60FlatTop

I'm reminded of a 1964 Cadillac Fleetwood I looked at once. It was advertised as a one owner perfect original car, bought new by the owner's Uncle. When I pulled a handful of body colored steel wool from under the wheel lip the seller almost had a stroke. 50 years is a long time for a car to exist without being molested. I could slip a car off the a body shop for a peanut butter job and my nephews would never know. Whatever the car don't expect it to be as represented. Expect to redo everything that was done. It looks like you are interested in a project. Buy a project. When buying a car that is not supposed to be a project there are important questions to ask: Is the car licensed and insured now? No is a bad answer. How long have you owned the car? Less than 2 years should make one wary. If you think you see iron being sold by "flippers" on TV, wait until you buy the car an owner is trying to escape from. Have you done any major work on the car? "No Sir, she's been reliable and faithful, never spent a nickle." Wrong answer, everything wears out. You get the deferred maintenance. I bought my car when it was 15 years old. It was the special keeper driven by the owner of the car lot and ready to take to a car show. All I have had to do outside of regular maintenance is, paint it (color change from brown), remove the chassis, sandbast,and paint it, install all new springs and bushings, rebuild the engine, recore the radiator, remove the wiring harness, unwrap it and service each connector, then rewrap, install a new carpet and headliner, complete brake job with glass beaded and epoxied drums, install all new body mounts, and rebuild the driveshaft. This winter I am working on the new interior, repainting the whole car, detailing the trunk, and some routine fluid flushes and other things. The thought of buying someone else's "restoration" work makes me sit here and shudder. Go in with your eyes wide open knowing nothing is what it appears to be, the most you can expect to get is what you pay for (never more), and that cars are so expensive some people can't afford to own one. Then, sit down and concentrate. Think about who the first person would be to ignore Bernie's preaching........ My wife knows. Bernie

The '64 is a good choice. I'm sure you have recognized it is the best looking of all three years already. This car comes under the heading of "benevolently neglected". Making it run, no matter what is wrong should be budgeted at $2,000, minimum. It looks all the mechanical consumables will need attention. Brakes, cooling system, and suspension will probably eat up around $3,000. I would allow $2,000 for the interior. New tires, glass beading the wheels will be another $1200. The body work will include all new rubber, I'm sure. You'll be just under $15,000 with a good driver needing paint for the summer of 2014. After paint you will be in the low $20's. But, you will have a car that you were in charge of the refurbishing job on. There is a lot of value in that part of it compared to buying a finished one. $7500 isn't a bad entry fee for a sound project car these days. If you want a reference point, just take 75 crisp new 100 dollar bills down to the Buick dealer and fan them out. Tell the salesman you have "cash in hand". Wait until you see what you can buy. Bernie

Someone forgot to tell the guys on the engine assembly line about the anti-sieze. Bernie

I experienced broken water pump bolts on Buicks from about 1965 until maybe 2003. I have a spare timing cover hanging on the garage wall. Now this is no kidding. About 2003 I helped out a woman who needed someone to take care of her transportation problem. I did and she appreciatively wished me good luck and success. A short time after I bought a '65 Electra and the pump leaked. Expecting the worst, I was shocked when the 1/4-20 bolts just spun out. Then the pump on my '60 failed. Again, the bolts came out with ease. It was either Murphy or my friend. Murphy says if you have a spare you will never need it. My friend was very sincere in her gratitude. Whichever, I'm keeping the spare and trying my best to help other people, but reaching a point in life where Buick water pump bolts don't break? Who could imagine! Bernie

I was just kidding to brighten things up a bit. Sometimes even on the best of days one just can't get away from that constant depression. Bernie

It sure runs smooth. Are you REALLY using a teapot for a carburetor? Bernie

I bought my last two sets of Coker tires from Summit Racing. They are a reseller with a lower price and free shipping. The car drives smooth and the tires don't rub. Bernie

You have to look at 100 cars before you find a good one. One down 99 to go. Bernie

Ummmm, That BCA #10556 got handed out a long time ago. I ran power plants on the late shifts for my first 10 years out of the Navy. Then I got a day job. My absolute first thought was "Now I can go to the Buick Club meetings!" Most of the members who were at that first meeting are still friends today. The cardiologist and I are planning on another 50 years for me. I wonder what the membership will be in 2050. And I sure could use a little of that global warming I was promised. Bernie

