buick5563 Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 The curvature and indented shape right along there scares me! lolBondo is your friend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56buickinga Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I had similar issues with my hood and I wanted to make the repair as painless as possible. So I found a place that was willing to clip the metal I needed from a good solid hood that had a huge crease in the rear. I didn't need the whole hood and shipping was cheaper. It made the replacement a lot smoother. I'm assuming your inner hood pan is gone too? You can see some of the hood work on my 56 http://forums.aaca.org/f163/my-1956-special-model-43-a-341530.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 yea... the inner pan on the other hood can probably be saved though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 I had similar issues with my hood and I wanted to make the repair as painless as possible. So I found a place that was willing to clip the metal I needed from a good solid hood that had a huge crease in the rear. I didn't need the whole hood and shipping was cheaper. It made the replacement a lot smoother. I'm assuming your inner hood pan is gone too? You can see some of the hood work on my 56 http://forums.aaca.org/f163/my-1956-special-model-43-a-341530.htmlwow you did a great job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Here's a photo of the other hood.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 11, 2013 Author Share Posted July 11, 2013 Can anyone tell me how to get the upper control arm off the upright? I have the endcaps off and the clamp bolt out to the upright, but I can't get the pin out that holds the control arm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Allen Wrench from the end of the pin. Should be in the service manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 11, 2013 Author Share Posted July 11, 2013 Thanks old tank. I have the service manual but gave up on it after the last few bits I was trying to remove were not listed..... Maybe I'll dig it back out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Page (245). You need to take a copy of this page to the alignment shop after you put it together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 11, 2013 Author Share Posted July 11, 2013 Thank you Sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Trust him. They will tell you they can't adjust camber without showing them the manual. Unless the dude doing the alignment is as old as Willie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 I just read that page in the manual.....WOW. Do you think they will be able to follow it even with the manual? HA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadmaster75 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I'm sure that being in Charlotte, you should eventually find someone who understandsCaster, Camber, and Toe In....! (Take her up to a NasCar shop if you have to!)But, take that page from the manual anyway .... they'll need it!Great job so far, Sirmike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 I got my 4 bbl today! Thanks Pete! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted August 18, 2013 Author Share Posted August 18, 2013 Yard drove the car today.... interesting...brakes dont work but the parking brake does..... runs quiet and smooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasJohn55 Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Yard drove the car today.... interesting...brakes dont work but the parking brake does..... runs quiet and smoothYeah, pretty common I think. Mine had a good pedal but could not bleed, rubber lines were so plugged up no fluid would pass them. Time for new wheel cylinders all around, 3 new rubber hoses, master cylinder rebuild and probably new shoes and drums turned. Wheel cylinders and brake hoses are now available at local auto chain stores, not sure about the other stuff. Just be thankful that your park brake cables are not siezed yet. Progress feels good doesn't it!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shadetree77 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Just be thankful that your park brake cables are not siezed yet.Ain't that the truth! Took me a whole day to get mine off of the car, unstuck, lubed, put back on, and adjusted. I was too cheap to spend 100 bux for a new one! Congrats on the yard laps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 Thanks shade tree. Yea its exciting. Car is tagged and insured, just gotta get that front end bolted on right and the new brakes in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Key came in the mail today, cut by code. It works perfect!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Worked this weekend on replacing the bent upper control arm. What a pain in the butt!!!:mad: Ended up taking the whole thing off the car, assembling on the bench, then re attaching to the car. Also replaced the front brakes. Went to put fluid in the master and the plug is frozen solid. Removed the master and have it soaking in penetrating oil on the bench. Will get a rebuild kit while it's out, and hope it doesn't need to be relined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Got the master cylinder opened up today..... The rubber parts seem very pliable and the metal plunger seems almost new, but it's frozen in there. I don't get it? How do such new parts "lock up". I have a rebuild kit coming, but wish there was a better option. When will someone make a bolt on upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted September 25, 2013 Author Share Posted September 25, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackofalltrades70 Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Oh no! It's the floating master cylinder that has haunted my garage for decades..........................hahahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shadetree77 Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 LOL! It does look like it's hanging there in mid-air doesn't it? I don't even see a wire! Scary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 LOL. It's hanging by a bungee with a black hook on the other side. I finally got it un seized, honed out, and painted! I got a nasty gram from the state DMV, that I had tagged and registered a car in NC from another state (bought this from Mass.) and have not had a VIN and operability (is that even a word) inspection yet. So I gotta get moving on this a little quicker than first planned. Really all I have left is brake lines, re-install the master, and drill the holes to mount the radiator support and sway bar