TexasJohn55 38 Posted September 8, 2013 Matt, you are not the first to make a mess or will you be the last! Your old gasket is probably still in the filter head groove, hard to tell by looking except it isn't shiny. Place the gasket in the filter head groove, not on the can. It should fit snugly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 8, 2013 I am going with, "I got a defective gasket." That is my story and I am sticking with it. Hopefully the old gasket is in there, because I know one did not come off when I dropped the filter. I put it back together without the new gasket and it did not leak. There is certainly no doubt that the oil pump works well... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl B. 14 Posted September 8, 2013 Matt, that change the oil story sounds familiar.... I think I got a bad gasket too.... thanks to Mike..Buick5563, I got it all sorted out though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buick5563 839 Posted September 8, 2013 Everybody gets a bad gasket the first time. I know I did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrEarl 7,171 Posted September 8, 2013 Me too, back in '72. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buick5563 839 Posted September 8, 2013 Mine was circa '87 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnD1956 5,040 Posted September 9, 2013 Hell, My gasket is still leaking... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airy Cat 199 Posted September 9, 2013 Mike: I have a '54 41D just like yours... color and all. I have pictures of it on this site. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 11, 2013 I don't remember exactly what I had posted yesterday that was lost when the forum went down but I know I posted some photos of the car while I had it out doing some joy riding. I don't think it looks too bad, although I do really need to wash it. Here are the photos:I had a nice conversation last night with Jim Tucker of Heatercontrolvalve.com. This morning I shipped my defroster valve off to Jim to be rebuilt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 12, 2013 Even though it is driving fine, I had determined recently that the transmission fluid was a little low in my Special. I went to my local Advance Auto Parts today to order a transmission pan gasket so I can drain and refill it eventually. I decided to buy a little bit of fluid so I could top it off until I get ready to do the Transmission Fluid change. The nice clerk asked if he could help me find what I needed. I told him that I was sure he was going to have to look it up in his computer because I needed "Type A" but nothing seemed to be labeled as "Type A" on the. shelf. He tried his computer and did not have much luck, so he pulled up a Google search screen and this was his first result:http://forums.aaca.org/f115/dynaflow-transmission-what-fluid-use-264744.htmlI said, OK that answers the question. He asked if I wanted him to do any more searching, to be sure if that was the right answer. I told him, I know Mr Earl, and he knows what he is talking about. He was quite impressed that I knew his "web expert". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stealthbob 18 Posted September 12, 2013 World Wide Web famous he is.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl B. 14 Posted September 12, 2013 Matt, if you want Type A, it's available here...Coastal Type A Automatic Transmission Fluid, 12/1qt. Case---BUY IT NOW!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old-tank 3,132 Posted September 12, 2013 Matt, if you want Type A, it's available here...Coastal Type A Automatic Transmission Fluid, 12/1qt. Case---BUY IT NOW!!!I wouldn't use that to lubricate the wheels on my lawn mower. I can't write what my transmission builder said about the current Type A.Willie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasJohn55 38 Posted September 12, 2013 Willie is correct as usual. Lawnmowers use Type F, or if direct drive-use 85w90.Willie probably uses 85w140 or multi purpose chassis grease. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl B. 14 Posted September 12, 2013 Willie, All I knew about the stuff was the ad I'd found....but, I'd believe you any day of the week over an ad!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 13, 2013 Well, I still need to re-install the defroster valve when it gets back, and I still need to get the radio issue resolved, but today I installed the radio antenna, topped off the transmission fluid, and drove the car to lunch and to one of my local non-ethanol fuel suppliers and filled it up. It is running good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 21, 2013 On Thursday night, I drove the 1954 Buick to my local Cape Fear Chapter, NC Region AACA meeting. I got a lot of nice comments on the car. After the meeting, I picked up a pair of new front shocks and a pair of front anti-sway bar links from my local O'Reilly Auto Parts. Today I traveled to the Charlotte Autofair. I picked up a set of 2 1/2 inch wide white wall bias ply tires from Coker Tires. Now I have some parts so I can do some more work on the Buick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 23, 2013 I installed the new front anti-sway bar links on Saturday. Today I installed the new front shocks and had the new tires installed. It drives much better with this work done.Here is how the car looks with the new tires. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
avgwarhawk 3,100 Posted September 23, 2013 Looking great! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 24, 2013 And now it sounds great too! Although we could not schedule a good time for us to get together in person, Wndsofchnge06 went out of his way to meet a friend of mine on Saturday at the Charlotte Autofair to exchange the first radio that I got from him with another that he had tested to confirm that it worked. After dinner tonight, I picked up the radio from my friend and went home and installed it. It sounds great. I am getting a lot of items marked off of the "to do list". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackofalltrades70 1,133 Posted September 24, 2013 Looking good! Glad you have the radio marked off your list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NC-car-guy 2,596 Posted September 26, 2013 Matt,Glad the radio made it home ok. I didn't mind going to the show, if it hadn't rained I would have stayed longer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 29, 2013 Today, the mailman delivered the rebuilt defroster valve. Reinstalling the valve took a couple of hours. It would have been easier to install the defroster hardware before the radio, so I got to remove and reinstall the radio as part of the defroster job. I also installed a recently purchased reproduction glove box liner as the original cardboard glove box liner was about to fall apart. The defroster valve works perfectly and it is nice to have it all back together without any leaks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCHinson 2,736 Posted September 29, 2013 I completed one other small job this afternoon. I removed the neutral safety/backup light switch and re-engineered a small threaded rod to replace the broken piece of the switch that connects to the shifter linkage. After taking it apart, I was able to drill into the switch piece where the rod was broken off and screw a large machine screw into it and then cut the head of the screw off. Even though the rod broke off of the switch assembly some time before I bought the car, the quality of the switch was clearly very good. The sliding portion of the switch contains 4 small ball bearings to make it slide easily. If you ever have to take one of these switches apart, be careful where you disassemble it so you don't lose the small ball bearings. I replaced the backup light bulbs, installed a new fuse, connected and adjusted the switch and now the neutral safety switch and backup lights work. I still plan to get another neutral safety/back up light switch but this one is working for now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnD1956 5,040 Posted September 30, 2013 Nice. I love to hear about those DIY fixes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
