Pete Phillips

Bob, Thanks for the tip, but I can't find them at McMaster-Carr, either. I only need 5 or 6 of these. Does anybody have a few extra lying around? I will gladly pay for your trouble. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Does anyone know where to buy the little rectangular retainers for the "Century" or "Special" or "Super" chrome scripts that go onto the rear quarter or rear door of a 1954, 1955, or 1956 Buick? I think they are called tubular nuts. They hold the pegs from the script in place in the sheet metal holes. I have looked through the CARS, Inc. catalogue and Bob's Automobilia catalogue, as well as Restoration Specialties & Supply, but no luck. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX

A word to the wise: Be careful of any dealings with "40 series". Contact me privately for details. pphillips922@earthlink.net

From a 1941 Super with the 248 straight eight, here is a complete set of intake and exhaust manifolds, compound carburetors, air cleaner assembly, and linkage. Both carburetors have been cleaned and rebuilt with fresh carb. kits. The manifolds have been wire-brushed and coated with manifold paint. Should fit any 248 cu. in. Buick engine in the Special or Super series. Will not fit the larger 320 straight eight. I reconditioned these and am selling them for the widow of a BCA member. Asking $1200 but make an offer. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, Texas

I've never had that problem with a Buick straight eight, but do have it in a 1993 Mercedes 190 straight 6 engine that I was intending to fix up for daily use. Turns out the cylinder head has a couple of cracks in it, between the water jacket and the valve seat. I think someone got it too hot and it cracked. Your problem could be a cracked cylinder head or a crack down in the engine block somewhere. Take the cylinder head to a machine shop and ask them to do a magna-flux test on it. You can do it yourself if you get some iron shavings and sprinkle them onto the cylinder head surfaces, then move them around with a magnet. iF there is a crack, the shavings will all line up next to the crack. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 1948 Roadmaster 1949 Super 1950 Roadmaster 1959 Electra 1962 Electra 225 1963 Wildcat

They started it when they started using drive shafts instead of chain drive; I believe 1908 with the introduction of the model 10 Buick. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX.

Reproduction front and rear floor pan sections are made for these Buicks. CARS, Inc. sells them, among others. So it might need $300-$500 of floor welding--so what? That's nothing, compared to what this loaded gem is worth when all done or even partly done. If I were closer, it would be in my garage by now. Time to put up or shut up, guys. SOMEONE who is close, get over there and buy this! Pete Phillips Sherman, Texas

If the brake pedal is getting harder to push and the brake lights are staying on, it sounds to me like the pressure in the brake system is not being released when brake pedal is released. That either means the master cylinder is malfunctioning and/or one of the rubber brake hoses is blocked internally. The brake hoses may look fine from the outside, but they can be collapsed and blocked on the inside, not allowing fluid pressure to release. Fluid pressure is what activates the brake light switch, too. In the master cylinder, there are one or two little pinholes at the bottom of the fluid reservoir, and they like to get plugged up with rust and crud (that's a scientific term!) if the fluid hasn't been changed in 50 or 60 years, or the car has sat up unused for many years. I've lost count of how many of those pin holes I have had to unplug in old Buick master cylinders. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, Texas 1948 Roadmaster 1949 Super 1950 Roadmaster 1956 Studebaker Hawk 1958 Rambler Ambassador 1959 Mercury Park Lane 1959 Buick Electra 1962 Buick Electra 1963 Chrysler New Yorker 1963 Buick Wildcat

1954 model 48 is a Special 2-door sedan. Not sure about a "480". Maybe that's a stray zero? Pete Phillips

AIK, you should be congratulated for taking the initiative and saving that '55 Century. I cannot believe what some people would haul off to be crushed. Do they have an I.Q. of 2? How can anyone live in the 21st century and not know that something like that is worth saving, even if they aren't a car person? There must be $1000 worth of parts on that car, or certainly a lot more than what a crusher would pay. Holy cow, I just took a closer look at the interior photo, and that thing has a power seat, and power windows in addition to the factory A/C, power steering, & power brakes. Wow! It's more loaded than most Roadmasters of that era. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, Texas

Don't think you are going to get any response without a year. We can't mind-read. Pete Phillips

I guess I'm a bit slow. I'm still trying to figure out what a wedge pin is... Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 1948 Roadmaster sedan 1949 Super Estate Wagon 1950 Roadmaster 2-dr, hdtp. 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk 1959 Electra 2-dr. hdtp. 1962 Electra 225 4-dr. hdtp. 1963 Chrysler New Yorker sedan 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-spd.

