Pete O

Attached is a diagram of the heater hose routing from my '51 shop manual. It's located in the Accessories- other than radio section 11-2. I imagine the '52s should be the same. Pete

I don't know anything about the drums or backingplate issue, but here are the models for 1957 Model 73-Four-Door Riviera (three piece backlight) Model 73A-Four-Door Riviera (one piece backlight) Model 76C-Convertible Coupe Model 76R-Two Door Riviera (three piece backlight) Model 76A-Two Door Riviera (one piece backlight) Model 75-Four-Door Riviera Model 75R-Two-Door Riviera The 75's were highly optioned, "deluxe" models. I'm not sure, but in pictures I've seen, it seems that the trunks are longer than on the 73 and 76 models, and that the taillight housings are different too. Pete

NXT5467, The only bronze bushings I came across were in the steering knuckle, for the kingpin to ride in. All the other bushings are steel. I'm attaching a picture (that I stole off another post!) that shows a close up of one of the bushings I'm referring to. I think another reason for the bushings being steel, which would prevent any compliance in the suspension, was the design of the suspension itself. With the shock absorber lever acting as the upper A arm, you wouldn't want any additional movement that would tend to put a lateral strain on the shock. Pete

here's another '53 grill mustache (and grill) on ebay- $200 opening bid http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-BUIC...bayphotohosting

Bill- I'm not sure what the proper name for the part is, but it's the shaft that connects the outer end of the lower A arm to the upper lever (coming off the shock absorber.) The kingpin goes through this part to attach the spindle. I'm referring to the bushings that thread into the upper and lower ends of this shaft, as well as the bushings where the inner end of the lower A arm attach to the frame. They are hex shaped, and have grease fittings in them. Pete

NXT5467, Thanks for your input. I wonder if the assembly steps that were used are documented anywhere? Maybe the AACA has something in their Library. Pete

Bill, One thing I found when taking appart the suspension was that there was in fact no rubber in the bushings. True, the dust seals are rubber, but the bushings are of made of steel, and they run steel to steel on the threaded shafts that they rotate on. Very different from modern suspensions, where some degree of compliance is built into the flexible rubber bushings so that the wheel will deflect a little when going over bumps. Maybe this is needed nowadays to compensate for modern stiff walled tires, whereas the old bias ply tires acted as the cushioning back in the day?

Thanks Bill! The parts for '50 and '51 suspensions are the same. I guess it makes sense that everything is painted. You have to think about how they probably did things on the assembly line. I bet everything was bolted together unpainted, and then the whole completed chassis was sprayed afterward. Pete

Does anyone know what the correct finishes should be on the front suspension hardware for a 1951 Super? I imagine that the major pieces, like the lower A arm, shock absorber, knuckle, etc., are painted chassis black. But what about the fasteners? Should the bushings and grease fittings be painted black, or left unfinished? What about the roller bearing and the caps for the kingpin? Thanks for your help!

Still looking....

Still looking....

There's a '53 grill moustache for sale on ebay now. Tain't cheap at $450.00 starting bid, but it appears to be in real nice shape. Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-53-B...1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm looking for a Seat Adjuster Mechanism Cover (group 11.558 part 4589492) for my '51 Buick 56C. This is the cover that fits over the hydraulic adjuster scissor mechanism on the front of the seat below the driver. The part was used on several other years and models too, all of which had the hydraulic windows/seats (either standard or available as an option): 1950 1951 52 Super Tourback 1952 52 Super Riviera Sedan 1953 52X Super Riviera Sedan 1950 1951 1952 1953 56C Super Convertible 1950 72 Roadmaster Tourback 1950 1951 1952 1953 76C Roadmaster Convertible 1950 1951 1952 1953 76R Roadmaster Deluxe Riviera 1951 1952 72R Roadmaster Riviera Sedan 1953 72RX Roadmaster Riviera Sedan 1953 76X Roadmaster Anniv Convertible If you have one of these Buick models that you're parting out, please look if you still have this cover and let me know if you're willing to part with it! Thanks Pete

