1953mack

FWIW. Your description of your problem is hard to understand from the get-go. There's a difference between a brake shoe and a brake lining. Please confirm that the brake shoe with the lining let loose and not just the lining. Thanks. - All eight brake shoes on your 1953 Buick Roadmaster should be the same length. - The front brake Primary linings were originally 2.50"-wide x .250"-thick x 10" long. - The front brake Secondary linings were originally 2.50"-wide x .250"-thick x 13" long. - The rear brake Primary linings were originally 2.25"-wide x .187"-thick x 10" long. - The rear brake Secondary linings were originally 2.25"-wide x .187"-thick x 13" long. Typical Buick original asbestos brake linings . . . later than 1953. NAPA = no accurate parts available. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

- It sounds like you're talking about a front brake shoe. Correct or not? - According to NAPA's online catalog, a TS197 brake shoe is 2.25" wide — which is INCORRECT for a 1953 Buick Roadmaster front brake shoe. The original front brake shoe width on a 1953 Roadmaster is 12" x 2.50" wide. https://www.napaonline.com/en/search/brakes/pads-shoes/auto-parts/buick/roadmaster/1953?param=addVehicle - IMO, it sounds like you didn't get the TS197 brake shoes that should have fit your front drums even though they are not wide enough. Correct or not? Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

▲ I don't agree with how you are positioning the weatherstripping on your trunk lid. In addition, the original weatherstripping around the perimeter of my 1953 Buick Osage Cream trunk was installed in two pieces. Your installation should be the same. ▲ The top piece, approximately 72" long, was glued its entire length to the inside of the trunk's front gutter as shown above, then it turned the two corners and continued downward for approximately six inches on both the driver's and passenger's sides. At each of the two ends, there was a small retaining clip that held the weatherstripping in place and was attached with a sheet metal screw. ▲ The remaining piece, approximately 100" long, was glued to the underside of the trunk lid on all three remaining edges. Note the original glue residue that shows it just on the two leading edges of the weatherstripping and not on the entire backside. Anybody disagree with this detail on a 1951 or 1952 Buick? Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

From a 1952 Buick Sales Facts Book . . . ▲ The smaller front bumper guards were standard equipment on 40-series SPECIALS and 50-series SUPERS. ▲ The jumbo front bumper guards were standard equipment on 70-series ROADMASTERS and offered as an option on both the 40-series SPECIALS and 50-series SUPERS as part of the SAFETY GROUP that included backup lights and a parking brake warning light located on the instrument panel. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

The assembly plant location designated as code 4 above is incorrect — it is located in Kansas City, KANSAS. It's sad that HOMETOWN BUICK'S website and all their reproduction literature has this incorrect information for all 1950 thru 1959 Buicks. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

In a Buick Master Chassis Parts Book, a 6-volt sealed beam lamp is listed under Group 8.890, Part #451927 as part of the Multi-Purpose Lite assembly accessory listed with a Part #980986 ... not #980817, but yours could be similar. A Buick Salesman’s Facts Book doesn’t mention a stanchion for the sealed beam unit with the perimeter frame on it but I recall seeing an ad of one used to mount the sealed beam on it before setting it on the ground when changing out a flat tire during the night-time hours. Was there a stanchion, a 13’ cord to plug into your cigar lighter or a red plastic lens included in your box as part of the assembly? Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

These pictures were part of the original listing back in 2016 . . . they were asking $500 for it . . . internet now says they are permanently closed. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1954-BUICK-SKYLARK-POWER-BRAKE-VACUUM-PUMP-MOTOR-5453679-MORVAC-MORAINE-/222242454735?hash=item33beaebccf:g:X08AAOSwc3ZUpF5H&vxp=mtr

