Joe Cocuzza

As promised, I took a few pics of my 81C today. It still may not look like much to a lot of you, but if you go back to one of my previous threads, you can see the progress I have made. I realize that without a restoration (or at least a paint job) the car will not look as good as it could. But I am just trying to clean it up as best as I can, get it running (hopefully in a few weeks) and drive it around as is.

I have been soaking the engine with Marvel and PB Blaster for a couple of weeks. A friend at work told me to drop the flywheel cover and use a BIG screwdriver to turn the engine by the flywheel - one tooth at a time. Tuesday night I dropped the pan and wedged the screwdriver against the housing and the teeth - applied some force - and BINGO - the engine is now free!!!!!! I turned it by the flywheel teeth for a full revolution to get the lubes I put in to cover all of the cylinders completely. In a week or two I will try to (if time permits) to start the beast. I need to put the oil pan back and tinker with the points, carb, etc... Other than that I am still looking for a lock cylinder / handle for the trunk lid. I am almost done hand compounding the body to try and make it look as presentable as possible. Maybe new pics here are in order this weekend. Joe

Check Ebay. These come up at least 2-3 times a month. Good Luck. Joe

Thanks. That's what I figured and I asked my good friend (ex-mechanic) about the coke and he said no way. I have been using WD-40, PB Blaster and Marvel. I guess I will just have to be patient and keep spraying everything while I have the oil pan down. I cleaned the goo out of the pan today and I am going to spray paint it tomorrow. I am waiting on the gasket set for it. I am about half way done cleaning and polishing the outside. It is 70 year old paint so it is coming out just okay. It has some shine to it. I won a pair of horns on Ebay for the Buick. For whatever reason my car was missing one of the dual horns. I was hoping to find it in the trunk (along with the million dollars) but neither was in there when I finally got it opened. The interior is almost cleaned up as best as it can be. As I go along I will try to post some updated photos. Thanks, Joe

Dave, Thanks for the encouraging words about my 81C. I know how to look beyond the dirt and grime on a car, but others do not have that uncanny ability like us. Anyway, my intentions are to try and get the car roadworthy and tinker with it as I go. My main objective, and don't everybody get all bent out of shape (I know this is a Buick Forum), is to finish my 1947 Town and Country Sedan first, which is 7 years in on a cosmetic restoration. Dave - is there any way to trace the Buick's history of ownership? Thanks, Joe

Thanks for the info on the Bermuda bell. I sprayed it today and got it to clang. Now I need to work on freeing the engine up. Today a guy told me that some farmer in Pa. used Coca Cola to fill the cylinders and this would help free up the motor. Anyone have any thoughts / criticisms about this "method"? I know that Coke will eat the paint off your car and that it cleans up battery cable ends real good. Very caustic. I just don't want to pour something into the cylinders that I may find out later did more harm than good. Joe

Hi all, Thanks for the replies and answers to all of my questions. Here is another "stumper" and keep in mind that as I have said before, EVERYTHING on this car looks as if it has been on the car for 70 years. Okay, today I am under the car dropping the oil pan, which is a good thing because there was an inch of gooey sludge in it, and I decided to investigate this "strange", "odd" item in the car. On the drivers side floorboard about 1 inch away from the front seat, and more to the left, there is a "plunger" that sticks up. I cleaned around the base of the plunger and this is what is stamped on it - BEST SWEET TONED BELL / FOR HORSE CARRIAGE(S)!!!!! While I was under the car I took a look and lo and behold - there is a bell, around 6 inches in diameter mounted to the underside of the floorboard. The bell is like the large bells used for boxing. Right now the mechanism is frozen but I am going to spray it tomorrow and see if I can get it to "ring". Question - What the BELL is this???? I am making the assumption that wherever this car was bought new, there were horse drawn carriages around and the bell was there to be used as a warning to the horse and carriage driver that the car was approaching. Why else would there be a bell on a car???? Question #2 - Did Buick actually offer this as an accessory/option? As I said, this car appears to have NEVER been altered - at least not in a very, very long time. Which brings me back to the red beltline - again. As you all know by now, I finally was able to open the trunk. In the trunk area is the "convertible top well" - where the top goes into when down - and the well is painted the same red as the beltline and the wheels. Were all convertible top wells painted this red color? If someone had the beltline/wheels painted after buying the car, why would they paint the top well, which is in the trunk and out of sight???? Thanks for reading this diatribe but I am trying to get some answers. Can anyone tell me if there is a place/website where I can trace the vehicles history. I'd love to find out who first owned the car and where they lived. Thanks again, Joe

