JohnD1956

I think I missed your return E mail. Are you still selling these parts? Do you have any pictures yet? JohnD jld1972@empireone.net

Better late than never... Happy Thanksgiving to all, from Schenectady NY.. JohnD 3757

I don't recall that intersection from the Centenial meet. Actually, Linda and I really like Flint. It seems so , relaxed... The people really seems approachable when we were out there. As a matter of fact, we really like just about everything we ever saw in Michigan. We didn't get around too much, Flint, Saginaw, and some areas inbetween, but we loved their approach to history. We thought CrossRoads village was teriffic when we saw it in 1994. It's still nic now, but in 94, there were a lot of character actors in the village. we missed them in 2003...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A gentleman ...lost TWO camshafts one right after the other,and with a NAME BRAND oil (which will remain nameless at this time). </div></div> Hey, Mr. Buick... Name that oil. It may or may not have been the problem, but inquiring minds need to know...

What year is this limo? I can't imagine no carb return spring, or a mechanical hookup on the brakes. Is this something special because it is a limo? JOhnD

I don't know what's involved for the electric motor. The motor at least, a switch, a few wires? I thought someone had put up a post on this in the forum a few months ago. It would certainly make the wipers more reliable. I know this, For close to 10 years I worried that the wipers on my 56 were not reliable. I was always worried when taking it for annual inspection but most times they asked if the wipers were okay and I simply said yes. Then when driving to Flint in 03, it rained most of the way and I found out they worked just fine except the blades were not lying flat on the glass. But then I really don't expect to let my kids take the car on a daily basis either. You'll have much greater need than I to have reliable wipers, so I think the electric are a good idea. JohnD

Sure wish I had half the energy in this series to help out with my Electra... JohnD 3757 56 Super 2 Dr 1969 Electra Limited 2Dr 1969 GS 400 Conv. 95 Riviera 93 Regal custom

Randy; That picture from Judd is great. What you don't see however is that there are two ports on the bottom of the fuel pump. These are the vacuum ports I mentioned earlier. One of these attaches to a pipe that goes directly to the wiper motor. The other one attaches to a pipe that goes to the brass "T" block on top of the intake manifold in front of the carburator. According to my book, the line going to the wiper motor is the "intake". I still can't get unde r the hood of mine. Perhaps Judd can tell you which of these lines goes to the wiper? According to my manual also, if you hook a vacuum guage up to the intake side of the pump, and run the engine from an idle to a RPM equivalent to 20 MPH ( which I am guessing is 15 to 1,800 RPM) you should have 10 inches of vacuum. If not, this part of the fuel pump is bad. Kanter auto parts in NJ sells these rebuilt for $105, just as a guage against what others would charge. I am sure you can get them less expensive. I know I saw several vendors at the BCA Centenial selling these NOS for under that. I just can't remember who these vendors were. John D

If you can gain enough access, I'd use a pneumatic cut off tool to slice the nut. Then soak it in pb-blaster for a few days. Unless you can slice it on both sides, in which case you may be able to just peel it off. JD

Are you sure it's tranny whine? Maybe its an engine noise due to the higher RPM in low gear? I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless you can classify it as gear clash noise ( almost like if you try to put a car in park while it is rolling). If that is the noise, I wouldn't buy it unless the price was low enough to absorb a rebuild. John D

I would think they work at idle because that is where you have higher vacuum presence. Once on the road, they stop for any of three reasons: 1) the lack of vacuum in the tank on the back side of the drivers fender. I assume your car had power brakes? The vacuum supply for the brakes "T's" off at the power booster, and a line runs to this tank. If you have not done so, I'd change the neoprene lines on the power brake booster and the botom of the tank. 2) The metal wire (called the Bowden Wire) from the switch to the wiper motor is not opening all the way. If so, you're wiper motor is not fully engaged. I'd put some pb blaster on it ( especially under the hood) and work it a bit to make sure it's moving it's full length. 3) excess friction on the glass. If the window is not wet, the blades will have a really tough time. Other than this, I'd check to make sure your vacuum pump ( top half of the fuel pump) is working right, and I'd also look for deteriorated vacuum hoses. These are a real trip to replace. I have a schematic diagram for this. I'll have to learn how to use my scanner however. I've had that for a year and haven't used it yet. I guess it's about time I learned though. John D