I'm looking for a Seat Adjuster Mechanism Cover (group 11.558 part 4589492) for my '51 56C. This is the cover that fits over the hydraulic adjuster scissor mechanism on the front of the seat below the driver. The part was used on several other years and models too, all of which had the hydraulic windows/seats (either standard or available as an option): 1950 1951 52 Super Tourback 1952 52 Super Riviera Sedan 1953 52X Super Riviera Sedan 1950 1951 1952 1953 56C Super Convertible 1950 72 Roadmaster Tourback 1950 1951 1952 1953 76C Roadmaster Convertible 1950 1951 1952 1953 76R Roadmaster Deluxe Riviera 1951 1952 72R Roadmaster Riviera Sedan 1953 72RX Roadmaster Riviera Sedan 1953 76X Roadmaster Anniv Convertible If you have one of these models that you're parting out, please look if you still have this cover and let me know if you're willing to part with it! Thanks Pete

The capacitor is connected to the positive terminal on the coil.

Maybe it's just me, but I love "messing" with the points! Part of the joy of having an old car is that you can work on them. If you want a new fangled transistorized idiot proof car, buy a new Toyota. But if you want to be able to tinker with your car and actually be able to fix it when it breaks, keep it original.

The top two photos are of a '51 Special 45R

I've never seen this in print, but I believe that the 1951 and 1952 series 40 Specials were built in the GM A body, while in 1950, the series 40 was built on the same GM B body as the series 50 and 70 Super and Roadmaster. I've seen it written that the only Buick's on the GM C body during this period were the long wheelbase series 50 and 70 Riviera Sedans. In 1950, the front fenders shared the same part number for the series 40 and 50, (1338918 rt and 1338918 lt), while in 1951 and 1952 the part numbers differed for the Specials and Supers, as shown in the posting above. This, along with the fact that the '51-'52 Specials look different than the Supers (check out the fender line- higher on the body side in the Special than the Super; check out the roof line, particularly around the C pillar)leads me to believe they're based on the GM A body that was shared with the smaller Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Chevy.

This would entail removing the gauge and tube, which is one assembly, from the instrument cluster so that you can send the whole shebang out to be fixed. You have to be a bit of a contortionist to reach up under the dash to remove the nuts (if I remember correctly, there are three) that hold the cluster to the dash. Then you have to disassemble the cluster and remove the gauge. Your have to thread the tube back through the firewall and cluster, being careful not to bend it or kink it in any way. I was lucky enough to find a working temp gauge assembly, so I never tried repairing the old one. I don't know what kind of fluid is in the bulb. I think it might be something like ether, which has a fairly low evaporation point so that it will vaporize and expand with enough pressure to move the gauge when it's heated. But ether is highly flammable, so watch out soldering around it! I have no idea how much fluid to put into the bulb either. Too much or too little might affect the accuracy of the gauge. So like I said, this is a repair that is best left to someone who knows what they're doing.

The nut that holds the bulb in the head has to spin freely on the bulb and tube. The bulb is soldered on to the tube, and it's filled with a fluid that expands when heated, which causes the gauge to move. If the nut was binding on the bulb or tube due to dirt or corrosion, there is the possibility that the bulb got twisted off of the tube when you removed it. Or possbily the tube got kinked. I don't think this is a repair that can be done at home.

Does anyone have a picture that they could send of the correct battery cover for a 1951 Super? I'm heading for Hershey next week, and would like to have a picture to help me id the part! Thanks Pete

Does anyone have a picture that they could send of the correct battery cover for a 1951 Super? I'm heading for Hershey next week, and would like to have a picture to help me id the part! Thanks Pete

There's a guy on ebay that sells nice repro sill plates. Not cheap, but nice. I bought a pair for my 51 56C last week. I think they fit the 52 56C too. Here's a link to his store. http://stores.ebay.com/Bell-Buick-Parts_Door-Sills_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Hi John- I see you're located in New York. Anywhere near Long Island? I had a set of gas and vacuum lines bent by Centereach Auto Parts on Long Island. I made a pattern using copper tubing. The copper was easy to bend by hand and to make those tight turns. I gave the copper patterns to Centereach Auto, and they made steel lines. They fit almost perfectly with only little adjustments needed.

My '51 Super Convertible has upholstered trim panels that fit on both ends of the front seat. Does anyone know if there is also supposed to be another trim panel that fits on the front lower edge of the seat under the driver? There seems to be a couple of threaded mounting brackets there, and the scissor mechanism that moves the seat seems too exposed and looks too unfinished for a Buick.