JohnD1956

What makes you think it needs to be rebuilt?

If you put a flathead screwdriver on the narrow edge of the plug, then tap the screwdriver with a hammer, the plug may pivot in the opening, exposing enough that one can get a pair of pliers on the plug and work it out. In that case the plug may be reusable, if needed. But if hoplessly stuck you could also punch through it and use that hole to extract it. Note that there should be a plug in the Head, in the back edge facing the firewall. That one has been talked about as a tough one to replace given the tight work area. It can be checked for leakage by using a mirror. But others probably have better ideas how to replace that rascal.

I did not know that back cover came off the pump. It does look rust coated but unless you had to use it as a core, don't toss it out. It can probably be rebuilt and the stuck in the trunk for any roadside emergencies. Be sure to put a filter on the top radiator hose to keep the debris out of your new radiator.

I wonder if it is possible to patch the seat bottom vs a complete reupholster?

Regarding the air filter, does the snorkel dip down and pull air from in front of the driver's side front tire? My 95 did. I always tried to make sure I didn't run it through puddles, although that can be impossible.

sorry, I have no clue about that. Rather tend to doubt it, although that box was probably used in just about every GM car of that generation.

get the longest you can for the front seats. the shorter for the back seat

On my former 1993 Regal, I found the blower resistor inside the cabin, about as low towards the passengers side floor board as it possibly could have been. That was a real uncomfortable spot to get to in the dead of winter...

Nice modification. Since the bracket is relatively easy to access, it may help to consider having a shop (or whomever) weld a continuous strap of similar gauge metal across the top and to the edges of the gaps.

Looks like its been stabbed to death!🤔🤔😁

I thought it was VERY interesting that they quoted the 88 full sized Wagon as 2 seconds faster in 0-60mph, than that Reatta? It is too bad ( and very sad) that the Buick brand always made such tempting concepts and then watered down the units for the marketplace.

First time I have seen this. It was on Instagram so I am not certain if it will work here. But it is pretty awesome. Old news video

The seats in my 1995 Riv were , by far, THE best seats I ever had in a car. What you may also notice is opening the sunroof (only) does not add noise and air turbulance to the interior. The sweet spot for the 95 was on the highway, when you wanted to pass someone. It was a real thrill when the waste gate closed on that supercharged manifold. Sigh! memories....☢️

I thought the tank was in that raised area. There should not be two tanks.

Just to follow up on my previous post, here are some pictures from my 56 Super. Again, the 56 and 55 are not exaqctly the same, but these photos may give you some ideas about what has been changed and modified in your car. This picture shows where the wiper motor vacuum source should be attached. The 56 and 55 systems have major differences here but the vacuum port on your 55 wiper motor is in the same place as my 56. The other port remains open to the atmosphere. In your engine bay photo neither port has a hose. What you cannot see is the metal pipe which runs along the inside edge of the valve cover. The picture below shows the original style fuel pump. The vacuum source for the wipers comes from one of the two ports on the bottom half of the pump. This leads to the metal line running along the inside of the passengers side valve cover. In your engine bay photo I cannot tell if your factory fuel pump has the 2nd port but it likely does. Also your photo shows that your fuel pump inlet line is disconnected from the factory fuel line which runs up the outside of the drivers side frame rail, through the frame behind the drivers side front tire, and then across the front cross member to the passengers side. My photo does show the black plastic wire loam product that I used to insulate my fuel line. That product is meant to hide electrical wires but the 3/8th inch product slips right over the fuel line and because it is a flexible shell I was able to push it onto the fuel line where it runs through the frame behind the drivers side front tire. I thought that area may be subject to extra heat from the exhaust manifolds and the plastic wire loam product is so cheap I had nothing to lose by installing it there. The other place it may be helpful is back by the gas tank, where it goes up over the rear axle. Again, just an area I think is subject to extra heat. This picture shows the other vacuum line from the lower part of the fuel pump tied into the intake manifold. This matches your engine bay photo The picture below is the line that I mentioned goes over the drivers side valve cover. Again, if your car does not have power brakes it may not have been installed on your car. This lim=ne leads to the flexible line which then leads to the power brake booster. In the photo below the tank I mentioned is on the right side, attached to the drivers inside fender well. There is a major difference in the location of the master cylinder between 55 and 56. That square head plug you see just in front of the washer fluid jar is the cap for my master cylinder reservoir. and it is bolted directly to the master cylinder. 56 was the first year the MC was located in the engine compartment. But the master cylinder in 54/55 is under the car in the area below the drivers side front seat. I am not sure, but I believe there has been some indication, and discussion, that back in the day, there was an option for a remote reservoir fill for the 54/ 55. It may have been an aftermarket part. So there is a chance your car may have a similar looking reservoir cap. But the route of the vacuum line will be very different than my 56. Again, if your car does not have power brakes you would not have any of this stuff. I wish you good luck with your car. I hope you will consider a thread in the me and my Buick section of the forum here, and keep us updated on your progress. They are fun cars to drive.

