60FlatTop

The XP-300 is still around. It was part of the Field of Dreams project:

Read the ad, he's offering to spawn. Bernie

I think I would find steel wire of the correct diameter and wind the two end coils around a fabricated mandrel, leaving the length of the center loop to bend last. If you thought it was necessary a metal shop could heat treat the final one. Although it looks like an easy bend, I would get enough to mess up three before I got it right. Bernie

It is a good example of a counter culture "in your face" statement. This group of rat rod owners and builders is making a statement against the high dollar street rods and custom revivals nationally glorified in the glossy publications. It is more political than automotive. I have seen articles with the title "What Would Offend XXXXX The Most". If you are offended the project is a success. This is not the only niche in our hobby or society, as well. Spring is here at last. And the car shows and cruise ins will be starting. Next time one looks at another person's car, imagining it is upscale to theirs and has a flash of the two magic words, "They think", the seed has been planted to either equal or offend. It is easier to make a parody than to create an original. The car hobbies are great. Sometimes the humans get in the way. Bernie

In a similar vein, last fall I got a call from a person I did work for in the mid-1990's. His car was a non-Buick but popular collector car. I corrected a number of running issues as simple as replacing the distributor vacuum diaphragm to bypassing the tail light wires that had been welded into the metal repair around the wheel well. The car ran great and he let it be known that I charged far too much for my skills, the ones the other places he took the car first didn't have. A few years later a charging problem developed (not my charging, the electrical system). His call to me last year was for advice on his legal recourse because, for a few reasons, the other guy had left his car sit in a field for almost 10 years with racoons nesting through the open window. The car is pretty much a parts car. Apparently the cost of the cheaper guy was the car. I read the stories on the forum and comment. My wife will tell you my personal quote, "Restraint is my least recognized attribute." In the 1950's and '60's shops used to screw up foreign cars all the time. OUR cars ARE the foreign cars of today. 25 years ago carburetors and distributors went away. Drum brakes, prefabricated lines? I had a car come in one time with a brake line coiled to make it the correct length. The owner told me the mechanic said you can't cut those lines. Shops are grinding out standard repairs on ten year old cars with an average value of $4,000. They charge from $80 to $120 per hour in a place that would even look at our cars. Mechanics in larger shops are under pressure to upsell, that's where the service manager's commission comes from. This is a Buick group on the AACA forum. Guess where the technical resources lie to keep your car running and to move through the refurbishing or restoration process. It is in your local chapter meeting and the resources of the clubs. You won't survive alone and even then you need to develop skills for your own independence. Then share your skills with others or sell the service. If I went back into the collector car service business I would be at about $180 per hour. Don't forget, if I make a profit 40 to 50% of that goes to taxes and fees. Learn the skills, work with friends, and enjoy the clubs or be skewered. Bernie

A while back there was some discussion on the availability of owner's manuals. I was working in the garage today and sorting through some of my Riviera stuff. I've always been happy with this find: As I remember I paid about $15 for that package in Sandusky, Ohio at Cedar Point Park during the 1981 Buick Nationals. Bernie

I have a roll of 1/16th inch rubber that I would use to cut a new one. Most seal companies carry it in stock. Bernie

I threw mine out: Bernie

I am pretty sure one or two rides will end that adventure. It is not an easy seat to get into. I don't think there will be a line to get back in. "Let's take the Tahoe next time." If there is any chance to revive the seats it would be from working in some pure lanolin. On some cars I have removed the seats and set them on a bench. Then I dipped my fingers into a can of D&L hand cleaner and worked it into the vinyl the best I could. I wiped down any excess and put them back in. They look great and if you really, really believe they will feel softer. Best is another call to Clark's. Here's the tune I was humming when I did it last time: Bernie

Here's the quote "I'd love to get feedback from Buick experts as to how I should go about selling this car. Any advice is much appreciated." Make it start, steer, and stop. Clean it like you were taking it to a show. If something is no big deal, fix it. Bernie

Was that picture taken the day the car went into storage or the day it came out? I'm just wondering what the "classic car guy" was looking at. If it is in the storage unit, not running, with 5 years of dirt, condensation "fur" all over the engine compartment, no battery, and no coolant level visible, he probably took a good roll of the dice. I have made similar offers and then prayed all the way home that the owner didn't call back and accept. Just as a casual observer I would think about the $250 wiper motors for those cars. Why didn't they park? I would be suspicious about the hood alignment. Was it off the car for some reason? The skewed antenna shows a lack of attention to detail. And there are a lot of aged consumables; tires, hoses, belts, battery, brake questions, and the like that could rack up $3,000 to $4,000 worth of work pretty quickly. Those are obvious expenses. There could be unforeseen issues due to storage. Either the seller needs to make it a salable driver or the buyer needs to deduct the refurbishing costs. Looking at a total commitment cost, would one fan out 60 to 100 $100 bills on the hood and say I want that car? That is the question to answer when preparing a car for sale. Not meaning to be critical, just thinking about what gets a guy to reach in his pocket. Bernie

