EmTee Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 11 hours ago, 38Buick 80C said: Went to put on the upper control on bumpers... Wrong ones... 11 hours ago, 38Buick 80C said: Though they were packaged as a pair... I ended up with two rights... Seems to be all too common these days. Two steps forward, one step back... Still, it must feel good to be tightening bolts for a change! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 It is a lot of fun getting the shock retaining "C" clips on. I ended up doing mine in a press with a fixture 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted April 7, 2023 Author Share Posted April 7, 2023 4 hours ago, DonMicheletti said: It is a lot of fun getting the shock retaining "C" clips on. I ended up doing mine in a press with a fixture oh I remember how much fun they are, don't worry I'm still scared for life from the first set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 4 hours ago, DonMicheletti said: It is a lot of fun getting the shock retaining "C" clips on. I'll be paying attention to that task also. I looked at mine when I was under there doing the torque-ball seal, hoping I never lose one or otherwise need to replace a shock... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 Well spring break vacation put a slow down on progress, but came home to some parts. Did a small but of install. And Ran into another issue with the parts I received for a third item. Vendor sent the wrong stuff, hopefully a swap out will be shortly. Pick up some more parts from the powder coater this week at some point. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 Made some miscellaneous progress today First up was fuel lines and brake lines. I ordered from a vendor. The fuel line was for a 1940 81C per the website. The brake line kit was labeled for a 1940 Limited (didn't say 90 series or 80) Fuel line for perfectly Brake lines must be for a 90 series... Fronts are gonna work. Right front line is perfect. Left front is too long Connector to the rear x-brace also way to long. Going to invest in a new flaring tool... An expensive automatic one, cause I really hate the manual ones. Will modify the couple that are close and make new ones entirely for the ones on the rear axle. Overall not dissatisfied with my purchase as I knew I was taking a risk. I put the exhaust kinda in place, but not secure. Just getting it out of the way mostly. On to the rear shocks. As alluded to earlier not the easiest task. First I cleaned up the original hardware with the grooved washer and the C clip. The problem with these is the new rubber bushings are thick and hard to compress. I ended up taking it off the car and doing what I did on the 80C. I goeund down the rubber bushings on the bench grinder. Ah, burning rubber... Then I had to hammer the C clip on and use the channel locks to push them back together. I noticed when I cleaned up the gas tank straps had cloth on them to create insulation so I bought something to emulate it and pop riveted to the powder coated straps. Those were installed I also put the panhard bar in place And the sway bar connectors 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Nice to see thiungs going back together. I wonder why Buick used those C-clips for the shock mount as opposed to a stud and nut like everyone else...? If they were worried about it loosening they could have just used a castellated nut with a cotter pin. I hope I never have to remove mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Why that "C" clip?. EmTee, you have seen the choke mechanism - why that too? Buick was just taxing our brains in '38. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Well, they used to call them "airplane shocks", so maybe that's what Douglas used on the DC-3... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 Man, between you and @jackofalltrades70 I'm feeling like a lazy duff about now.... 🤣 Nice work! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackofalltrades70 Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 Looking good Brian! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 Got the shocks back along with the front suspension. Only had time for a small bit of work tonight 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanZverina Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 Hi Brian, I always tune in to your updates. Progress may be slow at times as everyday life goes on, but steady nonetheless. And you appear to take the time to do things well. Any update on the '58? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 1 hour ago, JanZverina said: Hi Brian, I always tune in to your updates. Progress may be slow at times as everyday life goes on, but steady nonetheless. And you appear to take the time to do things well. Any update on the '58? Thank you for the kind words. Took the '58 to the upholstery shop for a quick check of top kit I bought. He has be on the calendar for early Sept. to put the top on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 24, 2023 Author Share Posted June 24, 2023 Today was front suspension assembly day. I finally had time to work and I got stainless duct covers and everything I should have needed to put completely put it back together (more on the "should" later) here is the start of the day First thing I figured out was the powder coating was about aggressive and I had to hone it out of several locations to allow the pins to fit. First up was lower outer pins. And stainless dust covers from McMastercar. So I wanted to make sure the spindle mount would line up at the upper pin. It didn't. So I undid the inner mount on the lower A-arm so I could adjust it. Then put the upper pin in. This allowed me to adjust the inner mount and set up against the bolts. Here it is still needing adjustment. Same with the passenger side While they were set like this I installed the kingpins in the spindles. Missed the photo of that. But then installed new zirk fittings. Next is my least favorite part of this job... Assembling it all with the springs. I got my spring compressor out and compressed the springs. I know from experience I need to leave a good bit of coil out of the compressor on one side so that it goes into the chassis pocket and can still come out later. Then I put the insulator on the top and put the upper pin in for real this time. And not show, but the removal of the spring compressor is really annoying. The passenger side went a bit smoother and end result for today. So back to "should" have everything. You can see I installed dust cover on the upper pins also stainless. I thought I bought the right size cover for the king pins, but no I needed a different size, now ordered. I didn't want to install the backing plates until these covers are installed.I have steel ones but would prefer the stainless, so I will wait. The interesting thing on the pins I got from RareParts. The lower pins came with copper washers that don't fit the lower pin but fit the uppers perfect. So I reused the old washed for the lower. The upper pins come with rubber o-rings that are supposed to go between the pin and the washer at the zirk fitting, but they are neither for the upper or the lower pins in terms of size so will need to get the correct sizes. Tomorrow I am going to finish reassembly on the brake wheel cylinders and maybe start modifying some brake lines with the new flaring tool I bought When I get the dust covers later this week then I can reinstall backing plates and brake drums etc to set the car down on the front suspension. 10 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 Brake wheel cylinders, cleaned up and rebuilt. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 15 hours ago, 38Buick 80C said: While they were set like this I installed the kingpins in the spindles. Did you also get the king pins and bushings from Rare Parts? Did you have to ream the bushings to install the pins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 12 minutes ago, EmTee said: Did you also get the king pins and bushings from Rare Parts? Did you have to ream the bushings to install the pins? I had a NORS in my parts collection I used. But RP does sell them. Yes I had those honed/reamed to spec. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 Front WCs installed in backing plates. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 26, 2023 Author Share Posted June 26, 2023 The correct sizes dust caps arrived today for the king pins I do love stainless steel... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 26, 2023 Author Share Posted June 26, 2023 And one backing plate on PS: powder coating has been a bit of a pain on some of these tight fit bolts or pins... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 26, 2023 Author Share Posted June 26, 2023 She's a bit toe'd in 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 26, 2023 Author Share Posted June 26, 2023 Bearing races good to go in front drums. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted June 29, 2023 Author Share Posted June 29, 2023 This wheel bearing was not long for this world... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted June 29, 2023 Share Posted June 29, 2023 37 minutes ago, 38Buick 80C said: This wheel bearing was not long for this world... Wow! Thats really shocking. I would think that had to be grinding and screaching like mad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 4, 2023 Author Share Posted July 4, 2023 (edited) Small bit of work today but a big milestone. The replacement wheel bearing arrive yesterday and I bought some full synthetic grease yesterday as well. Today I packed the bearings and installed them in the drums. After that I installed the brake shoes etc. And then packed the other bearings and put the drums on the hub. I cleaned and painted the lug bolts And then used high pressure lube to install and reinstalled the wheels. And the milestone is she's back on her own front wheels. Edited July 4, 2023 by 38Buick 80C (see edit history) 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 4, 2023 Author Share Posted July 4, 2023 One thing I did notice. The one drum is missing a locating stud. Not sure that's it's going to be an easy replacement however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 49 minutes ago, 38Buick 80C said: One thing I did notice. The one drum is missing a locating stud. Not sure that's it's going to be an easy replacement however. Only you will know it is missing. If you are worried about ease of installation make some studs that will screw into the hub, install wheel, remove studs after some lug bolts are started. Mine all have the locating pin, but I still use my studs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 4, 2023 Author Share Posted July 4, 2023 10 minutes ago, old-tank said: Only you will know it is missing. True Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 4, 2023 Author Share Posted July 4, 2023 Supposed to have rear axle back in the next week or two. Doubt I will get it installed before Spokane, but that would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 Arrived home this morning. I know what I have ahead of me this weekend!! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 Rebuilt? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 12, 2023 Author Share Posted August 12, 2023 (edited) What I started the day with. First up U-bolts and spring mounts The located the axle with the panhard bar Next was springs. Here is the bolt with rubber insulator and washer. Insulator and test for of bolt Mounted at the bottom first Then at the top Edited August 13, 2023 by 38Buick 80C (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 12, 2023 Author Share Posted August 12, 2023 10 hours ago, EmTee said: Rebuilt? New seals and bearings 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 Rolling on all 4 again. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 Did the rear brakes too 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 (edited) Then my helper came out to put the motor in. Which was a real fight for some reason nothing wanted to go in smoothly. But as of 8:30 she's fully bolted it (I need to check bolts to torque settings, but I'm spent for tonight). Nico really hung in with me while I was struggling with everything. I could tell he was bored as hell, but he stayed there until it was set in place. Edited August 13, 2023 by 38Buick 80C (see edit history) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 That's a wrap for today. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 I guess I should mention I ordered the bedford cord and the broadloom. I bought them from SMS Auto Fabric...Lets see how long it takes for me to get them in hand. Any one want to wager on the over under of a year?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 "Over" (I hope I'm wrong...) What are you going to do about the door panels and rear quarter panels? Will SMS fabricate those? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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