Gary_N

I've noticed that there is wool like cloth backing on the trim parts of my '54, not to be confused with window felt and sweeper. Is this an item of improvisation or is there actually a specific material supplied by someone? Thanks! Gary

Geez, I caint even spel my oone name! Alaskan Salmon, that's a good one Lamar! To further the color issue, I'm pretty sure that the Salmon color cars didn't get started till around '55. Gary

Really love that Wildcat! Oh and the reason why I joined was to was TO MEET GIRLS! OK, so I go to Buffalo for vacations too...and buy high and sell low....and.... Gary

I can't believe that's a factory color 49 or 50. Gray

Let me re-phrase the battery in the trunk question: 1 gauge or 2? Thanks! Gary

If I put the battery in the trunk, what size cables would I need to use? Gary

Fr D: Well, since this is the parts car, I was being a little sloppy. I have the column out already, so, you are confirming that I need to take the whole shebang out. Maybe I'll just get creative and cut the firewall away. I also managed to break the rubber piece at the base of the column. Well, that was easy...it was way brittle. I'm also sure I screwed up a few other things, so let's hope Frankie is in better shape. A piece of plastic broke off the Neutral Safty/Gear Selector switch too. Good thing I have Frankie's to compare. Instead of lifting the body off the frame, I'm cutting most of it off in between removing interior things like power window motors and mechanisms, the dash and trim...well what's left of the trim, which isn't too much. Since Frankie is a manual steering Super and Dorothy is a Power Steering Roadmaster, I thought why not just drop Frankie onto Dorothy's Chassis? I'm sure there's a foot ready to drop somewhere though. By the way, are you back from Rome? Gary

John: Steering column was the east part, the shaft is the hard part. TCWilson: It's a '54 Roadmaster. I thought about taking the whole thing out but was hoping I could leave it for now and just get the shaft out. Oh well.....

Well, I've been trying unsuccessfully to get the steering shaft out of the Power Steering box so I can lift the body off. The manual is as clear as mud and wants me to start banging with a chisel. So, before I get to banging too much, I thought I'd seek some experience? Help! Thanks! Gary

OFF, OFF, OFF!

Sorry, I didn't dress him up for the picture! Lamar - at least he's on wheels now...well and assortment but none the less!

And just in case anyone is wondering what Frankie looks like, here he is:

OK, sorry for the duplicate posts and pictures. I seem to be having issues with something or other...anyway...off to get the column out. Gary

I need to find a place like that here in Maryland, or close by! Gary

Where's the picture? OK, I'll try again.

Mr. E didn't get me into anything I didn't want! I wanted a Roadmaster and he sold me one, then a Super and then a..... only kidding! And Lamar, it's too late on stopping the plasma torch. A you can see from the pic, Dorothy has become a true parts car. I've also learned that, everything on a Buick weighs a ton! OK, I already new that...my back reminded me this morning. Yanking heavy parts while closing in on 60 is not fun! I finally had enough with getting the front seats out of Dorothy, so I just cut the floor out. Now that was heavy too. Then, after listening to the compressor run for 30 minutes while I ground off the nuts underneath, I finally got the seat removed from the floor, along with another inch of left over mouse droppings. But, one of my favorite new "tools" is a 3M mask I bought on eBay for about $20. Weld, cut, grind, whatever and the world still smells like a fresh spring day! Oh, and as an aside: My $10 Harbour Freight 3" grinder is a ton better than my Sears version that cost $60. So to answer your question on using Dorothy's Frame: I want to bite off more that I can chew! And, if I'm going to do this, well I want to do a frame off. Actually, with the exception of the rear "tow bar", I think Dorothy's frame is in better shape. And I think it will be a ton easier to change all the lines, work on the driveline, etc. Of course, I'm prone to mind changes though as you know! RocketDude: $250 to blast and powder coat all those parts? Where do you live anyway, Tijuana? I paid that much to get 5 wheels done! Gary

Mr. E didn't get me into anything I didn't want! I wanted a Roadmaster and he sold me one, then a Super and then a..... only kidding! And Lamar, it's too late on stopping the plasma torch. A you can see from the pic, Dorothy has become a true parts car. I've also learned that, everything on a Buick weighs a ton! OK, I already new that...my back reminded me this morning. Yanking heavy parts while closing in on 60 is not fun! I finally had enough with getting the front seats out of Dorothy, so I just cut the floor out. Now that was heavy too. Then, after listening to the compressor run for 30 minutes while I ground off the nuts underneath, I finally got the seat removed from the floor, along with another inch of left over mouse droppings. But, one of my favorite new "tools" is a 3M mask I bought on eBay for about $20. Weld, cut, grind, whatever and the world still smells like a fresh spring day! Oh, and as an aside: My $10 Harbour Freight 3" grinder is a ton better than my Sears version that cost $60. So to answer your question on using Dorothy's Frame: I want to bite off more that I can chew! And, if I'm going to do this, well I want to do a frame off. Actually, with the exception of the rear "tow bar", I think Dorothy's frame is in better shape. And I think it will be a ton easier to change all the lines, work on the driveline, etc. Of course, I'm prone to mind changes though as you know! RocketDude: $250 to blast and powder coat all those parts? Where do you live anyway, Tijuana? I paid that much to get 5 wheels done! Gary

