JohnD1956

Hey Mark, I was thinking you have a good idea there, but let me ask for clarification. Just how "warm" do you think the engine should be on the day you try to remove the bolts?

Hey Rooster, I'm having a bit of trouble orienting myself in that picture. Is this the crossover pipe under the oil pan area? I know that by 56 Buick may have made substantial changes but on my 56 the exhaust butterfly is in the passengers side exhaust manifold, not the drivers side. Of course the 56 has duel exhaust so that may have no bearing on your car, but I've never seen a butterfly valve like the one in your picture. Anyway, on the 56's you can look at the slot for the thermostatic spring of the valve. The valve follows the slot, which means if it is paralell to the pipe then it's open, if perpendicular, then the butterfly is closed.

Okay, I'll show my ignorance. What's the Pickens Plan?

Anyone interested in joining, here's the plan: <span style="font-weight: bold">From:1631 Central Avenue, Albany 12205, New York To:792 Mentor Avenue, Painesville 44077, Ohio Total Distance:468.5 miles (754.0km) Total Estimated Time:7 hrs., 1mins</span>. Directions Depart July 15th 9-9:15 from 1631 Central Avenue, Albany 12205, New York (The Comfort Inn) to Vestal,New York. Distance:141.6 miles (227.9km) 1.Start out heading SOUTHEAST on CENTRAL AVENUE towards Rt 87 Drive for 0.6 miles. 2.Turn SLIGHT RIGHT to get on I87 S towards NEW YORK THRUWAY. Drive for 0.8 miles. 3.Take exit number 1 towards I90 W / NEW YORK THRUWAY / BUFFALO. W. Drive for 10.5 miles. 4.Take exit number 25A to get on I88 W towards / BINGHAMTON / 5. Pick up travelers at 1st exit area. 6) Drive for 117.6 miles. NOTE: 5-10 min stops at the two rest areas provided. Ist one is just west of cobleskill. 7.In binghamton, Go STRAIGHT on I81 S. Drive for 1.4 miles. 8.Take RT17 W towards OWEGO / ELMIRA. Drive for 7.9 miles. 9.Take exit number 67S to get on RT 26S towards VESTAL / RT434. Drive for 0.5 miles. 10.Take RT434 W towards RT434 / VESTAL. 11.Arrive Applebees Restaurant around 11:45 AM for lunch. 12.Optional refuel as required. Depart Vestal between 12:45 and 1 PM , to 792 Mentor Avenue, Painesville 44077, Ohio Distance:326.9 miles (526.1km) 13.Head west on RT434.Drive for 5.4 miles. 14.Turn RIGHT onto VALLEY VIEW DRIVE. Drive for 0.1 miles. 15.Take LEFT RT86 (former Rt17) W. Drive for 236.8 miles. 16 Take exit number 1A to get on I90 W towards ERIE. Drive for 79.5 miles. 17.Take exit number 200 towards OH44/CHARDON/PAINESVILLE. Drive for 0.2 miles. 18.Turn RIGHT to get on OH44 N. Drive for 1.4 miles. 19.Take exit towards OH84/MENTOR/US20/PAINESVILLE. Drive for 0.3 miles. 20.Turn RIGHT onto OH84.Drive for a short distance. 21.Turn LEFT onto CHESTNUT STREET. Drive for 1.3 miles. 22.Turn LEFT onto MENTOR AVENUE. Drive for a short distance. 23.You have reached 792 Mentor Avenue, Painesville 44077, Ohio <span style="font-weight: bold">Wednesday July 16th depart Riders Inn between 9:30 and 10 AM: 792 Mentor Avenue, Painesville 44077, Ohio to 1221 E Kearsley Street, Flint 48503, Michigan Distance:250.2 miles (402.6km)Total Estimated Time:3 hrs., 51mins</span> Directions: 1.Start out heading SOUTHWEST on MENTOR AVENUE towards NEWELL STREET. Drive for 0.2 miles. 2.Turn RIGHT onto ORCHARD GROVE. Drive for 0.1 miles. 3.Turn LEFT onto W JACKSON STREET. Drive for 0.3 miles. 4.Turn RIGHT to get on OH44 N towards CLEVELAND/OH2/FAIRPORT HARBOR. Drive for 0.9 miles. 5.Take OH2 W towards OH2W/OH44 N /CLEVELAND. Drive for 25.1 miles. 6.Keep SLIGHT LEFT at the fork towards I90W. Drive for 3.2 miles. 7.Stay SLIGHT RIGHT on I90 W heading towards TOLEDO. Drive for 110.1 miles. 8.Take exit number 59 towards US20/I 475/US23.Drive for 0.4 miles. 9.Keep SLIGHT RIGHT at the fork towards ramp towards I80/I90W /CHICAGO. Drive for a short distance. 10.Keep SLIGHT RIGHT at the fork towards ramp. Drive for 0.2 miles. 11.Keep SLIGHT RIGHT at the fork towards ramp towards US20S/I475/I75/US23. Drive for 0.2 miles. 12.Go STRAIGHT on REYNOLDS ROAD S. Drive for 0.2 miles. 13.Turn RIGHT onto W DUSSEL DRIVE. Drive for 1.4 miles. 14.Turn RIGHT to get on I475 N towards I475 N/US23 N /ANN ARBOR. Drive for 7 miles. 15.Go STRAIGHT on US23N. Drive for 94.2 miles. 16.Take exit number 117A towards I69/LANSING/PORT HURON. Drive for 0.2 miles. 17.Keep SLIGHT RIGHT at the fork towards ramp towards I69E/I69 W/LANSING/FLINT/PORT HURON. Drive for 0.2 miles. 18.Turn SLIGHT RIGHT to get on I69 E towards FLINT/PORT HURON. Drive for 2.6 miles. 19.Take exit number 136 towards SAGINAW ST/DOWNTOWN. Drive for 0.2 miles. 20.Go STRAIGHT on W 9TH STREET. Drive for 0.2 miles. 21.Turn LEFT onto S SAGINAW STREET. Drive for 0.3 miles. 22.Turn RIGHT onto E 5TH STREET. Drive for 0.3 miles. 23.Turn LEFT onto M21W. Drive for 0.1 miles. 24.Go STRAIGHT on NB CHAVEZ DRIVE. Drive for 0.4 miles. 25.Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto E KEARSLEY STREET. Drive for 0.4 miles. 26.You have reached THE BCA NATIONAL MEET 08 at : 1221 E Kearsley Street, Flint 48503, Michigan Anyone along the way, who would like to drive with us is invited. Please make your best time estimate.

