Glassesguy

No red cloth interiors. Grey and tan only Dark red leather in convertibles. Cloth and red leather available in convertibles as well, but cloth insert is tan.

My first post to this site. I drive a 2007 Pacifica so at Al Smith Chrysler in Bowling Green Ohio I was wandering the back lot. They have a 90? burgandy coupe. Not in great shape. Lots of faded paint and leaves gathering on the car. No sticker price in window. I didn't know if you regulars knew about this one. Dealership # is 800-807-6484 or local phone of 419-352-5151 Fax 419-354-8027.

Brian: I agree. Definitely an 80 Series. Wonder why he thought it was a 90 Series/

Adam; I enjoy following your project immensely. Wish i had your skills to do the same. Quick reply on your questions. Yes to all 3. Pulley insulator was to cut down noise up front. Somewhere I have the service bulletin on that. Foam stuff on heater and evaporator cores was used on factory AC. The 5 58 Limiteds I've owned or diassembled over the years let me see some of the differences. Maybe that spray foam in a can used for insulating around home electrical boxes could be creatively used as a patch. Factory AC cars used a different voltage regulator and had a housing on the rear of the generator. A cloth covered wire duct ran forward and attached to the firewall to allow air to cool the generator. Hopefully your car still has these pieces. Keep up the postings!!

The wheel shown on ebay is the standard one used on the Series 40 only. The "flexible" wheel with the horn ring and maroon plastic rim was optional on Series 40 but standard on all other Series. Admittedly it must have been a very popular option as I have seen more of the optional wheel versus the standard one. 1937 through 1941 used similar standard wheels, but the parts book lists different munbers.

Dave: Dan Myers in Lindsey, Ohio has a 39 Model 41. Sliding panel is missing. Used to have dual sidemounts. Will ask Dan to get the numbers you requested.

Guy: Check with Lewis Jenkins at Jenkins Restorations. He sells kits and materials for 30's through 50's cars. I believe your carpet is called Roxpoint. Mr. Jenkins has many prize winners to back up his knowledge. Website is www.411web.com/jenkinsrestor/ or call 336-667-4282 as listed on the website. Hope this helps.

Ryan: Great postings by everyone. Do you think the top is original? My understanding is the 53 and 54 Skylarks came with tops made of "Orlon" a new wonder material. This material was used on Skylarks only and available in white or black. BCA Judging Manual says this material is no longer available. Your car would provide a rare opportunity for the Skylark experts and purists to view an original material. Good luck with this car.

Norb: I have a 1958 Acessories brochure which was included in the New Car envelope with these cars that pictures and lists seat belts as an option. They appear to be aircraft style with a big chrome metal buckle. My 1965 Color and Trim Book lists front seat belts as standard for all Series but can be deleted for credit. My 65 Lesabre Conv. build sheet shows a letter S in the box marked "Frt Std Seat Belts". If the belts were an option the box would be marked with an X as was done with the options my car has. I believe 1965 was the year all GM cars had Front belts as standard; but the sales lit doesn't always say so. Manufacturers played up padded dashes and such items, but I feel they were still nervous about seat belts as the public was perceived as not ready to accept them. I remember the Public Service Announcements on TV trying to get people to use and accept seat belts. Hope this helps.

Pete: I believe the numbers were 46 and 41. May have to run to the garage to count the ones I have. Parts Book shows the break points were as follows: New ones were used after #1-3523031 Flint; 2-3492496 California; 3-3503770 Linden. It's interesting to see what some of the aftermarket ones look like when you see them on Ebay or a swap meet.

Bill: If the car is Matador Red the paint code is 62. Interior code of 53 is Red Leather per the 36-58 Parts Book. I'll bet the letters represent power options added at Fisher Body such as hydraulic windows and power top. My guess #5 is the Tan top, but I don't have 1953 top codes to confirm this. 1955 code 5 is a Tan top.

Bill: Parts Book shows no matching numbers between 1939 and 1940 rear bumper parts. 1939 Series 40 and 60 used 2 different setups due to the difference between the early short frames and the later long frames. You are correct, though, that 1940 series 40 and 60 bumper parts are the same.

Neil: I have never seen any Buick spark plug covers that were ever factory plated either prewar or postwar. Of course it has been done, but not from the factory. I hope the Old Guy and Dave Corbin can confirm this.