There is no model 80 in 1954. It's either a Special (40 series), Super (50 series), Century (60 series) or Roadmaster (70 series). The model # is on the plate attached to the firewall, probably preceded by a "54-". Pete Phillips Sherman, Texas

Hi Tim, I have a 1928-1942 Buick Master Parts book with illustrations that cover most of that. I don't have a scanner, but I could fax you those pages if you have a fax #, and I'm sure you have one at the college. Regards, Pete Phillips

This car was for sale early in the summer for $2000, but it just got listed on the Dallas, Texas Craig's List today for $1200 which is more fitting to its condition. It is not mine, but I do know the seller a little, and I have looked at the car if anyone wants details. It is in Denison, Texas and it is a 1936 Century model 61 that runs, but needs wood and just about everything else. It is at http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/1508847759.html. I don't know how to do the link thing. The grille is broken in many places, the doors fall off in your hands when you open them, most of the glass is either no good or gone, but the 320 engine is intact and seller says it runs. After looking under the hood, I believe it would. It is a genuine Century with the 15" wheels, but I think it is best as a parts car. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, Texas

I have a cannister, mounting bracket, and A-C filter, new old stock, for a Buick straight eight, but I'm not sure which years it fits. The exterior needs to be sanded down and repainted because this was in damp storage, but the inside & the filter are unused. $25 plus postage if anyone wants it. Pete Phillips

Very nice, straight, clean, rarely seen car, and with no vinyl top (I think, not really clear from photos), that is a plus. Frank, I think Pekin is in Illinois, and it looks like an Illinois license plate. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Nobody said anything about Skylarks, which take a different size wheel than the Roadmasters. The question was about a Roadmaster. Pete Phillips

It's listed in the BCA Judging Manual which is accessible on the Buick Club website Buick Club of America - BCA - Welcome 15 by 6" wheel size. 8.00 by 15" tire size. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, TX

The printer did not get the magazines mailed until yesterday afternoon, Dec. 8, which means they probably didn't go out until this morning (Dec. 9), so this month's issue will be a little bit later than usual in arriving. They had a change of personnel at the printing place, and the Buick Bugle got delayed until I started asking some questions late last month. I can't complain, because this printer has given us nearly four years of good product and on-time delivery. Those of you who aren't Buick Club members have no idea what you are missing every month. Future issues for 2010 are going to be on the 1950 Buicks, the 1970 Buicks, and the 1930 Buicks. I especially need photos and articles on the 1930 model Buicks, which were the last ones with the six-cylinder engines prior to the introduction of the straight eights in 1931. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Editor, The Buick Bugle Sherman, Texas

A very nice Buick. Nice to see a correctly painted oil filter cannister! Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Mike, Go ahead and send it. Another guy told me a week ago that he would buy it, but I've received nothing from him, so first check to arrive gets this. Pete Phillips 314 N. Walnut St. Sherman, TX 75090

Do you have the bell housing located properly on the back of the engine? Maybe it is rotated one bolt hole too far? It is easy to do when you are on your back underneath the car and can't see what you are doing. Something pretty obvious is very wrong, to cause that much of a tilt. Pete Phillips

Color #49-09 is Regency Blue as a previous responder noted. It shows up in text on my 1949 paint chart, but I had to go to a 1948 paint chart to see it in color (so it is a 1948 color, also), and it is a very, very dark blue which almost looks black. Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 1949 Super Estate Wagon and others...

I have some photos of a 1971 LeSabre 2-door hardtop with very low mileage, but do not have any of the convertible. Will these help? Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Sherman, Texas