I put a new Clark's headliner in my car about 1996. I also bought the new sail panels. I am going to install a new one with my new seats again. This time the windshield and rear window will be out. They were hard to work around. I also plan to replace all the tack strips this time. The hardest part is gluing the tail edge by the back window. At the roof rail edge there are pinch fit plastic strips that crack and split with age. I found the continuous strip was not needed so I cut it into 3-4" sections and had plenty. The seat bottom has an anti-sproing pad made from burlap and wire stiffeners: Most "professionals" find it easier to make excuses than install them. It was a lot of work stripping the old upholstery off those seat frames and I bought an extra long handled pair of side cutters to get to the hog rings. The more I cut the rings, the more firmly I became convinced that an upholstery shop owner would give me a tearful song and dance, just like the transmission guy and the engine rebuilder before him. I will do the work myself. If I screw up a seat panel or a headliner the cost is under $200 an I'll do better, pay closer attention to detail, make no comprises, or brag about my warranty service. I'm just tired of the crappy work I pay for. It is not an age thing. It is an indoctrination and after 60 some years of disappointment in "professional" doctors, lawyers, and mechanics; I'll do it myself, thank you. Bernie As long as the soap box is out, in the early 1990's when I serviced collector cars, I did the job of stripping all the front suspension and steering linkage and box from under a '60's Cadillac. Springs, bushings, steering box (from Lares), spindles, brakes, and all were R&R'ed. The day after I finished the car was picked up and driven to Maine from near Buffalo. Then driven back, loaded up, and before the engine hardly cooled, it headed off for the Cadillac Nationals in Chicago, round trip. Customer expectations do not allow for warranty suspension work on the road OR seats that go sproing! Do it yourself. Ta Da, Bernie

I was a member back in the early 1990's. The local chapter met on Friday nights which was a in conflict with taking the wife and kids out for the traditional fish fry. In pre-computer days that meant a lot. Now one can be a member 24/7. It makes a big difference. Bernie

Its not a good idea at all: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2172027/Man-finds-beloved-classic-racing-car-eBay-42-YEARS-stolen.html That's an extreme example, probably would never happen to just a regular person. Bernie

I have checked this AACA Forum every day pretty much since 2006 when I registered on the site. Although sometimes the server is slow and the format change was frustrating I still enjoy checking the Buick topics and scrolling down to the Lincolns every once in a while. The AACA has done a great job in providing this service and making it open to anyone who likes old cars. I have also visited Hershey a whole lot of times and always found an open gate there, as well. For all the services the AACA provides, without exclusivity, I figured after 20 years of Hershey and 7 years of using the hospitality of the forum, it was my turn. I registered as a member last night. It feels pretty good and I think I'll send a little support to the Buick Heritage Alliance this week, too. I didn't see my shadow and spring is around the corner. I have the itch to do car stuff! Bernie

In 1978 I purchased a used set of 1965 DeLux seats for my '64 Riviera. They were professionally dyed black at that time and have held up very well. The car has always been stored inside and the sun only shines three days each summer in this part of New York. The stitching at the shoulder area of the driver's seat back came loose. I have a new Clark's replacement section ready to install. I purchased a set of standard seat frames that I have stripped of upholstery, painted, and will recover with new Clark's material. I would sell the very presentable 1965 front and rear seats, without the front tracks, including the new panel for $1,000 plus shipping. Couldn't find a good interior pic right now. I'll look some more. Here is a peek: Bernie

When you make a new steel line to be connected to a hose it is best to go through the first step of double flaring the end. That gives you a rounded "bulb" to help keep the hose from sliding off and it looks pretty close to the original. I think, for originality, you could install the hose with Corbin clamps while you shop around for the one with fittings. It's on the suction side. Bernie

I'm off to my monthly meeting with the accountant for my business in an hour. Catch me a 1 PM and I'll give you a vivid description of why businesses can't survive OR rebuild a carburetor for 50 bucks. Next time your hear the term "tax the wealthy" remember that doesn't mean the idle rich. It's a guy who can afford a car as a hobby. Bernie

