Mark Shaw

Can you post a photo?

Just remember that when it comes to rare car parts, we are all just like the seagulls in "Finding Nemo". Mine....Mine....Mine.... If you step up to be a leader in your organization, you deserve a perk once in awhile. However, if you put yourself in such a position just to profit from it; you are doing it for the wrong reasons and taking advantage of your members. It won't take long for them to realize what you are doing and vote you out. My 2 cents...

Lamar, I have a buddy in California that has been a dealer in license plates for many years. To restore a plate, he bead blasts or soda blasts it to bare metal, repairs any pits, holes etc just like you would do to a car body panel. He finishes it with thin body fillers where necessary and primes and spray paints the whole plate with the correct base color. He then uses what looks like a printing roller to paint only the tops of the letters and numbers. They look new when he is done. Tags are the little stickies you get each year from the DMV after you pay your fees. They used to be metal years ago..

Jules, Congratulations on getting you Buick across the pond safely. The holes on the radiator shell are not (to my knowledge) for anything but to maybe vent heat from under the shell. I cannot respond with authority to the brake vent, other than it too is probably to vent and drain oil, water, brake dust, etc from another enclosed space on the car. Only the passenger side door should have an outside key lock. All others lock from the inside. I think is still have a couple of old grab ropes in my spare stuff. Please send me a separate email if you want one or both.

You probably need a 2" plug when measured at the outer lip. The rounded end should be slightly tapered. When you press it into the block it should compress to fit the hole to make it seal. If a metric size is a bit too big, you can always sand or machine it a little until it fits. This might be better than waiting for one to ship from the USA. My 2 cents...

Alex, Having a Buick in Italy is like having a Ferrari in the USA. Enjoy watching everyone's head turn...

Here is the link you need to answer your charging questions: http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/

That will be a tough one, but you might expand your search to the BCA Buy/Sell site. It may also be interchangable with Cadillacs.

Matt, I would agree with your test as long as your mother is not running for a political office....

I think the new diesel engines that are quiet, fuel efficient, and more powerful will displace gasoline engines in trucks and larger luxury cars in the near future. Just look at what has been happening in Europe. The gasoline/electric Hybrids may be more popular now, but I think Biodiesel will eventually become the fuel of choice for N.America. When these new diesel engines become more available, they will be able to burn biodiesel and blended diesel fuels made from a variety of crops and bio-waste. Fuels will differ from different parts of the country, and maybe some ethanol plants now being mothballed will be converted to process biodiesel from feedstocks other than corn. This evolution will significantly change what cars and trucks will use for fuel in the future. I sell valve and automation products used in Ethanol plants, and they are all hurting now that the word is out that Ethanol is primarily a political answer to the import oil problem. Nobody is building new gasoline refineries because of environmental impacts and the fact that gasoline may not be the fuel of the future. Since biodiesel is a more environmentally friendly process, it may prove to be more cost effective to produce it here in North America than gasoline. I suggest that it could easily become the cleanest and most cost effective fuel of choice. So, if you are currently driving a diesel, you may already be ahead of the game... The one thing that never changes is that things will change.

A 1923 honeycomb radiator is not designed to handle 10-15 lbs of pressure. I suggest you remove the radiator, and back flush it up side down on your lawn. First put the cap on and hold your hand over the inlet (now at the bottom) while you fill the radiator from the outlet (now at the top). Remove your hand from the inlet when it is full. Repeat this several times until all the water coming out is clear. Then partially fill it again and slosh it back and forth in various positions several times to break loose any more debris. Repeat the flushing cycle until the water is clear again. Test the flow by standing the radiator upright against something to hold it at about a 30 degree angle. Fill the radiator while holding your hand over the outlet (now at the bottom). Remove your hand and watch how far the water shoots out of the outlet. If it shoots over a foot, you have enough flow. If it is considerably less, you probably need a new core.

Mike, You say the radiator is fine. Did you flush it and/or have it tested for flow? If so, try replacing your thermostat with one that fails open. Also, check your spark advance mechanism. Retarded spark will cause overheating.

Sounds like you need to do a good back flush on the radiator. Do the engine block while you're at it too.

Like everyone in this hobby, Elmo39 is entitled to his opinion. I just want to point out that there are many different ways to enjoy this hobby. Some like to win stuff at car shows, some like to drive & tour, and some just like making these older machines run well. I fall into the latter two categories.... Spending thousands of dollars for perfect paint jobs in not my thing.

SolidAxle, Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks a heap...

Try here: 1937and1938Buicks@yahoogroups.com

There are several trailers made to handle tall cars. Some of my HCCA buddies have 8' tall trailers for hauling their big cars without putting the top down.

Way to save some $$. I have used Macco for two of my cars. (One is in the photo) I suggest you peel off all the old stuff and sound proof your doors with the "spray stuff" you mentioned or use rubberized bed liner coating for a good solid job.

If you are going to disassemble it yourself, you can use aircraft stripper to remove the old paint. It is a lousy messy and stinky job, but just about any amature can do it. Just be careful to read and strictly follow the instructions on the stripper container. You can do a door, hood , trunk lid, etc. after dinner each night during the week and finish the rest of the body on the weekend. I have done this on three of my cars & used Ospho to preserve and prep the bare steel prior to primer coating. I don't have the hands of a body man, but I did get all of the "rough body work" done prior to handing it over to a pro. This saves lots of $$ and is time well spent getting to know every curve and crevice of your car.

That sounds about right.

Earlier in my career, I was in the well drilling and pump business. This looks like an older oiler for a large capacity lineshaft turbine pump. Similar oilers are still used today to oil the multiple shaft bearings in a deep well pump assembly.

I have a HaLee Crank Pin Re-Turning Tool made by AMMCO Tools. It is great for resurfacing crankshaft bearing journals with the engine in the car. Mine came with several sizes of cutters for different sized bearings. It is well worth the $75 I think I paid for it. I have loaned it out to others and used it myself on my 1931 Buick, so it has paid for itself many times over.

Give it a chance.... Location, Price, more details about what is missing...etc. What would you want to know before buying a project car like this?

Yesterday's mail included a letter from the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau touting Colorado Springs as the host city for the 2009 National Buick Meet. I was a bit surprised to get a letter so soon touting the "range of activities" and "scenery in every direction" etc. etc. along with a website listing to get "the full scope visit at www.PeakRadar.com. How did I get on this mailing list? Did somebody send the Visitor's Bureau a BCA Roster?...registration list from last year's meet?...did anybody else get this letter?

Way to go Willie! And thanks to 29 Tourer for this post. We need to see more stories of this kind of cooperation in our hobby. I know it's out there....