Here is our local service that does great work and is willing to get into old car jobs: http://www.bjrradiator.com/ Notice that gas tanks are on the list. There should be similar places near you. Bernie

It would be better to find a way for your friend to test drive a 48 Super Dynaflow. Since the car is a new purchase, it might not be the Dynaflow that they don't like. When I think of things That a person wouldn't like and comparing it with driving very good Buick Supers, it is hard to fault them in smoothness and adequate performance. Maybe your friend shifts too often or expected a different experience. What if you go through the work and they still don't like the car? Bernie

Here are two good sources for help with sub-frame mounts and pretty much anything you need for your car: http://lesabret.com/ http://rivperformance.editboard.com/forum If you own a 3.8 FWD Buick you will find it here. Bernie

Be careful with that one; drip a little oil from that open engine on those Georgia roads and you'll be talking to the man: Bernie

Wow! There's a quote "The job has been easier than I expected, but then again I've only done disassembly so far." If it's OK I may put that in my signature. Bernie

I have had the harness out of my '64. I replaced a few of the damaged terminals with Belden replacements from NAPA. Any copper or brass terminals are best cleaned using a lead pencil eraser. They polish right up and work fine. Lisle tools makes a great tool: http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-56500-Terminal-Tool/dp/B0009OR906/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_text_z. You can take all the connectors apart, clean the plastic with lacquer thinner, and repair damaged ends. There is one lying on the table in this old picture: http://brockportinternational.com/xjs/Dir5/Riviera/2011-02-27/035.png Bernie

I have been working on a redo of my '64. I put 8 coats of lacquer on it in 1980. Someone had put a vinyl top on it in the early '70's.That has finally been removed. My final plans are leaning toward two toning the paint similar to the green one with silver on top and Milano maroon below. I think I will go with a light gray interior with maroon piping. After taking the dash pad off on Sunday, a stitched leather cover, in light gray with maroon stitching, looks like the way to go. These are reversible cosmetic changes. My ultimate goal is the have a car someone can walk up to and immediately know which end the engine is in. Slightly in another direction, I bought four of these for my '94 Impala: 17 X 8 with the discontinued 5X5 pattern. When the Impala came out the aluminum wheels looked pretty good. Then they went corporate and the lok is common. Had to have the shiny Cragars. You know what else they fit.. Bernie

I like the quote where the speaker said "well, that's what you get when you get here early. You don't even know what you're looking at." Good thing he taped for 5 minutes and figured out the engine was in the front. The car is 50 years old. It was taken out of its context, modified and delivered to a counter culture group that tends to make "if your face" statements based on shock value or non-conformity. Holy Batman, why wouldn't it get the Ridler award. I spent a couple of hours out in the garage with mine yesterday. Maybe I will mold in a simulated wooden nose ring and some Easter Island tattoo paint effects and fit in with the nonconformists. Better yet, buy another Jaguar XJS. Bernie

That Ebay-Shmebay car had a '74 to '78 Nova windshield frame. Bernie

The history of the bidder at $54.54 shows 6 recent sales on Ebay. With a pocket full of Ebay Bucks cost should be no object. My wife saw some stuff I sold on Ebay and said if she had been cleaning up she would have thrown it away. She said I got my money for nuthing: Spend it!!!!!! Bernie

That styling is pretty similar to what Bill Mitchell wanted to do with the '71 boat tail. He really wanted that car on a A body platform. GM wouldn't approve it. This car could be made really nice by covering up the school bus chrome yellow. About 15 years ago I bought a Jaguar XJS. It was delivered in a trailer and I had not driven it. Those cars weigh 4,000 pounds, have a large car feel, and an adequate V12. I pulled out of my driveway the first time and thought "This is a British Buick and this is the car Bill Mitchel l wanted to build in '71." I loved it. Bernie

I thought everybody had one: They came free floating without the frame as well. They were released to promote the chance from Invicta to Wildcat. Mine came from the salesman who took it off the wall. Bernie

Ask the owner why he let the uninsulated water line drip across the hood and fenders if the car was that valuable. Be sure to open the door and let him breathe deep while discussing the price. Just guessing, but, from the looks of the building it is going to need some maloder counterreactant. If not at least you got a new vocabulary word. Bernie

I would figure another $5,000-$7,000 in tires, brakes, hoses, radiator, water pump, engine bearings, possible rings, transmission service, fluid flushes, fuel pump, carburetor, fuel tank, exhaust, and other components that needed replacement before abandonment or deteriorated during the idle time. The next six months will be the most expensive and frustrating. 2015 would be quite enjoyable. Ask the owner if you can bring a bucket in ans wash the car. Use a polishing cloth and a bottle of detail spray. I will have intimate knowledge of the car when you are done. Bernie