Guest bkrystad Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Just joined tonight, as my brothers and I are going to be taking on our grandfather's 1923 Buick Touring Car this October. The car sat in a barn/garage for 40 years, then in a storage unit for five more. The top is shot, but the body is good and the crank turns in the original engine. Our uncle accumulated a grab bag of parts, as well as a hulk for the complete drive train and a third engine on top of that. Plus five extra wheels.So we have a lot to work with, but we need a jump to get started. I know the general drill on restorations but only with postwar British sports cars (Austin Healey 100). So I'm interested in how to map what I know alongside what I don't.Where can I go for the best documentation about what a 1923 Buick Touring Car should look like, if there is any? (British cars are pretty well over-documented, so maybe I'm expecting too much.) What are the areas of the car that we should watch out for, that are especially prone to complications or dangerous deterioration from age?What are the gotchas about this particular model (engine, fuel, electrical) that are going to drive us nuts as we try to figure them out?Just a few questions to get started. Any pointers, references, observations welcome. Thank you!-Byron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbbuick22 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Byron, First question is, Is this a 4cyl. or a 6 cyl? There are a lot of differences between the two. Will give you as much help as I can esp. for the 6 cyl models. JB 22-6-55 Sport Touring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bkrystad Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 It is the 4cyl model, thanks! I'm going to see it today in storage and will take plenty of pictures, I'll post some this evening along with questions (along the lines of "what the heck is this?").-Byron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Welcome aboard!Make sure to make contact with Mark Shaw who lives out your way and is a regular contributor to this forum as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bkrystad Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Okay, spent an hour at the storage locker and took some shots (not very good, there's no interior light) but you can get the gist of what there is to start with. One quick question to start: What are differences between the 1922 and 1923 drive trains that we should watch out for if we try swapping from the two donor blocks?Here's a link to a Picasa web album. 1923 Buick Touring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Thriller Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Neat car...good luck with the project.As far as I can tell from the <span style="font-style: italic">Standard Catalog of Buick</span>, the '22 and '23 4 cylinder engines are the same. The book lists different carbs, but that is it.Probably the biggest potential headache with cars of this era is the wood work underlying / supporting the body. If that is mostly there and in good shape, then you are probably OK. I'm not an expert though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Hi.The first to do is to bay a Shop Manual or Motor Car Operation and Care for your 1923 4cyl.Buick.As Triller say the Engine looks the same and I think the drive line is the same too.But the body all over are a little bit different but looks the same.The radiator is lower as well as the hood,the doors what I remember are shoter on 1922,headlamps are differen,V-shape on 1922.The engine from 1924 are the same as I know as 1923.The frame are stright over the rear axle on 1922 too. Good Luck Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bkrystad Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Anyone have any leads on a 1923 Buick 4cyl Shop Manual? All I can find is an Owner's Manual on autolit.com (no description) and an Owner's Manual (in Spanish) on eBay. The Spanish one says it is 16 pages, is that the only original document available? I'm interested in something a little more substantial, if there is anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Patience is the word for that.You have to look at E-Bay at list a couple of times every week and you will find the book you are looking for,next week or a coupe of weeks later.Or search on this forum ,and I`m quite sure you find the books you need. There are a lot of nice people on this forum how wants to help you with a book and your restauration. Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garnetkid Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I wouldn't call that square one, you are already half way there. Nice project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbbuick22 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 I have an illustrated 1923 parts book that has both the 4cyl. and the 6cyl. I can make a copy. JB22-6-55 Sport Touring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Byron, Sorry to chime in so late, but I just got back from vacation. I know of several 23-4 cylinder Buicks here in the Vancouver Wa area. Two belong to BCA PreWar Division officers. Dave Ebert, our membership chairman, also has all the manuals etc. Send me an email offine so I can forward some info for you.durcodude@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 bkrystad and other restores oof 4cyl Buick (1922-1924)the rear axle are wery weak on this models.Take a look at the angles on the bearings as I deskribe. Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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