Pete Phillips

Part, but not all of the photo problems were mine. I found out about five seconds before the awards presentation began, that I was also expected to run the computer screen projector with the photo presentations! Big surprise. Not only that, it was on someone else's computer and I was unfamiliar with its controls. So, when some of the photos were out of order, it was just too much to try to read off the list of names for the right class, keep things moving, announce the awards, and fish around on the computer for the car photos that were out of order. Lesson for future meets: The announcer of the awards cannot also run the slide projector at the same time. If we had had to prepare for an awards banquet on the same day of the judging, after the rain storm delayed the judging for several hours, there is no way we could have been ready in time. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, Texas 2010 MeatHead Judge

Below the windshield pillar post, between the two hinges of the front door, as you are looking into the front fender. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, Texas

For those who don't know, the sign on the front of the '54 Super sedan said it would be crushed if not sold by Friday afternoon, which seemed like a terrible waste of an old car with plenty of good parts still left. My thanks to "54buickbandit" who apparently saved the day and saved the car. I've heard that he plans to restore it and get it back on the road, given some time. Nice to see a younger guy get into this hobby. The bargains are still out there once in awhile, as this car proves. If any of us can assist with advice, parts hunting, etc., don' t hesitate to ask! Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX 75090

Ben is right, for a total of three round dials on the Super and Roadmaster; only two round dials on the Special.

Semi-gloss black is correct. As far as I know, "satin" and "semi-gloss" are the same. I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX

More photos

Sounds like a '52 if it has the little chrome fins on top of each rear fender. Look at the data plate on the firewall, and next to model # it should say 51-xx or 52-xx, the xx being the series and body style number. I believe 1951 and 1952 dashboards are the same. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

A few more photos before I head off to the awards banquet. First photo is an immaculate 1951 Roadmaster, then a rare 1968 California GS coupe, then a row of early 1940s/late 1930s Buicks, then a group of 1960 Buicks (and one '59) including a rare '60 Invicta wagon. Pete

More photos. I never knew that 1959 wheel covers were supposed to have red paint in their center emblems until I saw a new old stock one for sale today! There is a red '54 76-C here that is gorgeous. The '54 Landau photo makes it look like there are TWO of those cars. In reality, the rear one is a likeness that is painted on the back of the car's enclosed trailer. Pete

Weather is warm and humid but no rain; flooding was east of here. No prices are posted on ANY of the cars for sale (great way to sell a car, eh?). Will post more photos shortly. Pete

They are here at Ames. I have seen that car in the hotel parking lot this afternoon--hooray! One or two other 1959s in the hotel parking lot as well. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

"Stealthbob", that car is one and the same. Here is another photo of its dashboard, plus a mostly original 1950 Super interior, a set of NOS 1939 streamboards (!) for sale in the swap meet, and a 1948 Roadmaster 320 engine with chrome header pipes and a 4-barrel carb.

Here is a quick, first group of photos from Ames meet. A 1941 Limited that looks unrestored; a group of early 1950s projects for sale in the car corral, a 1953 Special with 3000 actual miles, and a spectacular 1938 Roadmaster. Pete Phillips

Driving across Kansas right now, and there is a 1984 or 1985 white Riviera convertible on a trailer in front of me--Chuck and Kathy Kerls from Wichita are pulling it with their truck. Hope to arrive in Ames late this afternoon. Pete Phillips SHerman, Texs

Vacuum leak somewhere? Pete Phillips

There are three or four bolts that hold the torque converter to the flywheel. You'll see that they have a flattened area on the flywheel. Remove the bottom of the bell housing and turn the engine using a 1" socket on the crankshaft pulley, until each bolt comes into view. If your engine is stuck, then you really have a problem, because you have to remove the crankshaft with the transmission attached--not fun, but I have done it. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 SHerman, Texas 1948 Roadmaster 4-dr. 1949 Super Estate Wagon 1950 Roadmaster 2-dr. ht. 1959 Electra 2-dr. ht. 1962 Electra 225 4-dr. ht. 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-spd.

