JohnD1956

Brian, Don't know how I missed this way back but just had to say WOW! That is one sweet package you got there. The part I like the best though is the dashboard. I always thought it was one of the best styles Buick manufactured. There is so much character and definition. My 56 is rather plain and lackluster compared to your car. Good luck. and NICE WORK!!!

Still looking for those pics Gomer?

It would be nice to have a Riviera like this. I do wonder however, how recent those pictures were taken? Was this car in a part of Florida that flooded with tropical storm Fay this year?

$3,500!!!!! That Riviera is worth a look see....Damn, White bucket seat interior too.

I'm sure you already thought of this but did you check your spark plug wires for leakage? I would remove the shield if it's installed and then move the car outside to a dark area, and idle it at night while you observe the wires for a leak. You may notice sparks right at the plug , in which case I would put some silicone grease on the plug just around the area under the tip and then install the wires again.

Interesting article. Glad to see that something's gonna happen in flint, even if this will be: " Wagoner said the $370-million plant will become "GM's most flexible, <span style="text-decoration: underline">highly automated </span>engine plant in the world." Also interesting comments attached to the article by the local peanut gallery. I was especially drawn to the one by Miasma: " No, you don't have to thank the UAW -- they were good, decent, hard working people who tried to enjoy a middle class life. How presumptuous of them to try and overstep their caste! Support companies with good governance, fair labor practices and R&D that doesn't hinge on a quarterly report. This is the REAL reason GM failed -- shortsightedness in strategy because of pursuit of the almighty dividend for the almighty shareholder. Besides, why worry about the company's health 10 years from now when you, super exec, will be out with your golden parachute in 5, and on to your next corporate conquest?"

Other than at the forum breakfast, and the Heritage tour, and the concert, and the car show, and the swap meet, and the hospitality suite, and the lunch at the food vendors, and the General Membership meeting, and the Chapter Director's meeting, and pushing that 55 off the I 475 overpass just before the beginning of the fireworks, and washing my car in the parking lot, I didn't meet anyone new. Where was everyone else?

I can certainly wait. I just want to have one for a spare in case it is needed later on. Tell me about these bronze castings? I thought I recalled hearing about someone getting a set of them ages ago. What do these look like?

A few interesting finds from the Albany section: 51 Roadmaster 61 Lesabre convertible.

Hey Paul, I would be interested in that master cylinder, and it is not that hard to get out, if you don't mind working under the steering column. Everything but the brake line is bolted from inside through the floor. Crimp and cut the brake line and then unbolt the pedal, and pull the carpet back, there's just 4 bolts holding it in. Equally important however are the rear bumper "J" bars. These are the lower chrome wraparounds just over the exhaust tips. You don't happen to have a set of these with little or no rust, do you?

Have you considered changing your name to Mr.Lucky Guy? Yopu are certainly living the good life surrounded by that family and that collection.

I think you'll find that the power brakes are not a bolt in operation. Your 55 has a pedal that goes through the floor boards directly. The 56 has a rod that goes through the toeboard but that rod is attached to a hanging brake pedal. I thought the 55 master cylinder is actually under thye drivers side floor board, but the 56 is cramped down in that general area in front of the cowl. So to get it in will require some modification. Has anyone sanded the brake shoes yet? I'd give this a try to see if that improved the manual brakes.

Nice wagon Dyna. I don't think I've seen this color on one before. I've had several of these wagons over the years, some great, some not so good. I hope your's is a great one. I don't have a lead on the inner panels but I'd suggest Desert Dog Auto Parts. This place is in Arizona. Here's their web site: Desert Dog Auto Parts

Good point Zonda. I have seen some of those pushing a ton of smoke.

As i understand it, you will never notice blue smoke from the combustion process due to the fumes being burned in the catalytic converter. Were it me, depending on how far it is torn down, I would replace the vale guide seals anyway, and new valve cover gaskets and then check the front and rear main seals. Note, this engine might have an external oil pump attached to the lower passengers side corner of the timing chain cover. Check to see if that gasket is leaking as well. If the pump is not there then you have the oil pump gears inside the cover behind the crank but the oil filter housing will be attached to the lower right side of the timing chain cover anyway.

Wow! That tale of the Dragon course is something else. I would not want to be on it in my 56 Super.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> JohnD1956 - what kind of voltage reading would be normal using your negative battery terminal test? </div></div> I see John 390 said this simple draw test ought to be done with an amp meter. I imagine an amp meter would work better, but I did it with a volt meter as that's all I have available. If everything is off, then you should not have any draw ( 0 volts) in this test I mentioned. I figure with the ignition off the only things drawing volts would be the clock if it works, and the courtesy lights ( including trunk or glove box). So you may have to pull that fuse. I also figure most things would draw 12 volts, although each item probably draws a different amount of amps, so an amp meter might make it easier to see the level of the draw if there is one at all. As I said, with every thing off, my car did have a 7 volt draw which disappeared when I disconnected the voltage regulator. I also had 0 voltage draw after I put on my spare voltage regulator.

You did good. you have the vehicle and everything in writing and the seller has motivation to bring the deal to conclusion by providing clear title. Couldn't ask for more in my opinion, but I'm not a lawyer. Still I'd be comfortable with all of this.

Keep listening to Suzanne on this one. I'm not a 4 dr fan but that car has a lot of style!

Your friend was lucky indeed. I'm sure we've all seen situations which looked impossible but turned out well. 4 years ago or so, we were sitting on a 4 lane road which was blocked on our side by a full sized work van trying to make a left turn in front of us. As we sat there for a few seconds the lane on my left in our direction was also blocked by the van but there were no cars as far back as about 50 yards to the turn in the road. Along comes a Saturn and it appeared they never even slowed down, untill they hit the van broadside. This happened litterally along side our car. It looked to me like the wheels of the Saturn actually came off the ground. The hood was smashed like an accordian. A second later the driver and her young son emerged covered in the powder of the airbag. Maybe a 50's car would have plowed through that van? But I still think if that were me I'd appreciate having an airbag.

Lovin the convenience of having all your stuff in one place? I know if my stuff was spread out all over I'd never get to working on anything. The Roadmaster looks good. Nice windows.

As for safety, all things are relative. Put the front end of a 50's car up against the plastic of todays cars and you're sure to see much more damage on the newer vehicle. But safety of the occupants is another story. Several years ago someone showed me a book that was a pictorial of auto accidents in the 50's in California. This was a real shocker to me. When you put a 50's car against a tree or another 50's car the destruction is unbelievable. Further this particular book was compiled by someone who was a newspaper photogopher and many of the pictures included the victims of this devastation. I could not even finish the book it was that gruesome. And if I could recall its name I'd pass it on to those who think 50's cars are safer than todays cars. I immediately ordered seat belts for my 56 and hardly drove it till I got them in. I know they are not a substitute for airbags and crush zones but at least they would hopefully keep you in the drivers seat, unlike the one poor soul who exited via the drivers side window coming to rest sandwiched under the hood against the engine of the 48 Buick he was driving.

Our thoughts are with them...

Nice 56 Inga. would like to se a pic of your home-made radio console. What size speakers did you put under the front seat, and how did you mount them? Can they be heard clearly?

2 or 4 door, and any pictures?