60FlatTop

I happened to come across this 2 speed GM wiper rebuild manual. I though it would be great to share on the forum and then was at kind of a loss as to where to post it. Maybe a Tech or How-To section would be good for these detail things. A lot of good stuff gets written about but becomes part of current things. Maybe an archival section. Anyway, I'm printing this one out and putting it on the shelf: T-O-P-59-S&M-4 Here is the whole website: http://oldcarmanualproject.com/ Nice site and a lot of information. I donated 10 bucks for the manual. I like volunteers. Bernie

You know, searching for Buick stuff online can bring up links to strange websites. Imagine the day I found an adult chatroom where someone was looking for a DOM and I found out it didn't stand for Dirty Old Man. I was more careful................every time I went back. Bernie

When I rebuilt the brakes on my '64 Riviera I bought a NOS master cylinder and sent it to Apple Hydraulics for a bronze sleeve. I rebuilt it with fresh rubber cups. Who knows how long it had been on the shelf. That was around 15 years ago. Everything was supposed to have been gone through last winter. Medical problems have shifted that maybe to next spring. It will include new rubbers, hoses, and probably return springs. The car was 15 years old when I bought it. I am in my 35th year of ownership and there is a good chance the car will be around for another 50. In the last decade computer technology has helped coin the abbreviation PIA. Two points stand out. If I modify components of my car it is going to be a real PIA in 2064 for my son or nephew to figure out was the hell I did. And I like modified cars; I just had the good taste to buy my cars with similar qualifications to the Classic Car Club of America. Secondly after 44 years of facilities management and power plant operation I have a long list of how things "got fixed" by removing the "improvements". In one forum string I posted a picture of my '60 Electra and asked "Do you think I would trust the engineering of the brakes on this car to anyone but General Motors?" Its not that I am totally cynical and opinionated. I did sleeve the NOS master cylinder. Bernie

On many road draft tube systems there is a steel wool mesh that should be checked every 50 years or so. Also the tube has a bologna sliced end with the long side facing forward. That creates a partial vacuum while driving and draws fumes out at higher rpm. If your car does not have a cloud coming from the tube a guaranteed method of creating one is to do just a valve job. Tightening the valve sealing will blow more combustion gases past worn rings. Just a couple of thoughts. Bernie

Imagine how careful this one went in: Bernie

John! It was 2002 but the '60 was $950. Check your September 2008 Bugle. You won't believe it. Bernie

You could use a couple of come-alongs to hold it in place. When I was ummmmmm 17 and had my first '60 Buick the flat rate mechanics would jack the rear end back with them to service the transmission or replace the reverse strut. One in each direction should do the job. Bernie

I know two words in Dutch; acht and twee. I met two Flemish visitors to the US years ago. They were traveling the US and saw me driving one of my old cars. They came over and saw my cars, camped out overnight, and we went to a car show the next day. They bought me a jack knife at the car show as a thank you and I still have it. Mostly I remember the one who stared at the grille emblem on my 1970 Eldorado with 8.2 Litre for the 500 cubic inch engine. He just kept repeating acht dot twee over and over, kind of mesmerized. In Antwerp taxes were paid based on engine displacement. He had just reached a financial position to move from 750 to 1000 cc. Learned a couple things that day. Bernie

I have heard that Armour All might have some negative properties. Being curious about it I found out lanolin is good for vinyl and leather. I don't remember how I found the information. Always willing to try new things, I have tried massaging DL hand cleaner into some pretty nasty seats. They came out looking real nice. I don't know about the long term effects. I have been using lanolin based products for a long time now. I'll check the brand when I go out to the garage later today. Bernie

Those signs aren't worth much and you probably wouldn't be happy with it. Please send me the name and phone number of the person who owns it. Bernie

Just kidding. With a name like Daily you notice that stuff. And then its Bernard Eugene Daily, imagine that monogram on my driver's door. Bernie

Looking at the picture and the basically straight style reminds me of the story of the Duesenberg hood ornament. In the early '30's dies were expensive and labor was cheap. All of those art deco Duesenbirds were machined. I would be tempted to stop by a good machine shop and see what they could do with an EDM machine and a mill. Bernie Afterthought, let's not goof off on daily. It doesn't have an e.