Headlight switch is removed by finding the little button (size of a pencil eraser) on the side of the light switch behind the dash, pushing it down as you pull out the knob all the way. Then there is usually a slotted fitting that you can turn with a large screwdriver, down in the light switch bezel, to remove the light switch. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX

Thank you! Pete

Anyone know the year of this Pontiac hood ornament? Thanks for any help.

I went to the link for more photos, and there is a '58 Olds, a '63 or '64 Riviera, and I think a 1960 Buick under a tarp, so I agree with Paul--you should go look! There might be other stuff that is just as interesting or more so! That's a well equipped Invicta with power steering & brakes, factory A/C, clock, and what looks like the search-tune radio. Have never seen a '62 with upholstery like that, but the inserts on the door panels match those on the seats, so I"m wondering if it is original or redone? Bruce Kile's '62 Electra has some pretty wild upholstery and door panel inserts (green), so I'm guessing that this may be some sort of trim option???? If this is original upholstery, the car is a low mileage car. GO LOOK AT IT!!! Pete Phillips 1962 Electra 225 4-dr. ht. and others...

There should be a little window, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch square, near the left end of the speedometer, if I recall correctly, that displays the speed at which the buzzer is set. The numbers should move as the knob is turned. There is a guy who advertises regularly in the Buick Bugle, Alan Kriss, who rebuilds those red line speedometers. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

For what it's worth, I wholeheartedly agree with Rusty. I admit that I'm a purist. I once bought a '54 Chevrolet that had been converted to 12 volts by the previous owner. When I tried to sell it a few years later, there were some potential buyers who just walked away when they saw the 12 volts. Today, I would do the same thing--walk away from a car that's supposed to be 6 volts and has been converted to 12. So I guess some of it depends on who you expect to sell the car to, when it comes time to sell--which may be many years from now. If you convert to 12 volts, are you going to replace all of the gauges, and if so, where are you going to get them from? They don't make 12 volt kits for 1951 Buicks--not that I'm aware of anyway. Pete Phillips Sherman, TX 1948 Roadmaster 4-dr 1949 Super station wagon 1950 Roadmaster 2-dr. ht. 1959 Electra 2-dr. ht. 1962 Electra 225 4-dr. ht. 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-spd.

I am reupholstering my 1948 Roadmaster 4-dr. sedan. It has grey Bedford cord on the seats, and I am just about done with the seats. Around the base of the back seat cushion there is some gosh-awful gold velour (see photo). I know this is not original nor correct. My question is, what should this base frame be covered with? My options are: 1. grey Bedford cord, same material as the seats; 2. Plain grey cloth, same as the door panels are upholstered with; or 3. Grey leather. For some reason, the person from whom I bought the car purchased a hide of grey leather, in addition to all of the other upholstery material that came with it. I can find no place on the car where this grey leather would be used, unless perhaps it goes on this seat cushion base. Any advice from owners of similar cars is appreciated. How do you like that mud dauber's nest in the first photo? Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX 1948 Roadmaster model 71 1949 Super model 59 1950 Roadmaster model 76R 1959 Electra 2-dr. 1962 Electra 225 4-dr. ht. 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-spd.

There are no reproductions and good originals are hard to find. Your best chance might be the parts vendors at the BCA national meet next week. If you can't be there, send me a private message telling me how $$ high you want to go, and I will look for some when I am there. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX

IF a stiff brush with soap & water won't do it, and sometimes it won't, here is what I did on a white vinyl top that had sat under a tree for many years. The tree sap had stained the vinyl top so it looked like it had a bad case of gray spots. I ended up masking off the mouldings and glass, and after cleaning it, I sprayed the old top with white vinyl spray paint (sometimes called plastic paint or fabric paint), which comes in a spray can at your local auto parts store. Putting on a uniform coat is important; maybe two coats. After you have let it dry overnight, put some sort of preservative over it, like vinyl top wax. It worked for me. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX