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Raise your hand if you drove at least one old Buick this weekend


JohnD1956

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I took the 38 Special out to compare it to a 37 La Salle this morning.  They have identical bodies with different fenders, running boards, and grilles.  I was a bit surprised that the Caddy V8 had only 18 HP more than my Buick Straight 8.

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 I had the '41 out for a short drive after a bit of tinkering. I advanced the timing a few degrees, and pulled all of the plugs to check them as well. The front four looked just about perfect, a nice tan colour, but the back four were definitely running rich, quite black and sooty. I had it running in the garage for a little bit the other day, so perhaps it hadn't run long enough to clear them. However, it does beg the question, maybe the back ones are running rich most of the time??

 Well, once I got it out on the road it ran terrible, and settled down a bit, but it wasn't right. So, I pulled into a parking lot, which actually was a closed up GM (Chev) dealer, still vacant since about '09. So I set the timing back to where it was before, and it was running much better. I just drove it home, but hopefully I'll get it out again on the weekend. I'll take a couple of degrees off of it again, and see how that works out.

 I'm thinking of taking it out for a nice drive, and then checking the plugs again after it cools, to see how they look.

 Keith

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I managed about 10 miles (maybe) for the 1st time since 2006. 

A bit more maintenance to do but .....

My son and wife had to sit in her before parking it back in the garage and complete that work.

He has never driven it so... need to make that happen!

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Got the stick shift 1970 Wildcat out yesterday for first time since December, and drove it to Dallas area for the monthly North Texas Chapter BCA meeting--120-mile round trip. It ran great, as usual. Second photo is of the other old Buicks that got driven to the meeting--a beautiful '39 coupe and a '62 Skylark.

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Leonard, Texas

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I didn't take any pictures but I had my Park Avenue convertible out for the first time since last fall. Just got back from taking it out for coffee again today. It is a little cool, but the top will probably go down this afternoon and it will sit like that waiting for warm sunny days most of the summer.

 

Now, for why it sat all winter. New cars, it's only 30 years old, like a Model A Ford was when I got into the hobby. I had a slight drip in a fuel injector O-ring and replaced it. I switched on the key 4 or 5 times to pressure test it. Then the fuel system failed completely. No pump, not pressure, the car just cranked. The fuel pump would run jumped. Back together the 20 amp fuse popped.

While under the car I noticed the formed fuel lines at the tank were pretty skanky. They are high pressure steel with hoses and fittings. Rock Auto listed them. The pump always had an annoying hum, so I dropped the tank and all. Happy I did and I got new lines and a new pump. Once everything was back together I still had not fixed the problem, but avoided some potential future ones.

 

Friday I decided to fix it. I did a few basic checks and then removed the fuel injection rail and injectors. On an operating table I poked and probed the whole unit. When I was replacing the O-ring, one injector wire had found its way under the rail hold down bracket, got pinched when tightened, and cut through the insulation. I cut the wire protector back and gently repaired the wire. A few strands were broken but I am happy with the repair for now. I made sure the four brackets were free of wires straying about and tightened it down. It started right up and ran fine. I ran it up to the gas station and added half a tank to the gallon that was in it.

 

I don't mind that it happened. In the end I have raised a notch in the reliability of the old fuel lines. Although I did have a case of the mumbles wondering how replacing an o-ring killed the fuel system.

 

It is one of those "Why did you bring that to an old car event" cars. It is interesting to drive. The interior is not crowded like newer cars and the performance is brisk and satisfying. Almost everything is new mechanically. When I decided to rebuild it in 2011 gas was $3.50 per gal. and rising. I thought, "a Buick convertible that gets over 20 MPG. What a nice ride into the future".

 

It was easy to think about selling three cars during the winter. I had pretty much decided to only keep my '60 Electra and the '64 Riviera. But, to quote the lyrics of a famous song:

"Wait a minute, it's stopped hailing.
Guys are swimming, guys are sailing
Playing baseball, gee that's bettah
Muddah, faddah kindly disregard this letter!"

 

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It was a busy month and I haven't been posting here as I should. Had the Buick in the Car Corral display at the Concour d'Elegance in Arlington, Texas in April, along with about 120 others that were not on the show field.  

 

May 6-7 we were on the Spring Tour with our local AACA club group.  The tour group met in Weatherford, TX, with the first stop at the National Vietnam War Museum. From there we drove to the historic US Post Office in Mineral Wells for a box lunch and Mineral Wells/Baker Hotel history presentation. After lunch we drove to the Palo Pinto Old Jail and Museum Complex, ending the day at the Holiday Inn Express in Graham. Dinner at the Graham Country Club. On Sunday 7 May, we traveled to Jacksboro and toured Fort Richardson, ending back in Weatherford for lunch at the Vintage Grille and Car Museum which has a collection of 30 classic automobiles and trucks. About 300 miles for the Buick with no issues!

 

Then, this past Saturday the local BCA meeting.

Here are a few random photos:

 

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After changing the fuel filter and trying to see if it was running OK, decided to pull her out, put the top up (after sitting down for a long time) then..... did the obligatory around the neighbourhood drive till more confident things are good for the long trip.

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Took the 56 fourty miles tonight for the Wednesday Cruise in. This gave me a chance to run her at highway speeds for several miles.  I have been a fool for not changing that PS pump years ago!  What a difference!

 

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6 hours ago, Beemon said:

John, your new red rims really pop!

 

Thanks Ben, but they aren't installed yet. They are awaiting new tires which I have yet to get.  Those are the old rims with the 9 year old economy radials. Geeze, 9 year old tires!  They sure don't make em like that anymore. 

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4 hours ago, Pilgrim65 said:

John , first photos I've actually seen of your 56 , very nice!

cheers

pilgrim

Thanks Pilgrim. Its a nice 30 footer.   Looks best driving down the road where one cannot see all the flaws in the coat of paint. 

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Also, I took the Electra to its second cruise night of the year last night. Hot like July here in Toronto, a great turn out for the first night of the year, 70+ cars I heard attended.

A number of shall I say, seriously "hot" young women also looking around the cars, and selling 50/50 tickets, though you guys will have to take word for it, as I didn't get any pictures!

Keith

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Discovered out in Arizona by a friend, this 1941 Buick Super convertible coupe (Model 56C) finally dropped on my doorstep this afternoon after weeks of waiting. You know I couldn't resist taking it for a spin and I'll probably take it home tonight. 2007 AACA National First Prize winner, correct English Green with green leather, and it drives quite well. Remarkable how the small cars feel so much like the big cars despite significant differences in the hardware. It still feels substantial and powerful and around town the size is just right. Also note the "elephant ear" bumper ends, which work well on the convertible coupe body style--I don't usually like them but on that rear view, they look especially attractive. Just another one I wish I could keep for myself, but I already did that with two cars in the past two years. I'll go out of business if I keep it up...

 

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Edited by Matt Harwood (see edit history)
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Geeze Matt!  That is absolutely gorgeous!!!

 

Meanwhile, took the GS out for a 94 mile lunch tour today.  Went on some roads I never traveled before. 

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Where's Waldo?

 

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Went over to the Special figuring on another "neighbourhood drive" but it started to shower lightly. :(

Decided to continue cleaning the rear bumper. The long weekend starts tomorrow and need to be looking good! :D

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4 hours ago, Thriller said:

Sweet Super Matt...it's a shame I haven't won the lottery yet.

 

 

Thriller,

Tonight's Lotto Max draw is worth over 30 million.

No ticket, no chance. Do you have yours?

I'd split that with you any day. :lol:

Doug

Edited by dei (see edit history)
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120 mile round trip to the 95th Anniversary of Bennett Buick in Wayland, New York. One family owned since 1922. About 50 cars, hots, hamburgs,and a bunch of nice people.

I took the old roads we drove before the interstate, down RT15 and back up on RT 36. Vistas on those routes.

 

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With weather forecasts predicting wild, rainy weather I thought I was looking at a weekend inside with the Buick under a blanket, Anyway the weathermen got it wrong again fortunately and we had a beautiful autumn's day here. So with some Artie Shaw playing I ended up going on a 60 mile trip on the back-roads of the New South Wales Central Coast (60 miles north of Sydney). On the final leg home I ran into a car show at the same location we had the ROA show and shine two weeks ago.  They had a wide range of Chevrolets, Dodges, Holdens, Fords and a smattering of European cars. Only one Buick though.....Despite driving through lots of beautiful countryside that looked a lot like Maine in September, I forgot to stop and take a photo of my '36, sigh.

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On 5/18/2017 at 4:06 PM, Matt Harwood said:

Also note the "elephant ear" bumper ends, which work well on the convertible coupe body style--I don't usually like them but on that rear view, they look especially attractive. Just another one I wish I could keep for myself, but I already did that with two cars in the past two years. I'll go out of business if I keep it up...

I love the elephant ears on any model or any style 41 Buick.  Beautiful car.

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My wife had her AACA Senior 71 Riviera out to a local car show in the next town, here in Virginia, yesterday.  She took first in class.  We'll use it on the AACA Founders Tour in PA next month.  Using it as a second car this summer in Virginia.

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11 hours ago, Dynaflash8 said:

My wife had her AACA Senior 71 Riviera out to a local car show in the next town, here in Virginia, yesterday.  She took first in class.  We'll use it on the AACA Founders Tour in PA next month.  Using it as a second car this summer in Virginia.

1971 Buick Riviera RH front 6.JPG

My daughter would love this, she has fallen in love with the boat tails, I have become quite partial to them too 

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On 5/19/2017 at 6:51 AM, JohnD1956 said:

Geeze Matt!  That is absolutely gorgeous!!!

 

Meanwhile, took the GS out for a 94 mile lunch tour today.  Went on some roads I never traveled before. 

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Where's Waldo?

 

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I thought the landscape looked familiar, I passed through there in 1990

Edited by Paul White (see edit history)
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