1953mack

The TRACTION CONTROL along with the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light came on while driving down the road today with temps in the 80's and dry roads. Does anyone know where to start looking for a possible problem and a possible fix? The Riv has 135K on the clock. I appreciate your time responding. Thanks. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

For the record, approximately the first-half of all nailhead engines built during the 1953 Buick production run did not have a harmonic balancer. They were internally balanced. Change points are noted in a BPSB. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

It looks like there's some matching paint near the edges on the number plate. Was the plate factory-installed before or after the Buick was painted? If not before, why not paint on the entire plate? Thanks.

Are you referring to the 1953-1956 Buick V8 engine that is the topic of this thread? I'd be interested in reading the article. Where can I find it? Thanks. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Have you tried doing a GOOGLE antique radio knobs search for your pointer knob? Here's one of many that might be able to lead point you in the right direction if they don't have anything close. http://www.oldradioparts.com/knobs.htm 3D printing could be another option. Do you have a sketch with rough dimensions? Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

I'm not surprised a bit even with all that's going on, but at the same time you kinda wonder how many of the rooms were blocked off for the VIP BCA folks and how many Buicks the NMC is anticipating. Come for the General Membership Meeting and fireworks . . . stay for the car show! Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint" Edit: Their website indicates that there are 151 rooms total. No info on available parking stalls.

Doug, Long time no update. I don't know whether someone else has contacted you already or whether you figured out the numbering sequence on your 1950 Buick grille teeth or not by now. The reason for this post is to admit that I made a mistake in my Post #2 above and just found out about it two days ago when I received the JULY 2018 issue of the Buick BUGLE. The information that I posted in Post #2 is INCORRECT and contradicts with what I said in Post #4. I will edit my Post #2 for those who might do an advanced search later on. Post #2 should have read: Passenger side 420879135 Driver side The note at the bottom of this catalog picture says it all. One last comment: To you and all others. I'm sorry for any confusion that it caused. What's sad about this whole deal is it took this long for someone to point it out to me. I've been posting on this Forum for years and take pride in what I post. I enjoy receiving e-mails and PMs and being challenged. I will answer all questions and own up to all my mistakes . . . but I do not apologize for stating the facts. I also don't have a problem with someone attaching my name to where that incorrect information is coming from. (The article in the BUGLE referred to me as " a participant on the Buick's web site.") Hope you understand where I am coming from. Thanks and hope you figured out the numbering sequence by now. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

♦ The correct date of Mr. Joel Gauthier's death is posted in his obit as July 17, 2015 . . . not July 7th. ♦ That date would be after BCA's fiscal year 2015 ended on June 30, 2015. Note that the 2015 BCA Nationals were held in Springfield, MO earlier in the month, June 9-13. You would think that all the numbers should have been tallied-up by then or very close to it. Two additional items re: Insert Letter and Transparency ♦ Why were two members of the Board not listed at the bottom of the insert letter: Larry DiBarry and Roberta Vasilow? Did they disagree with sending that insert letter out? ♦ The insert letter mentions an e-mail that Terry Wiegand sent out to the BOD and all the Chapter Directors. Who made the decision not to include it as part of the insert letter so members that don't tune in to the internet nor belong to a local Chapter could review it and form their own opinion? IMHO, paraphrasing doesn't cut it in this case. The use of the backside was wasted. Anyone have the facts? Thanks. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

I don't know the exact location on the 1955s because I never owned one. I'll let the 1955 owners answer your question. On a 1953, one of the two locations is on the topside of the driver's side (left) frame rail within 12" from the front tip of the frame. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Poppy's 55: ♦ The Engine Serial Number doesn't tell you if it was the original engine that came with the Buick. ♦ It only tells you whether that number falls within the range of engine numbers built for 1955 Buicks (720080 through 1460022) and the last digit (suffix) tells you what model of Buick it was originally installed in . . . UNLESS you have the original Dealer's invoice or original 1955 title issued by the State that shows that same number. Some States used Engine Serial Numbers for titling purposes. ♦ Your engine could have been swapped out just days after it left the Dealer's car lot in 1955 with another one that has the same 4-suffix or one that has a 5, 6, or 7. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