Mr. E didn't get me into anything I didn't want! I wanted a Roadmaster and he sold me one, then a Super and then a..... only kidding! And Lamar, it's too late on stopping the plasma torch. A you can see from the pic, Dorothy has become a true parts car. I've also learned that, everything on a Buick weighs a ton! OK, I already new that...my back reminded me this morning. Yanking heavy parts while closing in on 60 is not fun! I finally had enough with getting the front seats out of Dorothy, so I just cut the floor out. Now that was heavy too. Then, after listening to the compressor run for 30 minutes while I ground off the nuts underneath, I finally got the seat removed from the floor, along with another inch of left over mouse droppings. But, one of my favorite new "tools" is a 3M mask I bought on eBay for about $20. Weld, cut, grind, whatever and the world still smells like a fresh spring day! Oh, and as an aside: My $10 Harbour Freight 3" grinder is a ton better than my Sears version that cost $60. So to answer your question on using Dorothy's Frame: I want to bite off more that I can chew! And, if I'm going to do this, well I want to do a frame off. Actually, with the exception of the rear "tow bar", I think Dorothy's frame is in better shape. And I think it will be a ton easier to change all the lines, work on the driveline, etc. Of course, I'm prone to mind changes though as you know! RocketDude: $250 to blast and powder coat all those parts? Where do you live anyway, Tijuana? I paid that much to get 5 wheels done! Gary

This most likely does not apply, but the Cadillac Club magazine talked about a very similar problem, including the exhaust manifold issue. The problem there was an improper distributor installation. The counter weights were in backwards and the timing was being retarded instead of advanced. My brother had a similar issue on his '53. He found (even though recently rebuilt) that the heat at the top of the radiator was much different than at the bottom. Turns out the radiator clogged and was restricting flow even though the engine was just rebuilt and the radiator was recored. Again, just a thought. Gary

What a moron, disregard the pulley nut/bolt issue. It's missing. I was thinking of something else....I hope! Gary

more aptly put....can this guy make up his mind or what??? The buyers for all of my cars have turned out to be real flakes, and since we're talking about small dollars anyway, and since the body of my 56R (Frankie) is so good, I'm back in restoration mode (this week). And, of course, having fun with the Plasma Cutter on Dorothy (76R). Geesh I love that thing! Questions, questions, questions #1: What is a good product to use to paint the inner fenders? My inner fenders are in great shape and I want to get them blasted, primed, painted and stored away. Is this a paint thing or a POR type thing? I'm close to getting the body off Dorothy, the donor car, and will use her frame. Since there's so little body work to do on Frankie (aside from sanding, sanding, sanding), I want to get moving on the chassis and engine first. But... #2: I don't have a socket that fits the crankshaft pulley. Anyone know what size that may be? #3: Since I need to get the steering column out to pull Dorothy's body, is there anything I need to look out for when pulling the column (Power Steering)? It looks like rebuilding the Steering gear is not that difficult? Necessary?? Thanks for your help...and go ahead and have a good laugh. I know Lamar has! Oh, and forgive me but it's just so much easier to ask than have to go look dtuff up!! Have a great weekend. Gary

I picked up my 6V from this company. Antique Batteries. It was about $150. Picked it up at the vendors tent in Hershey. I've had it two years and it has been very good to me. I've had some long cranking endeavors in the past and it held up well. Gary

I picked up my 6V from this company. Antique Batteries. It was about $150. Picked it up at the vendors tent in Hershey. I've had it two years and it has been very good to me. I've had some long cranking endeavors in the past and it held up well. Gary

Simplyconnected: Thanks for the advice. I really can't live much longer with the 6V system. Right now it takes about two - five minutes for the car to actually start charging. The gauge shows a draw then eventually pegs to the plus side, and then comes back to a little above neutral on the gauge. I keep turning stuff off when I stop at a light, like the radio and heater blower. Gary

51 Dyno: What are you talking about? I can spend with the best of 'em! Now selling, that's another issue. Paul: Thanks for advice. I'll give it a go. Gary