Paul Lauricella owns Parts of the Past ( https://www.facebook.com/LauricellasCarsOfThePast ) in western New York and has been a friend of mine since the early 1990's. It is a tough business and the purest labor of love one will ever find. Just having the old cars, finding them, bringing them home in one piece is a job in itself that would be hard to hire a person to do. Paul does it all himself. Once the cars arrive the calls don't come rolling in for thousand dollar assemblies or even hundred dollar ones. Requests for the left rear door panel inside release escutcheon retaining pin. It might take and hour, start to finish, to remove one. How much do you charge? One of the problems with parts cars is that common parts are always bad on a particular model. And the stuff just sits and gets picked away at in little bits. When a good deal comes along and you score $1,000 a couple days later the furnace, hot water heater, or transmission in the car hauler goes. Most owners of these open air museums try to build a nice car for themselves. The project goes along until it gains value and then gets sold to keep the bank happy. The guys who run these operations give a lot to the hobby, more than I could ever afford to. These are the places to spend your money first, they need the support. Without it they will be driving a school bus, fixing factory machines, maybe stocking shelves at WalMart. We need to find these vendors first. Bernie

That car was restored in the 1980's by Bill Manoya and is still around somewhere. It is an easy spot as a series 40 with Century window trim and streamboards. It originally had sidemounts. I did keep the college girl. I just got another Buick: Fat chance of getting her tp wash one again. Bernie

Towny redneck, married a college girl. Here is a 1974 picture: Trolling is easier for a neckneck with a job and a Buick, no competition. Bernie

I see you are in Maryland. The District of Columbia is pretty close. Isn't that the core of Flim-Flammery? Bernie

A few friends have had to search for various new switches for their older cars and they have been hard to find. I have also noticed that some older cars will have a warm ignition key after running. I have never had a opportunity to try this; On a rewiring job I would recommend using relays with any of the hard to find switches, headlight, ignition, or wiper. Any of the switches that originally carry full load could have their life extended with relays. I have also found some higher cost cars used condensers at switches and point closures (horn and wiper) to reduce spark jumping. My next old car rewire would probably include both features to prolong switch and device life. As I remember, a couple of the wiring companies would wrap wiring in a loom as a service. That would give a person a chance to build the exact harness they wanted and have an original style loom fabricated for the custom harness. Bernie

I have run into people who get a similar high when they HAVE to reduce the price you ask. It doesn't matter how fair your price may be, it has to be reduced to help them feel they have demeaned what you have in some way. My personal experience leads me to believe it is genetic since most I have encountered have ancestry ties with a group that wanted to conquer the world. Any of you who get together for coffee know this guy. Someone says "I saw a nice XXX advertised for $4,000." He is the first one to say "Oh, I bet they will take $2500." You know him now, I bet. And this is the person who never lost a nickle on any car he ever owned. They pick up the phone to call about an advertised car and make a low offer over the phone without ever seeing it. It really is their own high. A couple of years go I sold a car on CL. It was a good deal. The buyer came asked if I would take a deposit. I did and he left. He called back 20 minutes later and told me he forgot the total and wanted to confirm what he needed to bring back. Now, you KNOW who I told that story to first! Bernie

A heater motor? With the effects of global warming smothering us. Bernie

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RJ-Speed-RC-Legends-37F-Coupe-Body-RJS1036-/360845182872?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item54040c8798 Or scamper up with a message. Bernie

Quentin Tarantino and I once collaborated on a gruesome story with the proposed title "The String and I". Since I was 12 I have never seen that string trick work! Personally I think it is an urban legend created around a cracker barrel. My best luck has been with lots of patience and at least half a bottle of dish washing liquid. Use plastic tools or wooden paint stirrers to coax things into place. The stainless should be installed first and lube that up as well. Don't put anything in a position where it can pinch. Trial fit the rubber and stainless without the glass first. Make friends with every inch of it. If you are uncomfortable with a pucker take it out and start over. Don't force anything. Keep in mind, a couple of guys from McPherson College can be there to help in a few hours. Then, when its all in, watch From Dusk Til Dawn. The last scene shows a whole bunch of trucks in the ravine behind the bar; lots missing windshields. Even the bad guys have trouble with them. Bernie