♦ You and your insurance company are correct in saying that a 1955 Buick Car Serial Number (VIN) starting with a "4" designates a SPECIAL, Series 40 Model. After the "4" there should be a "B" to designate the model year of 1955. ♦ To double check to see if someone swapped out this Car Serial Number metal tag from another Buick, you need to see if that number exactly matches the number that is stamped on the frame rail. ♦ The Body by Fisher Number Plate doesn't prove anything the legal experts are looking for. You can easily find those in a junkyard or have one made and attached to your cowl/firewall. Same goes for a Car Serial Number tag. ♦ The only correlation that the Number Plate and the Car Serial Number have is . . . on the third line of the Number Plate, the code letter(s) after BODY NO. designates the assembly plant location, and on the Car Serial Number tag and frame rail, the third alphanumeric should be the numerical code for the same assembly plant location. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

I disagree with what you are saying. What are you referring to when you say a twist of words and why are you quoting only part of Mr. Oldfield's 3/19 response to Terry W.? Terry W's italicized line in question is brief, to the point, and accurate . . . BCA President Alan Oldfield sent out an e-mail to the board that he didn't feel that it was necessary to publish the report in the BUGLE because that would take up valuable pages that could be used for members car stories. The following is the exact response that appears on my computer. Who wrote these Minutes? Alan O writes: Terry Answers to your questions: Mr. President, are you going to instruct the Bugle editor to publish the financial details that has been hashed over for the last week or so? NO. I will not instruct the Bugle editor to publish the financial details that have been hashed over the for the last week or so. The reason is that it will all be in the minutes that will be published to the website. Those minutes are available to the entire membership. Also, our secretary writes a summary of BOD action for the Bugle, as we directed previously. Our discussions would be in that summary. I am not the dictator of content for the Bugle. I will not, on my own, direct the editor to replace articles and news in the Bugle with BOD minutes that are already available on the website. That would be a waste of our Bugle space, and a waste of Pete and Cindy's time. Like you, I support transparency. The BOD may vote to direct the Bugle editor to replace articles and news in the Bugle with BOD minutes, if it so wishes. Last concern. In the FEBRUARY 2018 issue of the BUGLE, you posted some minutes of previous BOD Meeting discussions. Would you be willing to share with all the members what prompted you to publish those and do you consider that publishing detailed Minutes and the annual Financial Statement is wasting someone's time and taking up valuable BUGLE space? Answers would be appreciated. Thanks. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

MCHinson, Alan Oldfield, and others . . . Don't feel like a lone ranger looking for financial and other BCA information. The most recent financial statement that appeared in the Buick BUGLE can be found on page 8 of the September 2014 issue for fiscal year ending 2014. Brian DuPouli was just elected President and Kevin Kinney preceded him. I mention both names because I don't know who might have prompted publishing the statement in the BUGLE per the Club's by-laws. Maybe it was Bill Stoneberg or the CPA's idea. It would be nice to know which of the two Presidents was doing their job. Anybody have an answer? Following Brian DuPouli, Brian Clark and Alan Oldfield were elected as Presidents by the BOD. The big concern that many BCA members have is why these Presidents are shirking on their responsibilities. If the CFO and President can't come up with a financial statement in a timely manner, why doesn't Plan B kick in and find someone that can step-in and see to it that the by-laws are followed and published annually? Read the latest BOD Minutes of MAY 2018 for more info. What's shocking in the minutes is to read that the current BCA President Alan Oldfield sent out an e-mail to the board that he didn't feel that it was necessary to publish the report in the Bugle because that would take up valuable pages that could be used for members car stories. Alan, What's your definition of "valuable" compared to the 24 out of 48 pages in the JUNE 2018 BUGLE devoted to Cuba and the Cuban rat rods? Bill Stoneberg, I do not agree with your statement that we have lost 314 members since the beginning of our fiscal year (July 1, 2017). According to my calculations, your number is way short. What numbers did you use to arrive at 314? Thanks. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Fusick might sell reproduction cover plates for the 1953 12-volt Buick battery cover (pictured), but if you're saying that this 1953 Buick battery cover plate and a 12-volt battery are the same size as a 1954 6-volt Pontiac, you are wrong. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