I hear ya on those 16 year olds... When my middle boy was 17 he bought an 83 Cougar from a neighbor. I wanted him to do this because I didn't want him driving my cars. So we fix up the Cougar. Body work, paint job and an erratic engine idle solved with a $5.00 gasket. It turned out to be a nice car really. But one day I notice his hood is all dented and scratched. The fenders were okay so I figured him and friends were laying on it. Several years later he tells the tale of how him and his friends would go to the local grocery store after closing and put the shopping carts on the hood of the car. Then they'd speed across the lot and try to launch the things across the drainage ditch. I always wondered how the carts wound up there. ..Another proud moment for a worn out parent. I have certainly messed around with those wipers alright. Whats the symptom causing concern? John D

No, I don't know anything about drop spindles. It must be pretty low to have hit that oil pan. For a cheap fix have you considered those metal spacers they used to put in the springs, Maybe you can get another inch or so ground clearance without taking everything apart? I know I put some rear springs in my 56 two summers ago. I bought some from Kanters but they wer so soft that the rear end rally dropped. They did take them back and then I found out NAPA could order any spring you wanted based on characteristics, not application. In other words, none of the books told them what the car took, but they could order anything based upon what I wanted in a spring. I had seven turns, pigtails on each end. They ordered them up, way cheaper than Kanters, and they fit perfect. I just wish I had gotten 8 turns, but what the heck. It was done. Anyway, you may be able to get a smaller spring for the back if your car has a rake towards the front. If nothing eles this ought to level it off which may provide a little more clearance in the front too.

I appreciate that. As to your other post, is this the same car? Or did you pick up another 56? John D

So far we have polished one half of it, to see how it has weathered. It's like you originally said, definitely good for a driver as is, with some light rust and pitting on the bottom piece. I also found light pitting on the grill surface, but nothing that bad. Hopefully the 2nd half will be in the same shape as the part I already did. I've decided to keep it in heated space till I can get the money together for having it re chromed. I figure once I paint the car, I would like to have it done, and until I have it painted, I'll leave my current one in place. One thing I found novel was the fine layer of dirt on the backside and inside of the grill areas. Sorta baked on. And it was quite the effort to get off. When it did though it looked like the dirt did a good job of sealing the surfaces, and actually protecting the grill from further pitting. I figure this grill came from a desert state? Anyway, I hope you got the payment and were satisified. If not, please e mail me off line so we can correct the situation. I'd rather have you as a friend then feeling like I took advantage or something. I was also wondering if you ever hooked up with the person yo got it from to see about the top grill bar too? jld1972@empireone.net Hope you got the signals working right. John d

This is the flasher unit? I'd pull that out and take it to any auto parts store. As long as it's 12 volts it's most likely available. John D

Would this be a Limited by chance? And what color is the interior? Is it in good shape?

Is this car still for sale? Please e mail Doug at jld1972@empireone.net Thanks

Sintid58, I took a look at the list and noticed the 56 Roadmaster. On the outside chance, would you see if the lower wraparounds are there and if they are solid? Do you know if this auction would go down to just a bumper, or is it for the entire car? John D BCA 3757 jld1972@empireone.net

Hey Randy, what does your daughter think of it? It does look neat. But so many kids today are into beat to death Honda's and Jetta's and Neons, I'd be interested to see what your daughter and her friends think of the ole 56. John D

The thing about these photos is the cars are astounding in their simplicity. The door panels are so ...plain...and I hardly remember the body looking so thick ( from the rocker panels to the bottom of the windows ) in relation to the windows themselves. And I can't ever recall seeing so much ground clearance on any 60 Buick. But that's what makes these photos so great and valuable. Thanks for posting these babies. I love em!

BQuick, where was that light module located under the dash? Was it tough to get to? John D 3757

Is this the straight six motor? Is the pump in the oil pan or external? What year car is this too?

If you have not drained the old gas, then you need to do something about that first. I use STP gas treatment. The red bottle. I'd put in two of the 14 gal treatment size or one of the 21 gallon treatment size. Most autoparts stores have this on the shelf but you can buy it cheapest at K-Mart. The reason I use this ( instead of dry gas) is because it it made from petroleum products, instead of alcohol. Put this in and you may see a difference in just a few minutes of running. If so, you'll either need to run that tank of gas through, or drain it out to get fresh gas in there. THEN consider a carb rebuild. John d

I agree with Brian. I don't know what you planned to do with the Chevy motor, but if you were just going to store it, I'd just store the spare 401 instead.