Here are a few pics of the car. Some are from the day I picked it up (on the flatbed). Others are some shots in my garage as it is being cleaned up. I know it is ratty looking, but as I am prone to say these days, "It is what it is". Joe

SUCCESS!!!!!!!! I was home today trying to relax and take a snooze (I work nights), and all that kept running thru my mind is getting that trunk lid open. As I said before, I did not want to remove the back seat. I got up and went into the garage and got the biggest screwdriver I had. I wedged the end into the lock area, against the shaft. I then pushed down on the shaft as hard as I could and turned the handle. As I pulled up on the lid - IT OPENED........... Now instead of feeling a sense of accomplishment and going back to sleep, of course I had to clean out the mice nests and look at what was inside the trunk. I did not find the million dollars I was hoping was in there. Instead I found 6 inner tubes, an extra trim ring, the spark plug wire cover(good thing I lost the one I was bidding on Ebay Sunday), 6 old car radios, 2 top boots (one the original), the jack and a mess of other stuff. I sprayed the entire trunk and washed the mat - then moth-balled it to death. One other thing - I have read in the AACA forum and elsewhere that these convertibles were prone to rust-out in the trunk and floors. I am lucky (and happy) to report that mine is solid in both those areas. The next thing is to find a new lock cylinder (with keys) and find out what is wrong with the latch mechanism. Thanks to all that replied with suggestions on how to approach this issue. Thanks, Joe

I found a friend that was a locksmith. He came over and tried to pick the trunk lock - no luck. So we drilled it out. Came out nice and clean. New problem - the handle turns both ways and the "shaft" inside the handle turns freely, but not with the handle. So I still cannot get the trunk open. Does anyone have a parts manual that shows the trunk locking mechanism? At least if I know what I am dealing with I may be able to get creative. How do you separate the trunk hinges? There is a "pin" in them but how do you remove the pin? I was figuring on doing that and tilting the trunk lid forward to try and get in there or to disengage the lock mechanism. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Joe

Can anyone tell me what number (chassis, engine, etc) to put on the title? I have to change the title when I get it because the guy made a mistake on it. So do I use the chassis number as the new VIN on the title or ???? Thanks, Joe

Dave, Thanks for all of the info. I will post pictures in the near future. I am a little ashamed of the car right now as it is a filthy mess and I want to clean it up a bit. As far as I can tell the car appears to be all original. Thanks again, Joe

Bubba, I usually don't get creeped out about a lot of things, BUT sticking my head into a locked, dark trunk of an old car that has sat for a long time just happens to be one of those things that does the trick. (I know, wuss). I am going to take the advice of those that replied and try to get a "traveling" locksmith to help me out. Joe

HI ALL, FIRST, THANKS FOR ALL THE REPLIES TO MY FIRST POSTING ABOUT THIS CAR. THE CAR IS NOW IN MY GARAGE. OKAY, DAVE CORBIN, EVERYONE HERE SAYS YOU ARE THE MAN - FIREWALL TAG INFO - 1940 MOD 81C STYLE # - 40 - 4829 BODY # - 212 TRIM # - 863 7 PAINT # - 541 6W FRAME TAG # - 13745034 ENGINE BLOCK # (FOUND BY OIL DIPSTICK) - 8 3925203 I WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOME PARTS (I POSTED A WTB IN THE BUY/SELL FORUM) BUT NO RESPONSES YET. AS I CLEAN THE CAR UP A BIT I WILL POST SOME PICS. ANY HINTS ON TRYING TO REMOVE A LOT OF SURFACE RUST FROM THE ENGINE-TURNED PART OF THE DASH BOARD? APPARENTLY THE CAR SAT OUT FOR SOME TIME AND THE INTERIOR GOT WET. THE BIGGEST SURPRISE IS THAT THE FLOORS, AND FOR THAT MATTER THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE, ARE SOLID. THE ONLY RUST I FOUND SO FAR IS ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF ONE OF THE REAR DOORS AND SOME ON THE PANEL BELOW THE TRUNK LID. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SPARE KEYS THAT I CAN TRY IN THE LOCKS? THE CAR CAME WITHOUT ANY KEYS. I HAVE TRIED THE 100++ KEYS I HAVE (ALL SORTS) BUT HAVE NOT HAD ANY LUCK. IS THE GLOVE BOX KEY THE SAME FOR THE TRUNK LOCK? THAT LOCK CYLINDER (GLOVE BOX) IS EASY TO REMOVE AND HAVE A KEY MADE FOR IT AND HOPEFULLY IT IS THE SAME AS THE TRUNK LOCK. I NEED TO GET IN THE TRUNK. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, I SET SEVERAL MOUSE TRAPS, AND SO FAR I NABBED 2. I REALLY AM CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT SURPRISES I MIGHT FIND IN THE TRUNK. THANKS, JOE