You need a 1952 Buick Shop Manual to get familiar with Buick's straight eight engine, brakes, transmission, etc. details. The 1953 Buick Shop Manual was considered a supplement to the 1952 Shop Manual and mainly addressed the first-year Buick V8 engine. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Here's a new eBay listing for a new (incomplete?) solenoid. It's listed as the same part number as Hagen's price sheet shows, so it must be a superseded number from the original 1118186. The description or the pictures don't say anything about the linkage for the driven pinion assembly's shift lever or the rubber boot. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-Buick-Super-Roadmaster-Skylark-NOS-starter-solenoid-1119965/192523282986?epid=672597058&hash=item2cd3482a2a:g:L2gAAOSwTyZa4ntl&vxp=mtr Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

♦ You're not reading the Body by Fisher Number Plate info correctly and confusing most everyone. ♦ You should be reading MODEL 51-48D (D as in Deluxe) . . . not MODEL 51-480 (0 as in zero). ♦ Also, the Fisher Body Style Number reads 51-4311D (D for Delux Tourback 2-door Sedan) . . . not 51-43110 (0 as in zero). ♦ A 1951 Buick Model 48D rolled off the assembly line with three ventiports in each front fender (not 4 ventiports in each side of the hood) and a three-piece rear window. Where are you seeing SUPER on your Buick SPECIAL? ♦ If it has the 8 ventiports in the hood and a B U I C K script emblem somewhere on your Buick, someone somehow attached these some time after it left the assembly line. ♦ If all of my assumptions above are correct, it sounds like you might have bought a customized Buick. Right or wrong? Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

I looked to see if I had a spare solenoid that I would sell but came up empty. A few possibilities..... ♦ The lady might try these guys. They list it as their Part #8-932. https://hagensautoparts.com/pricesheet/starter solenoid ♦ Do a GOOGLE search for the Delco-Remy solenoid #1118186 ♦ Consider purchasing an improved rebuilt 1954-1955 Buick Delco-Remy 1107621 starter with the correct solenoid. . . . .or a 1956 Delco-Remy 1107646 starter with the correct solenoid. I'll keep looking. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Pete, ♦ Your pictures are not of a 1953 Buick Super/Roadmaster 12-volt solenoid. There should be a Part Number stamped on the passenger's side saddle-mounting flange to identify what your solenoid fits. ♦ The 1953 Buick V8 starter and solenoid assembly was a poorly designed, one year-only model for the first-year Buick V8. Parts are not interchangeable. 1954 starters were definitely a better unit due to the internal wiring/compound fields. ♦ You might want to have the lady verify if she really has a 1953 starter before she spends any $$ on a solenoid. ♦ A quick way to determine whether it's a 1953 starter is to look for a removable metal band around the commutator end of the starter used for inspecting brush wear. 1954 and later starters do not have the removable inspection band. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Where are you getting your information from? The 1953 Buick Skylark was the only 1953 Buick Model that had an OE, 12-volt, LF fender-mounted antenna. All the other twelve SPECIAL, SUPER, and ROADMASTER Models had a roof-mounted manual antenna, centered above the windshield if they bought the optional radio. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

♦ Your engine serial number indicated that you have a 1953 Buick V8 engine block. Are you using the OE 1953 painted-yellow flywheel tooth for the suggested 5° before upper dead center timing or did someone install or transfer an indicator mark onto the crankshaft pulley? ♦ At cranking speed, your compression readings and average is way low. Are you happy with these numbers and what does your book say they should be? Overall low compression readings could point to bad rings or valves. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

PM sent.

♦ Your engine number is an early 1953 V8 322 cubic-inch block number . . . March 1953 . . . OE from a 1953 Super (the last digit "5" = SUPER 50 Series) and came without a harmonic balancer. An OE Stromberg 2-barrel carb for that model was an AAVB-267. ♦ I originally said that the intake manifold had a 1954 casting number. That number is actually a 1953 2-barrel intake manifold Part Number. I will edit my previous Post accordingly. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

(EDIT in bold italics) ♦ This number on your intake manifold is for a 1953 Buick SUPER (50-Series only) 322 cubic-inch V8 engine. According to the books, your Stromberg or a Carter 2-barrel carburetor was OE. ♦ You say that the "engine id falls within the correct years". Hopefully you are not confusing this Part Number with the Engine Serial Number. Engine Serial Numbers did not have a --2 suffix. ♦ Posting your Engine Serial Number would clear up a few issues. The last digit (or suffix) would tell a lot. Other details in your pictures show that you might have a 1954 engine in lieu of an early-1955. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Have you verified if your rocker arm shafts are right-side up or up-side down? Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"