60FlatTop

Here's an older pair that I like: And I always get the willys from this one: Bernie

Well, one done: And one to go (been working out a bit since the stroke and heart attack: Bernie

Splicing is messy. If I am really forced to splice I make a lineman's splice and stagger them so they don't show under the harness cover. I have had all the harnesses out of my Riviera for cleaning and repair. New homeruns and terminals are always best. I have one splice and that is the apple green wire for the temperature sensor. At the time I couldn't get the correct color so I painted a yellow one green with a matching Krylon. My car is non-sticky tape wrapped. I made a tensioning jig for my vise from a 2X6 with a row of finishing nails along the top edge. Then I slipped the end terminals over the nails, held them tight, and rewrapped. Your car should have a woven wrap. I think Rhode Island Wire Works will cover that for you, once you make a new one. Where you burned the bundle at the firewall, I would cut off the bad stuff and connect the undamaged harness to a European terminal strip. Then a newly built harness would connect to the other side of the strip. That gets rid of splices and only leaves the terminal strip under the dash non-original. Here's an old picture of an unwrapped harness under repair: Bernie

Over the river and down the Interstate, (in a B-body) Still alive is good, planning another 50 years is better,. A couple of numb fingers, what the heck. If you are in western New York and alone. Let me know. There's always a place at the table. Bernie

The guy with the "hunk" made it pretty obvious it had just arrived in his trailer and ready for a new owner. The one in the garage that appeared in better condition couldn't even be treated to having the dirt wiped off or the tires cleaned. What is wrong with these sellers who post pictures of dirty cars, cars with trash and bottles inside, and of course the perennial Craigslist car sunk in the ground? I see quite a few night pictures, too. And then, just recently, we all got treated to the Craigslist ad where the guy wrote "I'm not stupid." I guess we can figure out why that comment is rare! My wife says I get way more entertainment out of these things than I should. Happy Thanksgiving. Don't wear your dirty work clothes to visit Mom. Bernie

When you ground to the engine you need to be sure the braided ground is clean and tight. The engine and transmission mount can insulate the current and it will find some other path, usually not as good. As a safety measure always be sure the positive post is on the radiator side of the battery box. The hood can get real close to whichever post is outboard. Bernie

Can you provide the name of the shipper either as a post or PM. The low price is probably a sign of the economy. Lots of good deals ahead as long as you're working. Bernie

Mine has a happy spot right on the PS pump bracket: Bernie

Replace the wire with a stranded, shielded #14 wire. Remove the shield from the end of the wire close to the distributor. Connect the other end end of the shield to a positive terminal that is always powered. Eat a peanut butter sandwich while installing it. Guaranteed no comedy. Bernie

I just looked on Ebay, you can buy a Megger for under $200 these days. I saw some under $100. Get one, disconnect the battery and alternator and start chasing down each circuit. The Megger will put 500V through the wires but not enough amps to start a fire. If there is leakage you will find it that way. I've used them from everything from checking conductivity of operating room floors to windings on hermetic compressors. It should help you with that Riviera. Bernie

I got mine. It is still in the crate and well protected. Richard gets my approval. I am looking forward to no wiper scratches or haziness next year. Bernie

There's a good reason for heating the garage; red Speedo's all year long. I'll see if I can get a pic this afternoon. That picture should go over like the one I took of the '53 Buick wheel covers I took for Ebay. So old, so innocent. Bernie

Wow! 700 miles of macadam road, all connected. I live a block from the canal that goes all the way through the state and it ain't that long. My roads are called trails: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_104, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_20_in_New_York, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_31, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_19. Actually the nailhead intake gaskets have a smaller round hole on that crossover port. Bigger balls will make it OK. It was 30 here, but I had the heat on in the garage and could tinker. I just couldn't go out behind and tinkle, had to walk all the way back to the house. Bernie