Thanks and same to you too, Berta!

January 1st 2024.. took a ride in my YELLOW AND BLACK Buick..😄 Yep, still like it.

January 1, 2024...that Envista has really grown on me...

WTH?!?! 🤔 😄

The silver cannister on the passenger's side inner fender appears to be an electric fuel pump to me. Perhaps I am mistaken. The fuel pump on the engine block appears to have been disconnected from the carburator but the rest of the line may be hiding behind other things in the picture. As for the need for an electric fuel pump, that is something I cannot forsee. I will tell you that I do not have an electric fuel pump on my 56. And I drove it across the USA and back this past July in weather with temps in the high 90's and low 100's. I did have about six incidents where the fuel system appeared to have vapor lock, but in each instance the engine recovered, and the engine never stalled. Others use the electric pumps with great success to minimize vapor lock symptoms. I did insulate a large portion of my fuel supply line in and around the engine compartment. I am not sure if that is the difference. In this picture, I can see there is no vacuum line to the wiper motor. On my 56 I believe the vacuum for the wiper comes off a second port on the bottom of the factory fuel pump. But I will have to look at that again when I have a chance next week. Also on my 56, with power brakes, the fitting tapped into the manifold in front of the carburator has a line running over the drivers side valve cover, where a flexible line attaches and goes to the booster on the master brake cylinder. At the master brake cylinder, there is a T and then another piece of line hooks up to the tank mounted on the drivers side fender well. If your car does not have power brakes, you may not have that tank. And since the 55 brake system is not like the 56's I am not the best source of information on how the lines ought to be routed. Sorry, Just some big changes between 55 and 56 back then.

I can see you need a proper fuel line. The fuel line attached to the rear axle strut rod is not such a great idea in my opinion In addition it runs across the front cross member and looks to be laying on the upper control arm pivot point? Conventional wisdom is to have the factory fuel line to the factory fuel and vacuum pump AND if needed to have the electric fuel pump mounted on the frame as close to the gas tank as possible, and cut in, or looped into the factory fuel line back there. An activitator switch would be mounted on the lower part of the dash so that it can be toggled when the electric pump is needed. I also think you will want to fabricate a heat shield for the master cylinder, as the exhaust pipe looks pretty close to it under the drivers floorboard. I think all 55's came with single exhaust, but since the duals are already there, a heat shield may be in order to keep the MC cooler. I am sure you know that is a later version of a power steering pump. If it is working I'd leave it and just run with it. You may want a vacuum tank. That is usually riding inside the engine compartment, mounted to the drivers side inner fender, in the area between the firewall and the back of the inner fender. You may have one there now, but I didn't see it in the pictures. Good luck with your car. It looks like it has some challenges but it is pretty nice.

Merry Christmas Sebastien, and the forum family too.

That is true. But back in 2014 the AAA Premier plan towed the car I was in from Battle Mtn Nv to Reno,Nv close to 200 miles. Would have been quite the expense for something that ultimately was not fixable on the roadside.

An AAA premier membership card. Leave the rest home for better gas milage.

Get or make a mechanic stethoscope. Then listen on top of the valve covers to decide which side the problem is on, then listen on top of each rocker to hone in. A stethoscope can be a long screwdriver. You hold the handle against your ear and place the blade where you want to listen