39BuickEight 973 Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 (edited) Finished up sandblasting the body, got it back down to earth, and now we are taking the doors apart. The screw that holds the handle on is proving to be a real bugger. Apparently mice and wasps were living in harmony in this door: Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 (edited) doors and trunk lid broken down and blasted: Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) a few more shots so you can see what the doors look like after we strip them down to shiny metal: the one in the back is not ready yet: some brass: Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 (edited) Here is a snakeskin and skeleton that was in one of the doors: This should help with the body work,thanks to Craigslist: some shots showing the worst part of the body work to come: Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
Doug Burton 13 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Nice to see some more progress Billy, keep up the good work! Link to post Share on other sites
danhar1960 14 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Ah yes, memories of the beaver panel. Mine was a mess also. It seems you have your job set out with rust replacement.I found it best to only think about the immediate area that you are working on and not all the rust at once. A big job overall is just a series of little jobs.One advantage of welding on these old girls is the metal thickness was a little bigger than the paper they use these days.Danny Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 That's right Danny, one piece at a time. I've had the car 4 1/2 years now (actually working on it less than 4). If I get it done in another 4 1/2 I'll be happy! Trying to chug along while saving cash for the big money items.....interior and paint. Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted November 29, 2013 Author Share Posted November 29, 2013 (edited) Some body repair photos, one piece at a time, glad to find out my Craigslist welder works, it looks better just laying the metal on there without even welding it : creating some patterns: Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
Landman 25 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Now THAT will stiffen'er up. Nice job. Link to post Share on other sites
Doug Burton 13 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Lookin' good Billy. Nice to see you making some progress on the ol' girl! I never did learn to weld, but I did weld something one time in my life. About 40 years ago I was working as a security guard at the Allis-Chalmers plant in Norwood, OH. One weekend when there was no one else there, another guard and I got the idea to do our rounds using one of the 3 wheel golf carts they used as tool carts. One thing lead to another and before long we were poppin' wheelies in the cart. That didn't last long at all, the bracket holding the front wheel on busted off. We dragged it over to the welder and I grinded a beveled edge on each piece so the weld would hold better. Had no idea of what settings to use, but I got it welded back on. No one was any wiser that I know of, but I didn't stay too much longer at that location. Some of the things we do when we are young, LOL.Keep at it, you will get there! Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) Ha! Actually my brother has done the welding so far. Since the car is at my dad's shop, you never know who is working on it. I am lucky to have their help! Edited January 27, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 thought I'd share this pic from Sunday, I thought it was neat: 1 Link to post Share on other sites
danhar1960 14 Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Looks like its all happening there Billy.Danny Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 (edited) some updated body work photos, the only patches left on the top side are the visors and the top of the trunk (under where the trunk lid brackets bolt on), then the bottom (which will be inifintely simpler): these 2 were the big problems: Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
Model56s 21 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Looks great! I've been following this with a lot of interest - you made a lot of progress early with the disassembly and sandblasting. What color are you going to paint it? Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Looks great! I've been following this with a lot of interest - you made a lot of progress early with the disassembly and sandblasting. What color are you going to paint it?Thanks, it will be Sequoia Cream, which is a '39 color. Originally is was black of course, but I've had my share of black vehicles and I don't want another. Probably with Dante Red Wheels, not sure about that, may end up with 2 sets of wheels depending on what mood I am in Link to post Share on other sites
goodguy4life 10 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Love it! I salute you sir! Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) Thanks goodguy! Some more in-process body work photos: My brother welding on the door sill while dad grinds on the rear--all credit goes to them for the body work, I just made the templates and traced them on the sheet metal. Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
lunchbox_xx 10 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Looks great Billy keep up the great work Link to post Share on other sites