Every load should be tested for its ohmic value and fault to ground before installing the new harness. I would make a ladder diagram of each load, inside the engine compartment, in the interior, and a check off box it be sure. Bernie

Somewhere back in time I remember rolling up balls of aluminum foil to plug that passage. Bernie

Those laws are not based on 50+ year old cars. They are to protect owners of newer cars from theft. I am sure the laws were written by lawyers with fairly new cars and keeping cars as long as we do seems pretty lame to them. The law is also based on ownership of a capital purchase. They don't expect a capital purchase to suffer years of neglect, abandonment, and the misplacing of ownership documents. Lose the papers and you end up with a car of ..... limited value. Bernie

This one is a personal favorite. It takes about 2 minutes to download. Amateurish, but insightful. http://brockportinternational.com/xjs/Dir5/Buick/RideMyBuick2.wmv Bernie

I like the comment on the points. Maybe some TV actors will hurry to get them installed as the new owner drives up the street. I remember a $25,000 Electra convertible, needs muffler. My Dad called them gemokes when he came home from WWII. They must still be breeding: , but with a genetic deficiency.Bernie

It is a simple device and easy to make work. Replacements are still available, as well. If it is inoperative you may experience some stumble before the car is completely warmed up. As fuel composition changes, possibly for higher pressure fuel injection, it may need the extra heat to compensate for reduced vaporization properties. Should you or a decedent decide to sell the car sometime in the future an aware buyer will notice all the anomalies, total them and deduct them from the value. Buying, installing, and confirming an operational heat riser may cost $500 today. As availability of the part decreases, it could be a $1,000 item in the near future. The person most likely to notice modifications will be the future buyer/appraiser. And it will be in the form of a deduction. All my little deviations have been compensated for in the two price system my wife knows; one high price while I'm alive and a hell of a bargain if she's alone and has to sell them. I'd say most important, don't give up the ability to heat changing fuel formulas. Bernie

What a great reason to buy a scissors lift! Your post and all those floor repair pictures really come at a bad time. On Monday I am having lunch with a few friends. One of them owns a very nasty 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible that I have been trying NOT to buy since November 2011. Your pictures did it, pushed me over the edge. By 1 PM Monday I expect it will be mine. All my pragmatic advice; "poof" - gone. My projects will never get done. Bernie

About six years ago I bought a 1953 Jaguar in Federal Way, WA and had it shipped to "way off the beaten path" New York for $1600. That wouldn't get a good brake job done on that car. Bernie

Well, you did ask for opinions. Too bad you tore it apart. At least you got the cheap part done. To add any value beyond the parts you or your uncle need to get the paperwork in order. The neighbor is going to need a minimum of $30,000 to have a car of minimum value after he reassembles it. If he wants a show car he will be nudging $100,000 and five years from now that amount of cash could be very dear. I'd get that neighbor in a lawn chair at your place and tie his arms and legs until his wife brought $3,000 to rescue him, $2,000 if he forgot her birthday last year. That project (it is not a classic, by definition) needs an uninformed buyer. If it was a good running car that had just been parked in the early '80's it would need the 30 grand in work. Cars really are a rich man's hobby. You just need to define rich. They have been since 1900. Yep, I'm rich by some definitions. The amount of discretionary cash a man has starts by remembering the wife's birthday. Mine has hers today! Then a few other little qualifications. Good luck, the paperwork is the big issue. A guy could be arrested hauling it home without papers. Bernie

I would check the hose to the right front as well. The fabric delaminates and can work like a check valve. It will maintain pressure in the wheels cylinder. The best test is to take it off and blow through it from the wheel cylinder end. Bernie

Oops. sorry about mixing up the states. I just had an image of a north to south line of wavy borders. I was looking at this car:http://northernwi.craigslist.org/cto/4098033821.html Imagine toting the one home the New York! The Cosmo, that is. I know I ain't right. Bernie

Anyone close to Cable, WI? I have a sickness that can't be cured. Bernie