Bluesky62

Hmmm....this is an interesting take, Ron. I'll try blowing out the line tomorrow. I don't think I can do any damage doing that. Thanks, Dave

Good thinking, Gene - I will go slow and be gentle. Even though the gas cap was "on" the whole time she was laid up, I can't absolutely guarantee that a kid didn't take it off and put something down there. I sure would like to get to the bottom of this! Dave

That's a good idea - I think I'll look into doing that, as well. Thank you for checking for me.

Bill, I'd like better ones (than the ones I have) all the way around. What kind of shape do you think yours might be in? Dave

You betcha, Carl, this makes perfect sense to me. I'm going out first thing in the morning and determine which style I have - and then I'll know where to stick that piece of wire! Thank you so much for helping me with this! Dave

Gene, yes, our hoses here in Porterville sound like they're designed like yours (with the little rubber collar around the pipe)- for the most part. I say "for the most part" because I usually fuel up at a Shell station close to me that has the collar missing from one of the pumps. I prefer to use this one, because it allows me to stick the nozzle down in there and yet I can still see when the gas bubbles get to boiling up too close to the top. If I see this happen, I can stop in time and let them settle back down before they go over the top and then down the side of my freshly-painted little beauty. So I guess this means that, more than likely, I've got a plugged vent, right? Thanks for your input!

Yes, Carl, there was gas in the tank while it sat, but I don't know how much. Now when you say to insert a length of baling wire down "the vent", are you saying to put it down the neck of the tank's fill pipe or is "the vent" a separate part in a separate location? I know, I know - my question shows how dumb I am! Dave

I'm still looking for the R/W/B "Tri-shield" centers for the hubcaps on my '62 Skylark, if anyone knows where I might find them - thanks!

When empty, the gas tank on my '62 Skylark takes the first 4-5 gallons pretty easily, but beyond that it will only accept dribbles from the hose. I gritted my teeth the other day and vowed that I was going to fill the tank up no matter HOW long it took - and it took me about 25 minutes! Do you have any idea why this might be happening? Do I have a plugged vent or something? The car sat for about 7 years before I began bringing it back last year. Could a varmit have gotten in there somehow and made a nest (it always had the gas cap on, though). I'm perplexed!

Well, I'm curious - after all of this good advice, did you buy the car? How is it turning out so far? Dave

Thanks, Paul, for the very friendly invite! I'll have my "Sky" back in 3-4 weeks (at least, that's what the painter told me) and I'll be looking at the POCC website for something I can drive her to. I'll email you just as soon as I see the shine on the new paint, OK? Dave

Hey Paul! Just noticed your post (I hadn't seen a new one in a while and I guess I had sorta given up). Yeah, well, that's exactly how I feel - kind of alone! I knew there used to be a chapter here in the SJV, but hadn't found anyone that had been associated with it. Jeez, you've got a LOT of Buicks! I would've run out of room long before the '64! You must've been into them for a bunch of years, huh? And, yes, my '62 (my one and only!) is in being painted right now, but I'd love to bring her to one of the Pontiac get-togethers when I get her back. Do you know of any upcoming events that they have planned? Maybe you and I could show our cars off in a corner somewhere. We could squint our eyes a little bit and pretend that it's a Buick meet! Good to hear from you, Paul! Thanks for getting back to me!

Yes, I have seen this Pactra paint, too. I'll get some and try both it and a small bit of the Testors on a tiny, little corner and then see if I can tell any difference in the "acceptibility". Thank you very much for this suggestion!

With a toothpick, you say? Again, sounds like a job for my sure-fingered wife! And the older the car, the less there was to go wrong? Hmmm.... I guess I'd never thought about it that way before. Sounds kind of like Life in general, doesn't it? EVERYTHING was simpler "back then"!

Hahaha! I suppose each of us has melted/disintegrated something at one time or other! Yes, I am proceeding very slowly in restoring my Skylark - I am trying to slow down, think it through, try to anticipate all the things that can go wrong BEFORE doing something stupid. I'm moving in new territory here, JD, because I'm more used to buzzing along a little more fearlessly than I am right now. I keep thinking, "Man, if I screw this up, I might have a heckuva time getting a replacement (to say nothing of the cost!). I can't imagine what it must be like to own one of the REALLY old Buicks - I'd be a nervous wreck! Dave P.

Yes, John D, I hadn't thought about nail polish, but I guess if the stuff can hold up to what most women put it through, it's pretty tough! Thanks for the suggestion!

Thanks, Keith - I'll finish up with a clear (as long as it's compatible with the base paint, I should be OK, I hope!).

Bruce, thank you! I was beginning to think that I had asked some kind of a no-no question, because I hadn't received one reply! I'll go get some Testors and then I think I'll ask my wife to do the application (her hands are quite a bit steadier than mine). And, yes, I'll go look for the "bio" section and get it filled in right now.

You bet, Kevin, I'm already having lots of fun with this little car! I find that I spend a lot of time thinking up reasons to go to town to do some errand or other so that I can drive her! The learning curve looks a bit steep right now, but I'm looking forward to it. Yesterday I got very excited over just getting the windshield wipers going again! One step at a time, right?

Wow, JD! You'd drive all the way from New York to California? I guess I'd better expand my "driving horizons" a bit! I'll be making San Diego for SURE!My '62 really is in pretty good shape. I'm getting more and more confidence in her with each passing day (just getting her back on the road and all, I think I've been overly trepidatious about her mechanical dependability). And, yes, I will look over the roster and see who's around here. Sometimes I get to thinking that I'm the only Buick owner in Central California! Dave

I'd like to know what you folks do about "brightening up" the tri-shield emblems on your cars (on the hubcaps and on the ones behind the rear windows). Do you try to "touch them up" (and, if so, what colors of paint should I look for) or is there a place where replacements can be found?

Well, JD, I'm not sure. I guess somewhere out here on the West Coast. My car isn't (and probably won't be) nice enough (compared to you guys' cars) to have to trailer it, so that leaves driving it. Mechanically, she is in really good shape, but I also have to remember that she is also 43 years old. There is no "Buick action" here in the center of California where I live (this is where all of the agriculture is going on and is kind of considered the "Third World" part of California - there are no surfers or Valley girls anywhere around here!) and I'm kind of in a quandary about how I'm going to get my "Sky" to any shows (except for maybe the ones down in LA or up in Sacramento).

Oh ho, Henry - that makes it easier to understand. I followed right along with that example. I'm going to go try it with another part and see if I can do it. Thanks!

OK, I got it - careful I'll be. Thanks again for your good advice!

I think it's already starting to be a fun car, Joe! Mine has the aluminum V-8. Is there something about the heat here in the Central Valley (in addition to upgrading the fan and radiator) that I should know in regards to the block's metal?