to the new front frame rail. Easier said than done just as anything is. Now that the roof on the house is done, and the bathroom remodel is almost done I am hoping to have more time to finish her up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 Ya'll would not believe the idiots working at my local NAPA/ Autozone. Jeeeeeeeez Messed around all day trying to get a simple piece of brake line. I finally got the line, installed the master cylinder, bled the brakes and started putting the body back on. Installing body panels is an art that take patience that I don't have..... Lot's of foul language ()*&(*(*)&)^#@*&^T@(*&^T!!!!!!right now the bumper is way too high and I cant get the hood to line up to save my life. I have another hood on the way.... we'll see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted September 29, 2013 Author Share Posted September 29, 2013 (edited) Got a spare bumper today, but cant seem to get the top bar of the grille, I call it the mustache....Mine is broken and I have yet to find another in one piece! Has anyone ever repaired one? I was thinking JB weld? Can it be chromed after? I heard they broke a lot when using the bumper jack. Edited October 2, 2013 by wndsofchng06 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted October 4, 2013 Author Share Posted October 4, 2013 Any tricks/tips for getting the windshield trim loose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted October 5, 2013 Author Share Posted October 5, 2013 Well,I was going to go for the first test drive today.... but the radiator leaks like a sieve! Back to the drawing board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Send me a pm and I will give you a link to the body manual on my server, which should help with the trim issues.WillieAny tricks/tips for getting the windshield trim loose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Thanks Willie, PM sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 stuck the radiator from the 56 in her today. drove for a trip around the block.... she hesitates when I push down on the gas steady. Also noticed the tired rub bad when I turn hard (it's got 235/75/15) guess they are a little too big. The biggest worry is that when I put it in park, it doesn't lock...the car still rolls.... Is that a hard fix?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Well now I'm stressed out! While working 16 hr days I completely forgot to check the antifreeze in the buick. It was already down to 17 by 930 when I gt home. I took out the thermostat, poured antifreeze in then started the car holding a gas can over the carb..... I'm now frozen solid and hopefully my block won't be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) Well now I'm stressed out! While working 16 hr days I completely forgot to check the antifreeze in the buick. It was already down to 17 by 930 when I gt home. I took out the thermostat, poured antifreeze in then started the car holding a gas can over the carb..... I'm now frozen solid and hopefully my block won't be!Well, freeze plugs serve a purpose! If she freezes the plugs in theory should pop and allow expansion of the freezing water. Sucks but it saves a block from cracking. Let's hope all is well and she will thaw in due time. Edited January 7, 2014 by avgwarhawk (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Well, we hit a whopping high of 27 today!!! Bah humbug! *keeping my fingers crossed* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I don't know if you will be OK, but the engine probably will be. If was frozen the water pump probably would not turn, and starting and warming a frozen engine would make all of the casting (aka freeze) plugs pop out. Years ago when I was too cheap or lazy to put in antifreeze, I would drain the radiator if freezing temperatures were anticipated and refill just before driving again. If temperatures were still freezing this would cause water to freeze in the radiator when cold air was pulled across it. Cardboard solved that problem. Then after sitting over a freezing weekend I connected a hose to the hot water pipe at the washer and filled the radiator, started the car and watched rusty water puke all over the driveway. (you don't want to install freeze plugs on a nailhead unless it is on an engine stand)Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) MATTHEW, hovering between 17F and 27F, your engine block should be fine, especially if there was any antifreeze at all in the system. If you don't see coolant spilling out the bottom, you know you're good. I lost a nailhead that way but it was more like minus 40 and straight water. Most of the frost plugs did not pop but the block sure did.Recently on a minus 25C kind of day (that'd be about minus 10F), my daily driver Valiant suddenly spewed steam out the rad cap and the temperature gauge pinned over to the right. I'd been fooling around with a periodic coolant leak and didn't have the mixture up to the recommended 50/50. Apparently the radiator froze up, as Willie described. After the engine had cooled down, I topped it back up with a full jug of antifreeze and the car has run fine ever since.Great job on your frame repair, by the way. My Buick had a bent lower control arm when I got it. It was no picnic replacing that mess but the shop manual was my friend, loopy though it seems. You've got to just keep reading it again and again, with the car right in front of you. Eventually, most things make sense. It also really helps to have the parts manual, so you can see what each piece is called. It includes exploded views that can be very valuable. Edited January 7, 2014 by Rob McDonald congratulations (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thanks for the reassurance Willie and Rob! It's supposed to thaw this weekend so we'll see. Hopefully it won't rain ALL weekend and I can get the new sending unit in and the gas tank re-installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share Posted January 19, 2014 Well, no water under the car, so I assume I didn't break it! Got the new sending unit put in, tank re-installed and filled. Was a little upset that the new sending unit pickup tube is not a hard mount... Had to get a bit of 3/16" fuel line to plumb it in. Also have a third hood now, to try to finish up this front end. Still hunting for the top mustache bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 "Was a little upset that the new sending unit pickup tube is not a hard mount... Had to get a bit of 3/16" fuel line to plumb it in."Splice an electric fuel pump into that line...you WILL need it.Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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