All the items you showed are chrome plated. Definitely clean all the parts thoroughly. Bill Hirsch sells a chrome polish called Simichrome. It works great. On the diecast pieces use an Exacto knife to dig out those bumps and boogers the best you can. Then polish all the tarnish away. Use lacquer thinner to clean the polish and paint them with clear "epoxy" spray from a rattle can. You will find the stuff looks pretty good. Then you can watch Ebay for really nice original pieces or nice rechrome from an abandoned restoration. I have bought rechromed and powder coated Jaguar stuff on Ebay that was gently wrapped in 20 year old newspapers. Always try to hold the finished product in your hands before you buy or at least see good pictures. On rechroming, a cynical old friend used to say your chances are 50/50. They either do it right or they don't. You don't have to be as cynical. Just minimize the risk of disappointment. Bernie

Slither up along side and get a picture like this. His display of cars is just stunning. Jeez, that's me 50 pounds ago........

And then I run across pictures from junkyards.......

Some of those old signs are still "hanging around" Bernie

Now don't lose control laughing, but at about 2 minutes you'll see the blonde holding up OK. 100 pounds and the hair on the guy is an utter disaster: www.brockportinternational.com/60buickbomp.wmv I had to do it. Bernie

Remember these cars are pushing 50 years old. There were points in the depreciation cycle when even the most expensive were good buys. We are heading into an economic cycle where money and securities will lose favor as investments. There are some '80 and '90's cars that will be pretty desirable 10 or 15 years from now. Some real nice Corvettes are out there at under $10,000; maybe $5,000 to $6,000 for a '96 Fleetwood. In the right color a Crown Vic should be a good bet at around $5,000. I'm glad I snagged my '94 Impala for $9,000. My wife has a low price for it at the estate sale. Not while I am still kicking, though. Bernie

I checked into having a set of drums for my Riviera and my "60 relined- 4 total. I figured if I did both cars I would be set for my lifetime and not have to monkey around if they need replacement when I am something like 75 years old. Below is the quote. Although I don't need them right now I might score a car sale or write myself a bonus check this year and get it done. If you think the price is high just watch the Barret-Jackson auction for 20 minutes before you scrawl off the check. Anyway, its not much compared to what you'd have to pay to get either of those cars from me. Bernie "To reline your drum would run $275.00 ea. but if you ship me both pairs at the same time we can reline all four drums for $ 965.00 all drums will come back to you with new races and bearing. If you have extra cores we pay $ 25.00 ea for those drums if you would like to sell them. Thanks" Don J&G Brake drum relining 815-276-2578.

December 1st in the wilds of western New York. Just got home from coffee at the Brockport Diner. Here's the view through the Christmas decorations. Been sitting almost 10 minutes. Bernie

Just an update, I am still at the September 30th point with the freshly painted seat frames waiting patiently. Work and Thanksgiving got in the way. Thanksgiving is over, now a bigger problem. I like the work I do, mostly office stuff, and the garage is kinda cold. Bernie

Hi Rob, With the holiday and some working I missed your reply. So you took advantage of the limited interest in a semi-collector car at a collector car auction and made a good daily driver score; sounds like one of my tricks and a good deal. I am surprised that there was only one response, and non-Buick, pretty much non-collector. No $150,000 Skylark buyers, $40,000 Riviera buyers, not even a Royal family Duke of Windsor 1936 Model 90? Hmmmmm, lots of thoughts roaming around my head now..... and maybe an evil smile. Well, I just would have expected more. Bernie

My wife just read this. She says she remembers the corner it was on, and didn't we stop there three or four times? She didn't catch that last little bit, though. And I didn't shoe her this picture:

In Rush, New York, just south of Rochester there is a 1986 Jaguar XJ12, black with red leather rotting into the ground behind a gas station. You really have to be nuts to saddle yourself with one of those. I made a reasonable offer about 4 or 5 years ago. I didn't have to stand in line to see him. He indignantly told me he wasn't going to give it away. Maybe Mother Nature is having the Tooth Fairy put a quarter under his pillow as the dew slowly erodes the paint and oxygen molecules embrace the iron. I made an offer, he wouldn't give it away, and four years later I wouldn't take it as a gift. Well, I can tell you, I've found stupider things to do with my money. My wife is scared right now. Bernie

Sometimes I get scared that sunlight might come through the window of my garage and damaged the floor. I look for stuff to put between the two. A real dangerous way is to go on Ebay and search "All cars, buy it now, 1920-1965, max $7,000". It can get you in trouble but it sure broadens the competition for cars like that. Bernie