Here's the deal with the "18" inch wheels. My blind eyes (and the fact that the tires were so dirty) led me to read 16" tires as 18" tires. So, my 81C has the correct 16" tire size. However, the red beltline is still a mystery. Probably someone had it painted that way because they liked it or could it have come from the factory that way??? Does anyone have the serial/chassis #'s for the 14 1940 81C's known to exist? I would like to know if mine is #15. I am going to venture to say that it is a "new" discovery because the car has been off the road since 1961. All of this can be verified when I find the chassis/serial # on my car. Any help as to where to look?? Thanks, Joe

Bubba, In the past I have had several Buicks. 2 - 1936 sedans 1949 Super Woody 1953 Super Woody Some other 60's and 70's ones, too. Right now I am in the process of trying to complete my 47 Town and Country sedan, which is 6.5 years in on a full "cosmetic" restoration. This Buick just caught my attention and because I lived so close to where it was - 42 miles - I had to go see it. We both know what happened next. I am glad that you were able to "put this behind you" - I hate when people say that - and I really appreciate your offering me help if I need it. We all have the "one that got away" story to tell I suppose. Thanks again, Joe

Hey BUBBA, I saw the same movie that day - how strange is that??? Are you the guy from L.I. or Michigan ? The interior is shot but the floors are solid as are the running boards and the rest of the body. Like I said, it needs a COMPLETE restoration. What are my plans for it? I would love to send it out for a ground up resto but that ain't gonna happen. I cannot afford an undertaking like that on my piddly income. I intend to clean it up some and try to get it started. From there ??????? What were you going to do with it? I can sympathize with your anger with respect to not getting the car. Years ago, after pursuing a 1949 Frazer 4-door Convertible for 23 years, and having the car promised to me, alas, it went to someone else. Thanks to those others who have responded to my post so far as well. Joe

Hi, My name is Joe and I just bought a 1940 Limited Phaeton. It "appears" all original but needs a COMPLETE restoration. I will be getting the car this Wed. and I can then look at and post all the numbers for identification. The weird thing is that the car has 18" tires on it and above the door handles (beltline) it is red, which matches the wheels and interior. The rest of the car is black. These may be flukes, but I will look into it further when I get it into my garage. Joe

I am in the process of getting a complete Saratoga from which I am taking a few parts. If anyone needs anything, let me know or after I get what I need, which isn't much, I may sell the rest of the car as a whole. I am in NE Pa. Thanks, Joe

I AM LOOKING TO SELL MY BUICK WOODY WAGON. I HAVE PICS UPON REQUEST AND I CAN GIVE A FULLY DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO ANYONE INTERESTED. I HAVE PUT A TON OF STUFF INTO THE CAR. WOOD IS REVARNISHED. CAR IS ORIGINAL. PLEASE, SERIOUS REPLIES ONLY !!! I AM ASKING $28,500.00. I AM IN STROUDSBURG,PA. 570-476-1164 OR EMAIL ME AT coozie44@yahoo.com.

Hi, Would you consider a 1953 Buick Super Wagon ? I am selling mine. Let me know. Thanks, Joe