M1842 Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 (edited) Hello to all the Forum members! I have recently gotten back into the car hobby with a 1955 Buick Special 2 door hardtop. My previous car was a 1951 Chevy Fleetline sedan. I bought the Buick last year and didn't get much done on it till recently. Problems when I got it: no lights, no fans, bad smell, hesitation under load, and massive transmission fluid leak. I've addressed the lights with a new headlight switch, rebuilt the license plate lights, ID'ed broken wires at the brake light switch, sprayed contact cleaner on the dome light switch (but still does not work off of new door switchesI installed). I put in a new ballast resistor this weekend which made a huge improvement in starting the engine. Yesterday, I tested the vacuum advance on the distributor and found it would not hold pressure so I ordered a rebuilt unit. The bad smell was about 10 pounds of mouse nesting material, mouse crap, and mummified mice between the headliner and roof. This week while waiting for parts, I am going to install a new fuel filter and 4" hose on the defroster heater. Interestingly, after I replaced the ballast resistor the fans for the defroster and heater came back alive. I can't seem to get the hood to fully shut, there doesn't seem to be edge for the latch to lock into, is it possible that the pin could be completely worn out? I have been lurking reading posts that are related to my problems and there is a lot of knowledge and helpful people here. Thanks, Mark Edited June 21, 2018 by M1842 Added photos (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 58 minutes ago, M1842 said: Hello to all the Forum members! I have recently gotten back into the car hobby with a 1955 Buick Special 2 door hardtop. My previous car was a 1951 Chevy Fleetline sedan. I bought the Buick last year and didn't get much done on it till recently. Problems when I got it: no lights, no fans, bad smell, hesitation under load, and massive transmission fluid leak. I've addressed the lights with a new headlight switch, rebuilt the license plate lights, ID'ed broken wires at the brake light switch, sprayed contact cleaner on the dome light switch (but still does not work off of new door switchesI installed). I put in a new ballast resistor this weekend which made a huge improvement in starting the engine. Yesterday, I tested the vacuum advance on the distributor and found it would not hold pressure so I ordered a rebuilt unit. The bad smell was about 10 pounds of mouse nesting material, mouse crap, and mummified mice between the headliner and roof. This week while waiting for parts, I am going to install a new fuel filter and 4" hose on the defroster heater. Interestingly, after I replaced the ballast resistor the fans for the defroster and heater came back alive. I can't seem to get the hood to fully shut, there doesn't seem to be edge for the latch to lock into, is it possible that the pin could be completely worn out? I have been lurking reading posts that are related to my problems and there is a lot of knowledge and helpful people here. Thanks, Mark Welcome Mark! Glad you're completing your punch list. A couple photos of your latch might help, and of course we all want to see photos of the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1956322 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Sounds like you maybe replaced the ballast resistor for the blower motor and not for the ignition.. There's two one for the blower motor and one for the ignition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Unlikely in the extreme that a correct pin is worn to that extent. Possibly an incorrect pin has been substituted. More likely the cause of the failure to latch is the blade of the latch is bent........bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick man Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Welcome aboard Mark ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1842 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 18 hours ago, 1956322 said: Sounds like you maybe replaced the ballast resistor for the blower motor and not for the ignition.. There's two one for the blower motor and one for the ignition So I what does the ignition ballast resistor look like? Is it a ceramic unit like the blower or is it a resistor wire? Thanks, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1842 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 16 hours ago, Bhigdog said: Unlikely in the extreme that a correct pin is worn to that extent. Possibly an incorrect pin has been substituted. More likely the cause of the failure to latch is the blade of the latch is bent........bob I will get some pictures and post so you can see. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 1 hour ago, M1842 said: I will get some pictures and post so you can see. Mark Very good. If the pin latching groove is worn simply turn it 120 deg to bring a an unworn groove sector into register with the latch blade..................Bob................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1842 Posted June 21, 2018 Author Share Posted June 21, 2018 23 hours ago, 1956322 said: Sounds like you maybe replaced the ballast resistor for the blower motor and not for the ignition.. There's two one for the blower motor and one for the ignition I see that Cadillac used a coil with an integrated ballast resistor in 1955, could this be used on my 55 Buick? They are being reproduced now and run $49. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1842 Posted October 8, 2018 Author Share Posted October 8, 2018 I figured out the best technique to close my hood. I close the hood to engage the first latch then I open the second latch and press down on the hood so that the pin goes into it's opening. Then I release the latch for the pin and slowly let the hood back up. Then the pin will click into place and the hood stays down. If I press down with the latch closed, it won't engage the pin. Glad I got that figured out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 The ballast resistor is the resistor by the wiper motor, the fan resistor is the resistor on the air box plenum. Hope that helps! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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