After documented complaints of brake problems early-on with the first-year-for-Buick power brake system, the Trico electric vacuum pump was a first for Buick and came out during the last month of the 1953 Buick production-run on 1953 Buick's with power brakes. Search this forum and it won't take you long to notice all the Buick owners and "re-builders" that still don't fully understand a basic brake system and how to trouble-shoot a problem — let alone a 1950s Buick with power brakes. Try contacting REAMS AUTO ELECTRIC out of Arlington, Texas @ 817-261-1183. They had a for-sale ad on eBay not that long ago for a rebuilt 1954 Buick Morvac EVP — they might still have it or they could probably rebuild yours. Do everyone on this Forum a favor and report back what you found out as far as what rebuilding services they offer and what the cost would be to rebuild your EVP. Thanx. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Obviously a 1953 Buick Special 40-Series grille with 23 teeth . . . the 1953 Buick Super 50 Series and Roadmaster 70 series grilles have 25 teeth. My neighbor once told me a long time ago that one of his ex-wife's great-great-grandmas told him that her husband came up with the "All I Want For Christmas Is Two More Front Teeth" song idea because he could only afford a 1953 Buick 46C Special convertible and not the 1953 Roadmaster Skylark 76X convertible. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

You have what Buick called a SAFETY LIGHT, a combination of an exterior rear view mirror + a 6-volt spotlight made by the Guide Lamp Company, a division of General Motors out of Anderson-Indiana at the time. They were adjustable from the interior of the car and built for the driver’s side only. The Safety Light was an approved dealer-installed accessory for Buick and other GM marques. Cadillac called it a Model S-18. Part numbers, mounting brackets depending on the contour of the door, rack length and grip-handle colors varied; listed under Group 9.773. Your best bet would be to keep an eye out on eBay or check with CHEVS OF THE 40S for replacement parts. You might have to remount your mirror on a replacement spotlight housing if your spotlight housing is cracked. Unity Manufacturing (out of Chicago-Illinois) and Appleton were competitors of Guide and I can’t tell you if their parts are interchangeable. Good luck. https://www.ebay.com/b/Other-Vintage-and-Classic-Car-Truck-Lighting-Lamps/34207/bn_557946?rt=nc https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/dept/Lights/cat/Spotlights.html Al Malachowski BCA #8965 “500 Miles West of Flint”

FWIW ▼ Buick described their way of balancing an early-1953 Buick V-8 engine by modifying the crankshaft weights and drilling holes in the flywheel. Note how they word it . . . "maximum" and "additional" counterbalancing: ▼ Buick called this an early-1953 fan driving pulley and not a crankshaft balancer. Just looking at it and noticing the offset chunk of metal, I doubt it if they were neutral balanced before engine assembly. Drilling holes in a pulley was never mentioned above — could be signs of a rebuilt engine by an independent re-builder(?) ▲ A late-1953 crankshaft balancer with attached fan driving pulley + spacer + a power steering pulley. I have a BPSB that goes into detail of why the change but I'm checking on a few things before I comment further on it. Thanks.

You and your local club member are confusing the OP.

♦ The two-grooved pulley on your Roadmaster does not act as a crankshaft balancer. ♦ The first and very early 1953 Buick Roadmaster and Super 322 C.I. V-8 engines (November-1952 to sometime in January-1953 / up to Roadmaster Engine Serial Number V 146501 7) were internally balanced. ♦ A later-1953 Buick crankshaft balancer assembly included a riveted-on single-groove pulley. ♦ I would suggest finding a later-1953 crankshaft balancer, spacer and a single-groove pulley before you attempt to balance your rebuilt engine. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Removing interior panels is not required. (Edited) All 24 rear fender-to-body-tub bolts along with the 3 gravel pan extension-to-fender bolts have caged nuts. I count a total of 27 fasteners for each rear fender. Removing the inner wheel-well front and rear gravel deflectors first will give you the needed access to the remaining inner wheel-well bolts and washers. (The rear bumper will be in the way after all the bolts are removed.)

"Make a date to find a Rocket 88 at French Lake" or better yet, a 1953 Buick 41D parts car. It might be worth a call to French Lake Auto Parts (FLAP) in Annandale, Minnesota . . . 320-274-8497. It's a big-time operation dealing in vintage cars since the late 1950s. Check out their website and YouTube videos. They might have either one or the other, maybe none at all or a lead where to find one, but it's worth a try. They are located an hour West of Minneapolis.