1939_Buick 376 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Some more in-process body work photos:Hope there are no earthquakes in your area Personal safety is an issue. Have you been checking that the body shell - door frames and still true & square?Am aware of a 38 Ponti that was worked on like this, but the door frames got distorted (body shell twisted & sagged) Doors then did not fit. Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) Yes Allan, we constantly check the doors and fenders to make sure they fit. The tricky part was getting the passenger rear rocker dimensions correct since it was basically completely gone. Measured and tried the door 100 times. I think we have it pretty darn close. We are on track to have the bottom done and painted and back on the chassis by Spring. So far it looks like we will be able to do the entire car with a single 4x8 sheet of metal. Few before and after shots: Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
Buick8Bill 10 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Billy:Nice to see that you have a full frame in the rear. Some early models in '39 had no frame aft of the rear suspension. It came to light that that was not enough support for the aft end of the body. What a read was that a group of GM execs were taking a test ride and in the process drove over a good sized bump in the road. At the end of the drive the rear doors wouldn't open due to a buckling of the body. The recall added a sub frame out back to correct the problem. Later Production featured the full length frame.Bill Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 Billy:Nice to see that you have a full frame in the rear. Some early models in '39 had no frame aft of the rear suspension. It came to light that that was not enough support for the aft end of the body. What a read was that a group of GM execs were taking a test ride and in the process drove over a good sized bump in the road. At the end of the drive the rear doors wouldn't open due to a buckling of the body. The recall added a sub frame out back to correct the problem. Later Production featured the full length frame.BillYes, and to think there was evan a towing option you could add on these cars. What in the world would you ever attach/bolt the hitch to? Link to post Share on other sites
Landman 25 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Looking solider and solider by the day. Is that a word? Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 I am certain we have used it around the shop Link to post Share on other sites
Buick8Bill 10 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Nice photos and great progress. About the trailer hitch; my guess from memory is a clamp-on bumper hitch with some metal bars that would go forward and attach to a point somewhere on the back corner of the frame. Imagine a triangle for rigidity. Probably state-of-the-art in it's day. These days, we wouldn't think of towing anything heavier than a golf cart trailer. Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) Two old friends reunited after a couple years apart. Not quite married yet though. Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
buick41 28 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Billy your thread gives me hope :cool: . Its great to see your progress on that beautiful Buick. Thanks for sharing Paul Link to post Share on other sites
danhar1960 14 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Looking good Billy. I took mine for a fang around the block when it was at that stage with no body on it. Strapped a box to chassis and off it went. Danny Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 Thanks, yeah Danny, I wanted to drive it up the driveway, but we decided to use the lawnmower. Link to post Share on other sites
Scotts_DG8 4 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Yes, and no we don't have welding experience. Should be fun! Just another learning experience. Well it's obvious that your lack of experience has been rectified and I'm sure that it is turned out to be a lot of fun. I'm thinking that you've done a great job there on the body work and the frame sure is not bad either. Scott... Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 Thanks Scott! My brother has done much of the welding. And of course, you can make it presentable with an angle grinder. Link to post Share on other sites
Larry E 10 Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Hello everyone, I just purchased a 1940 Buick Special. Never owned a buick before so would appreciate any info I can get.Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
Larry E 10 Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Here are a few pics Link to post Share on other sites
1939_Buick 376 Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 (edited) Hello everyone, I just purchased a 1940 Buick Special. Never owned a Buick before so would appreciate any info I can get.ThanksWelcome to the forum. The car looks goodWorth joining the BCA and having a read of the '39 Buick team thread (as links in my signature)http://forums.aaca.org/f165/39-buick-team-membership-342274.htmlhttp://www.buickclub.org/ Edited March 22, 2014 by 1939_buick added link (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
Envision Auto 11 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Coming along great! We just shipped one of these last week. Good luck with the restoration! Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) Always a milestone when doing a body-off restoration (sorry the first pic is so blurry): Edited September 2, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
lunchbox_xx 10 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Very cool and neat to see this one comeing together thanks for the pics Link to post Share on other sites
Landman 25 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Nice satisfying moment eh Billy? Link to post Share on other sites
39BuickEight 973 Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 Thanks and yes! It only takes up one space now instead of 2 lol. Link to post Share on other sites
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