buick5563

Sid, A 322 will bolt right up and the parts are cheaper. Performance is much better, and if you keep the two barrel, it will still get 15-16 mpg. Of course then, you would possibly be putting an unknown (condition) engine in your car. A big block nailhead would need a lot of fabrication. Good luck, either way.

Really? The Holy Grail of 54's... I'm shocked. I hope you can get the drool marks off! Congrats again

It's the PRO part I need help with! Have fun Mr. Earl

Man, this makes me want to work harder to become a Progoofoff!

That is wonderful news! Congratulations Bob.

I don't speak like that either, then I googled it. Too Long Didn't Read I just don't have anything to add to this conversation.

It's cute how young Mr. Earl sounds in this post!

Sorry. Yep. Busy. This thread (as they say on other forums) is TLDR

Hey Sid, Since the valve cover question was answered, I'll ask you one... Did I see you driving in Colorado yesterday? My family was on a ski vacation, and I saw a big red Volvo with ND plates. Just curious.

In the future, please warn me before you are going to make me spit a drink out of my nose. Happy Bday, ya old f~rt.

I got $100. Maybe more. Go for it Jake

I had mine done with the Renu process and am very happy with it. The only drawback is that it does not appear original on the outside. I believe that is 1 point on BCA judging so it isn't that big a deal.

Derek, Road wheels came out in 1964. They could not have come on the car originally. That would be a disqualification, I believe. Again, I may be wrong. I just don't think Cragars or alternators make a difference in whether someone drove the car. Sure, eBay auctions are full of "restored" cars with Centerline wheels that we all know are not correct, but if a car is sold as a "driver", these same issues are overlooked (by me at least). I realize this is a different scenario, but the wording is the same. I will be driving my 55 to Iowa this year. It will have a display only card on it. I am looking forward to the forum breakfast, and a glass of something with my friends at night. I'm out of this now...

Obviously trips can be rerouted if there is time. Personally, I prefer to frontload my BCA National time. If there is one week ( 5 workdays) available, and 1800 miles to drive each way, the most direct, rain-laden routes must sometimes be travelled.Don't get me wrong, I like all of you guys, but the fun of the trip is getting there...driving my car. If I had less time maybe I'd fly, but it wouldn't be the same.

Before I offer more anecdotes that I think are important, I appreciate that we are having this conversation. I know that all of the BOD and the Bugle editor frequent these forums and I hope they discuss this issue. I don't mean to offend anybody with this statement (and I generally do NOT care whether I offend someone ). I have my Senior Award hanging in my garage. I installed the Senior Preservation plaque on my grille. I have two driven awards still in the plastic baggies they came in. I absolutely WAS one of the members who held the belief that scoring highly in the 400 point judging was the only way to prove my worth in the club. This club is elite. It has cream of the crop, top notch highly restored works of art. That said, I don't believe that MOST of the owners are ELITIST, but certainly a few are. I agree with Keith that the pedigree earned with a high scoring BCA National award will gain a few bucks, but still not to ever recoup what it costs to restore a car to that level. I should not have received the driven award on my 63 Wildcat, because it had 1964 road wheels on it. This is technically not allowed. When Pat judged my car, he asked why I didn't register for the 400 point judging "It's a nice enough car". I was flattered, but why would I enter a modified car in 400 pt. judging (pre Modified Division) . I owned it to drive and enjoy, I just figured I wasn't 400 point worthy. What about a friend who has late model cruise control installed in his 55 Century? He would NOT receive the Driven Award, yet he drives that car all over America. 20,000 miles since it was restored, I believe. It is a Senior car. In Willis' post above, he mentioned this months Bugle cover car. Would that owner/ driver have driven through a hurricane returning from Batavia if it was a more desirable car than a Special sedan? Not if he had a truck/ enclosed trailer rig with a 55 Century convertible or 1954 Skylark. He probably would tell you differently, but he is no fool. The car isn't worth anything, even with a pedigree. We need to drop the originality requirement. We don't need more categories. If you drive your Buick, you have driven a Buick.

Slow down Pop, I'm comin' for the 55! (BCA member #23750)

Cheers!

John, I believe that thread is in the Post War section.

It is my understanding that in order to be in the BCA modified class, it has to be Buick powered. The modified class had some spectacular cars shown last year, BTW...

These are ALL very good points. I think this should be the all inclusive award. If it is a Buick AND it is driven, it has met the requirement. I have seen numerous cars driven over 1000 miles not receive a driven award because the owner chose to put different wheels on it. I realize that by making the Driven Award easier to get, it cheapens it... kinda like all the kids on the soccer team getting trophies. The only exception I would make to my give everybody a prize theory, is no Chevy motors.

I knew you had done that, I was wondering how you got them evenly spaced. Very nice. Thanks, Bob. So, it looks like Brian should bid hard on ebay...

Brian, I believe Doug Seybold is old school. No email address. He advertises in the back of the Bugle. It says he sells "new 55 dashboards engine turned". I have a feeling it is very expensive. He tends to be on the steep side. I will beat everybody to it... "Say Bob, why don't ya walk us through the steps to engine turning our own dash pieces".

Joe, I was actually trying to lighten things up. I was amused to be building a Christmas Lego garage with my son assembling two satellite dishes less than two hours after I had read your post.

First of all, DON'T put anything but vinyl or leather seats on those buckets. I hate seeing velour. :confused: I bought some 58 T-Bird seats for my Model A project, but that is gonna be all Ford based...So I say stick with GM. The cool thing about picking a slightly later era as far as the "hot rod build date" is that there are more options for all sorts of comfort and bling accessories. Want to stick with a 322? Cool, but a rodder in 1964 would have at least put on finned valve covers. Then with the Riv or Wildcat buckets you could pretend it was a 401. I don't know if the high cost of buying the extremely rare late 50's GM buckets would be worth it unless you were thinking about spending over $100k. Another pic of Nailhead p*rn.

+1 Keep driving it. Maybe try checking the torque on bolts related to your transmission...GENTLY!!! If you hose anything up, the leak will be much worse. If you stop driving it, the leak will be much worse.