FWIW: a Buick Master Body Parts Book shows that a 1953 Oldsmobile (most likely a bottom-of-the-line 4-door 88 model) seat cushion part is interchangeable with your 1953 Buick 41D and nothing else.

Yes.

Rubber is correct but I couldn’t find them listed in Steele Rubber Products’ online catalog. Gasket, power unit pump reservoir Group 14.486 Part # 4161896 I.D. 4 1/2" O.D. 5” Thickness 1/8” Interchangeable with many 1946-1954 Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Cadillac and Chevrolet pumps. If you’re not in a big hurry, try finding one at the next Buick Nationals swap meet. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 “500 Miles West of Flint”

11.09.20 Brian, I’m writing this after reading the most-recent published Teleconference BOD Meeting Minutes of 09.16.20, posted on 10.25.20. None of the following were addressed nor published in recent BUGLES. As a co-chair of the scheduled duo-2021 BCA National Meets, would you be willing to share and comment on the following? If not, who would you suggest would be willing to come on-board and address the General Membership? - Whether a backup “Plan B” for the duo-2021 BCA Nationals exists yet, whether or not the feds extend limiting sizable group-gatherings or hotels continue to keep their banquet facilities shut down; - The dates, hopefully stated as part of the contracts, that the hotels will notify the BCA whether it’s a go or no-go; - The date that the BOD will notify the General Membership whether the Meets are on or off. Thanks. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 “500 Miles West of Flint”

A 1954 Buick Skylark 322 c.i. V-8 engine serial number does not start with the digit "3" . . . there is not a letter "A" that denotes the year 1954 . . . and there is no digit or letter in the engine serial number that denotes what plant the engine was built in or that it was originally installed in a 1954 Buick Skylark Model 100. The second location where you can find an engine serial number is by removing the upper casting for the oil filter's assembly at the rear of the engine on the passenger's side of the engine block. The number that you see there will not tell you what Buick series or model the engine was installed in originally. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint"

Let's start over for a clearer understanding. In my first post I asked how many seat adjuster motors you had under the seat and you said two. In your latest post you mentioned cylinders under the seat. I don't believe that you have the electric motors as shown in the picture below from a Buick Master Body Parts Book that applies to only 50-series SUPERS and 70-series ROADMASTERS as an option. OEM 1954 Model 100 Skylark front seats were powered by hydraulic cylinders with a built-in electrical solenoid as part of its hydro-lectric system. An OEM installation would have one hydraulic line and one wire running to each cylinder. Is this what you have? Typically, the electric power extends the hydraulic cylinder's rod to move the front seat forward and a coiled spring pulls the seat backwards. Similar for the up/down movement. In either case, I believe that one of the four internal bronze strap-springs (not a coiled spring) is not making contact (weak or broken) with one of the four contacts, thus causing your problem. IMO, a different operative 4-way momentary joystick switch will solve your problem. Here's the schematic for a totally electric power seat . . . no hydraulics . . . for 1954 Buick 50-70 Series only. I've never seen a wiring or hydraulic line layout for a 1954 Skylark hydro-lectric powered front seat. If your front seat is out of the 'Lark, a picture would clear-up a few questions. Thanks.

What cylinders are you talking about and what does the switch look like from the front side?

How many seat adjuster motors do you have under the front seat?

Super front fenders . . . Roadmaster rear fenders . . . air conditioning was not available on the 56R but was optional on the 76R. Whatcha got?

Here’s what I tried to send you before I ran into problems posting on this Forum. Knowing for certain that the sliding-rod locking mechanism needs work, you will need to remove the convertible top fabric first from the front roof-rail. Keep in mind that once you remove the top fabric, re-stretching the fabric back into position could be challenging for a top-shop. Time for a new top? You need to open-up the front roof-rail by separating the top-half from the bottom-half by drilling-out the two-dozen or so spot welds around its perimeter. Once you open up the two-halves, you will be able to see exactly what went haywire and what you have to deal with. The mechanism can't be too complicated and it sounds like your son has the metal-fab skills required to complete the job. Good luck. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 “500 Miles West of Flint”