the ground between us and said there it is. So now the Wagon runs like a new car. No more cross fireing and I can even use regular gas again. And the cruise works and everything. What a Buickful day! Here's a pic from a few weeks ago this spring, after I polished it. Still needs work but it runs like a Buick should.

Where are you and how far and wide are you willing to travel? I know of one for sale and can put you in touch with the owner.

Can you provide some details then? 2 or 4 door? optional equipment? ( A/C, power options etc.) Color combination

Thanks for the response. I'll pass on this opportunity.

Sweet ladies you got there John. You're a lucky guy!

Beautiful Bill! Looks like a really top notch job!

Is this car a stick shift or an automatic transmission?

In the words of the infamous Mr. Earl, My GAWD, 4 ongoing restorations being documented side by side! How much better can this possibly get?

Good luck. If they exist in that condition I'd be surprised.

Cool purchase. Love the Buick and the Olds looks like a solid car. My pop always had Buicks till one day he bought a new 60 Olds Flatop 4 dr Ninety Eight. Man that 394 had some power. Dad would load all six kids and mom on a Saturday night and take us to the ice cream stand. On one deserted stretch of road he's always light the rear tires. My brothers went crazy for this and thought the 60 Olds was king of the hill, especially over the 55 Special 4 dr. with the stick shift that Dad had just given to my Aunt. Wasn't too long before I couldn't tell if the smoke back there was from the tires or the exhaust pipes as it became a real oil burner within a few short years. But it always could rip those tires up no matter how much it smoked. Later my brother tried to kill the Buick so he could drive the 98. But the damned thing would not die. Luckilly for me though, as that's what I used to learn how to drive a stick shift. Nice cars!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: special55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey Ken, I've been following your car on your other posts.... I'll be whatching your progress as you move along. Rich </div></div> Hope you two don't mind but I'll be watching too. To see two of these documented side by side restorations will very interesting indeed!

I agree with Mark. Although I would like to mention that of the few National and Regional Meets I have attended, it seems we always wind up driving at least one day in the rain.

bump

Just for reference, the 56' manual says: 1- to tighten spindle nut with a <span style="text-decoration: underline">10 inch </span>wrench till bearings are preloaded one hex. 2- then spin the wheel one revolution to seat the bearings. 3- Then back off the nut till the bearing is slightly loose. 4- retighten just enough to remove looseness. 5- line up nut to nearest cotterpin hole Caution: bearing preload <span style="text-decoration: underline">must not </span>exceed 1/12 turn of the spindle nut. The underlines parts are my edits for emphasis. What's implied is the step between 2 and 3, if the rotation of the wheel results in bearing looseness, and would most likely say to return to step 1 if that happens. Meanwhile I agree with the potential for a race being out of round. What suggestions are there for a drift when installing races? I look for a socket that matches the edge of the race, but I hate tapping these things into place.

Hey, I didn't name anyone. However I'm certain you would like to meet anyone who was enthusiastic about Buicks too.

The full sized body is unmistakeable. It's definitely rought though.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gary_N</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ah John, aren't you married? </div></div> Yes Gary, I am married. But I was not refering to myself in that post. Yet I'd still like to meet Terry. She seems like she likes Buicks. I like meeting all people who appreciate the quality of a Buick.

Which engine is this and what's the milage? I'm thnking timing chain here.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrEarl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.. Maybe even to the point of introducing you to Terry some day...... </div></div> Oh man! you trying to tick off a certain Buffalo area member?

Wow! What a car! I'd be interested in what you get for gas milage around town and on the highways. Run a few tanks of gas through first though. Keep her nice and clean. Beautiful!

I have had this happen occasionally on our 06 La Crosse. I suspect it is the automatic headlight switch and sensor going through a reset function, but I don't know that for certain. If the headlights come on then the dash display would dim. The car thinks it is night time. Is there something covering the black dot on top of the dash towards the middle of the car? Could also be moisture within that sensor although I don't know how it would have gotten moisture in it. Next time it happens try turning the headlights off right away and see if the dash display comes back up to normal. This may help the dealer diagnose the situation.

I would suspect the left front brake failing to release, or is adjusted tighter than the right side. Next suspicion would be the right rear parking brake sticking.

Adam, you are brave putting those heavy parts on that pool table. But the red background really makes the units pop.

Yes Bob, that's the way it should be done. Except isn't it a shame that you can't comment on condition?