Arnold: 1928-1941 Parts Book reads as follows; Lens, Fender lamp 920662 1937 1st type up to frame #3085180 Flint built cars; C-3046946 California built cars. 921435 1937 2nd type after frame #3085181 Flint cars; #C-3046947 California built cars. 921435 1938 all. So 1937 2nd type and 1938 all are the same part. Hope this helps.

Adam: I'm not convinced it is the same. One is in Detroit, the other is in South Carolina. Lots of the parts appear to be the same, though. Hope someone else knows for certain.

Adam: Don't know for sure. Can you direct me to a site? I assume you've been to Classic Fabrication's website. I seem to recall postings on the Forum.

Adam: How about classicfabrication.com? They make a number of floor pans for Buicks and other makes and they do list 1958. Keep those pics coming.

Chuck: The 1965 Lesabre 400 option hooked a ST 400 to the 4 barrel 300 engine so I'd think it would be possible. I don't know if the bell housings were the same, though, as the Wildcat used the 430 engine, so I'm looking forward to a reply on this by the real experts out there also.

Roberta or Peter: Can this topic be made sticky or posted towards the top? Thanks

Stevo and Others: The 2009 Great Lakes Regional is being hosted by the Akron Canton Chapter. Dates are Aug 14 & 15, 2009 Host hotel is the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls, OH near Akron. www.sheratonakron.com. 330.929.3000. Contact Stan Hazell 330.923.9098 Buicknut@att.net or Chip Aeppli 330.634.0103 cwaeppli@att.net. This info is from the flyer they were handing out at the 2008 Regional in Archbold hosted by our chapter. I had a very long and good conversation with both Stan and Chip after the banquet on Sat. night and know they're workin' hard to host a great one. As the National is in Denver for 2009, I offered an opinion that that attendance for the 2009 GLR Meet could be quite large so early reservations would probably be in order. I don't know if Chip or Stan are Forum members so here's the info. By the way I want to thank all those who attended the 2008 Meet. Our chapter enjoyed hosting it and meeting some nice people and seeing some fine cars. I particularly want to recognize Tom and Donna Gestwick and others from the Niagara Frontier Chapter and BCA members from Pennsylvania,and Maryland who drove in to our meet. Buicktown, Northeast Ohio, and Central Michigan had nice representation as well. Thanks again from all of us in the Glass City Chapter.

Mark: Help me. Where are the pics of the interior Lamar mentions?

Janne: My 39 is not restored, just maintained. Good to know both Tom and Dave backed up my post. I know the publication to which Tom refers. Hard to get more authentic than than that. I agree too on the other lines being painted. You just have to visualize what logically would have been on the engine black assembly prior to painting. I'm glad the spark plug cover and acorn nuts were mentioned also. The nuts and the fuel/oil lines might look pretty all polished up but that finish is not correct. It would be logical to assume the exhaust manifold got hit with paint, but the paint would obviously have been burned off quickly. BCA Judging takes in to account treatments such as Calyx or other coatings for preservation: however, porcelainizing would be considered overrestoration. Kep posting pictures of your progress.

Janne: Forgot to include that the intake manifild is gray also. Carburetor is natural finish.

Janne: My very original 39 Model 41 engine painted gray including valve cover, side cover including the breather and draft tube, crankshaft balancer, dipstick, generator bracket(on engine), generator brace(for adjusting fan belt tension), thermostat housing and waterpump including the bypass hose and clamps, and breather cap. Aftermarket breather caps were black or some other color depending on manufacturer. Black is used on starter, distributor, water pump pulley, fan, and generator. Fuel pump is natural color. All the edges of your gaskets should be gray also as they were in place when the engine was assembled. External oil line leading to rocker assembly is gray as well as it was in place when the engine was painted. Some restorers feel the valve cover and side cover should be black: however, the black color is a coating to prevent rust on the metal parts as they were shipped from the stamping plant to inventory in the engine assembly area and allow some adhesion of the gray finish color at final painting. Over the years the gray finish came off and revealed this color. I doubt there was any effort to prep this surface before the finish coat. It is known, though, that the Buick engines of the 20s and early 30s did use black painted valve and side covers. Some of this information is also gained from pictures in the Buick Magazines of the period showing the engines in the assembly and storage area of the plant. Hope this helps.

Roberta: Thanks for posting the pics. How'd things go in Indiana?