60FlatTop

Oh, I know the underside of my cars. Here she is resting on the perimeter frame rails. No X on this one. The rear end comes back detailed April 1st, so I have a few days to get intimate under there to make it nice for the Nationals.

If they had used a Buick I bet it would have done much better than the X framed Chevy. Bernie

oooooh, the picture link didn't work. ;( It was a belt buckle with giant horns sticking out.

We confiscated this belt from Jimmie Joe when he quit doing engine compartment wiring and started judging. We are still trying to get his wire cutters and electrical tape.

Here's the original style.

DJ, I have always heard people say "old cars do this or that" from rough running to rough riding. You are right, they never would have left the showroom if they drove like that. Three major things keep that perception alive: 1. People who don't want to spend any money. 2. Mechanics who don't know how to fix the car. 3. Mechanics who think ALL customers don't want to spend the money. You have put a lot of hard work and money into that car. The problem is number 2 or number 3. That's what I meant by don't cut them slack. Bernie

I like that truck! Wouldn't change a thing. Here is the whitewall AND 7.10 X 15 biased tire that is supposed to be on the Riviera. this is the one without the tire rub marks on the frame and inner fender. Jeez, a buggy bumper. Bernie

Here is a vendor I came across: 1982-86 Buick Riviera Convertible Tops and Convertible Top Parts Never dealt with them. Bernie

DJ, I had a similar problem with a 1969 Fleetwood, banged over every tar strip. On that car in was the camber. As I remember the tires leaned inward too much at the top. Those cars had a swiveling ball joint to adjust with. Your car would have shims. don't cut the alignment guy any slack, make him do it right. Bernie

Jim and Friends, My car is parked in front of Bennett Buick, Wayland, NY. Three generations of Buick sales from that location; Buicks in 1921 and Buicks in 2011, pretty good record. As to the choice of whitewalls, I don't have them on my truck. Bernie

A lot of variables could play into the tire aging issue. I grew up in a tire shop starting at age 11. The first rule my grandfather taught me was, tires are put together with heat and pressure, heat and pressure will take them apart. Have you always driven fully inflated to the correct pressure? Driving soft is a tire killer. The air a tire is inflated with has some moisture in it. Over a period of 10 to 20 years can that moisture, although small, cause rot of the inner casing fabric? Maybe, it might be a good case for the nitrogen inflation. The rubber around the casing is different material than the tread, again, bonded together with heat and pressure. Can out gassing of the rubber volitiles affect the bond over the years? Or can out gassing affect the adhesive properties of the tire? Maybe old tires on a Model A Ford driven on secondary roads at 40 MPH would be OK. I like driving my 1960 Buick at freeway speeds on long trips in the summer. I am happy I wore my tires out in 8 years. I would say it worked out fine. If you drive your car a thousand miles or more a year........ I can't wait to get my new 8.20 X 15 Wide Whites!

Hey, This looks like hijacking a wanted add! OK, I'll pay more and share!

Bob, It is great to see you pop up here. I was using the same reasoning you did. I figured my trip the Danvers, Mass this year from Brockport, New York is going to cost the gas, tolls, three night in a motel, registration fees, food, and a little entertainment, plus 4 days off work. The gas does not impact the total much. Bernie

I am still interested in finding this information or anything about Car Craft Company in Lima, OH. Thanks, Bernie

My cars just don't look right without the aspect ratio of a biased tire. I have a 1960 Electra with 8.20 X 15's and a 1964 Riviera with 7.10 X 15's. Both cars had 78 series tires when I purchased them. I like my cars looking the way they did when I first took interest in cars as a kid. Both cars drive and handle very well, the Riviera has new springs and all new bushings, the Electra is a well maintained 72,000 mile car. Often when a friend is riding with me on our rough Main St. I fake the image radial tire promoters like to project. I pretend to fight the wheel and ask him to look at the sweat on my brow from fighting these terrible tires; then I just relax and lay one hand on the top of the wheel. All the reading I have done about this debate can be summed up in one sentence," I replaced the 27 year old biased tires on my car with radials and, boy!, it handles like a dream." I am buying a new set for the Electra next month. The current set of biased tires are worn out. I installed them in 2002 and have put 10,000 miles on them. Eight years would be an appropriate time to replace any tire, biased or radial. Bernie

My new toy arrived today. It traveled from Racine, WI. to western New York. Pretty dirty from the trip, but that first wash job lets you touch and feel all over. I am happy. It is a Car Craft conversion.

I picked up a nice extra mirror for the right side of mine, jeez, maybe 15 years ago. It is in a box on the Riviera parts shelf in the garage. I find the safest way to change lanes or enter an expressway is at about 3/4 throttle. The 55-80 time is short. Always accelerate for lane changes!

I took a look at the Rare Parts site. You might want to use a vendor specializing in Buick parts. The rear control arm bushings are front and rear, just on the bottom, and four. The track bar bushings are different, two of those. When you get around to the front, the lower inner bushings are a PIA. I made a special driver to remove and install mine.

I should add that the paint still looks great today. Here are a couple more pics:

Buick Man, I still have a couple of quarts of the Valspar paint I bought back in the 1990's. It was their industrial enamel and has no % of gloss figures. Here is a recent listing. I bet it is very close. The paint is fairly inexpensive, about $28 per gallon. Seems to have a good shelf life, I am still using some with a good stirring. http://www.lspproducts.com/downloads/pricing_guides/Valspar%20Paints.pdf Bernie

I have owned that book for a long time and never tire of reading it. Over the years it has inspired me to cut roofs off of cars and all kinds of things that have made me smile. I am not a buyer but would be very happy to trade a few emails about the car's history. I saved the picture to print and put in my book. Thanks, Bernie

Monte Carlo.

I would like to buy brochures, pamphlets, and other items related to Car Craft Company. My particular interest is the 1986 Buick Electra Park Avenue Convertible conversion. dailyops@frontiernet.net Thank you.

I would like to buy brochures, pamphlets, and other items related to Car Craft Company. My particular interest is the 1986 Buick Electra Park Avenue Convertible conversion. dailyops@frontiernet.net Thank you.

Here is a link that may be of value: Carburetor Tune Up Guide - The Carburetor Doctor Bernie