Wow! What a great looking car! Can't say I've ever seen one that color. But I bet it's stunning when cleaned and polished. Good luck with it.

Welcome to the forum. you'll find lots of friends here.

That blaster is good stuff. If any part of the studs are visible past the nut, you may want to try a dremmel with a wire brush to clean up the exposed threads before trying to loosen any nuts. Of course these things wear out really fast so it may pay to start with a larger wire brush on your drill. Are you in a rush to get this done or can you let the blaster soak for a week?

Wow! Now that's a car Buick should have made originally. Beautiful job. good luck

Well, I'm still not convinced the pertronix is needed for my cars. I had one set of points on my 56 from 1988 to 2003, and I only changed them because I was going to the centennial meet. The car still starts and runs nice everytime I use it with the set of points I bought in 2003. And the points I put in my GS have been there since 2004, with 7500 miles on them, and that car still runs great too. So I think I'll just stay with the original set-up, especially since the economy and gasoline price situation result in even less use of the cars.

Welcome to the BCA and this forum Rich. My condolences on the passing of your Dad. Not much is sadder. But please feel free to check in here daily for help and assistance. First of all, what are the symptoms that make you question the integrity of the gaskets already in place? Is the manifold cracked? of are there driveability issues?

I didn't know it wasn't a high energy ignition system. Does this eliminate the need for the mechanical and/or the vacuum advance units?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bhigdog</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Or you can put a Pertronics unit in and never change points or worry about cam wear again......Bob </div></div> Hmmmn, Pertronics. I think I heard of that before. Lets see, maybe when I wear out the 2003 set of points I have in both my 56 and my GS, I'll consider one of those. Or maybe not. I don't like the stories where the units drop dead leaving people stranded. And I really think the advice to carry a set of points and condenser with you in the event the unit breaks means there's not much point in putting one of these in in the first place. Unless, Have any users documented improvement in gas milage with the Pertronix or similar high energy ignition??

I'd hate to see the line die. If it does, then do you think our cars will increase in value? Even though my LaCrosse is a 4 dr car and I still like it a lot, I also agree. Here's a version of that age old definition of insanity : Continuing to produce 4 dr cars that don't attract wide attention and yet expecting them to do so. The thing is I think our LaCrosse is every bit as good as anything else produced today. Not perfect, but still an excellent car. But I still hear others who cling to foreign made brands as if they are the only manufacturers who care about quality. I find it hard to believe that GM Marketing cannot convince people otherwise!

Take the money. It would be a mistake to assume that an unknown antique is worth more than the cash. And I agree with all others. Tell them to just send the check, no direct deposit or anything like that either. good old fashioned "antique like" checks...drawn on an American Bank.

I put it together dry and it seems to work really good. Before there was a lot of greasy dirt built up on them but they cleaned up nicely and the posts they pivot on appeared to be in good condition too. Those flat rubber pads you mention are what I called the "buttons" in the first post. They are still there. And the car seems to start easier plus has a bit more pep than it did. When I go for new points I will definitely use that cam grease.

According to their website, you can send an e mail request to : clerk@ci.berkeley.ca.us <clerk@ci.berkeley.ca.us> Here in NY those records are kept by the County Clerks office, not the individual city clerk, and I do not know if California is the same. And if so, what County Berkley would be in either?

Would anyone know if the weights of the mechanical advance should be lubricated when installed? My 69's manual does not say so but there was definitely grease on there when I cleaned them up today. Thanks for your help

How great is this? Breakfast and then an after hours party...Sure glad we're making this event! Please be sure to let us know what we can bring, or if we can kick in for a keg or something... Man, can't wait!

Where do we get directions to the party site? AND more importantly, what can we bring?

Have you tried giggling the shift or moving it to Neutral to see if it starts?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: serb</div><div class="ubbcode-body">John and JD, ... When you get there, you will probably find me enjoying a libation or two or maybe three in the cocktail lounge.... See ya there. Stevo</div></div> Sweet biscuits, save some for us too...

According to that description, and the pics, that's quite a deal Mike. Congratulations!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buick5563</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK, that's just creepy. Mike </div></div> It would be really creepy to have that car sitting in the garage for 10K knowing two people died in it, regardless of their fame and notariety.

That's a good idea.

Only using visual information from a 38, I believe the oil escapes the rocker arm via one or two small holes in the rocker shaft, just above the keepers on the valve springs. If you really have no oil at the valves then I'd pull the rocker arm and take it apart to try to clean it all internally. If you hae no oil at the rocker arm itself then that's a different story and I don't know what to suggest.