PA Mike Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 I purchased a Buick last week. I was told by the owner it was a 1921 and he had the registration. After getting it home and started poking around it appears it is a 1923 36 according to tag on the firewall. The frame # is 864333and I am not sure where to find the engine # Also this car has one seat as 3 passanger and suicide doors. Any help Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 Serial number looks like 1923. Any pictures. Not many 3 passenger coupes. Engine plate is a tag on the left side of the lower engine block between cylinders 1 and 2. Hugh https://forums.aaca.org/topic/343999-does-this-vin-make-sense-for-a-1923-buick/?tab=comments#comment-2038218 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 Thanks I went down and looked for the engine tag it is there but hard to see I will have to get a closer look. I do have some pictures I will post. Any info about the suicide doors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 One of the few models with front suicide doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 Is the car rare because of the doors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 I appreciate any car that does things different from todays cars. I think Buick only put suicide doors on the rear for certain 4 door models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michealbernal Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 What a piece of history. It looks really good for almost 100 years old. You are to be commended for preserving it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 PA Mike: Let me know where you are at in PA as I am in Chambersburg and would love to help. The photos I am posting are of a 1923-36 for sale near me several years ago. As to rarity by having "suicide doors" many open and closed cars of the period had rear mounted hinged doors.(The rear doors of my 1937 Buick are "suicide" type. Rear hinged. This was when it sat out on Route 30 The Lincoln Highway. Only 7 miles from my home. I have photos of the interior which was original and in very good condition. It was in really nice condition outside of not being the correct maroon body color, broken ignition switch and reversed changed over carb. A local person around St Thomas PA. bought it. I believe he is just storing it as he has not responded to my calls to see if he needed any help. Send me a Personal Message if needed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted September 28, 2020 Author Share Posted September 28, 2020 Do you know what it sold for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 Mike: When I spoke to the new owner he did not give me the final amount paid. This is what they were asking at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 OK I am back looking to pick some brains.. I have located the fire wall tag 2336. I have located the frame tag 864333 and engine tag 858511. As far as the info I have these would be consistent with the 23-36 except motor id# I believe that falls into the 1922 range? I am only basing this on some sheets i copied from different forums? As long as we are at it what motor oil should I use? I am an old street rodder and purchased this car for exactly that but when I got it home I just could not do it, so solid and complete so I am a long way off on the needed knowledge. Any tips on where to buy parts? I am in the need for plug wire along with other things. I found a guy making me a new water pump/fan belt? Also I bought a battery today and in the past I have had a couple vehicles that had a positive ground from what I have seen this should be a negative ground? Thanks for any answers and help on this subject Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 I would agree that the tag looks like a 1922 motor. Basically no changes between the years, except I think 1923 had little covers in the valve cover to help with adding oil, but I am not the expert there. Oil change frequency is around 500 miles since you have no oil filter. Any oil you buy is better than anything from the old days. Personally, look for what is on sale and keep the oil clean. Use a multigrade. 10-40. Negative ground. Below is a link to multiple links. https://forums.aaca.org/topic/272878-pre-war-links/?tab=comments#comment-2099140 I always attach this thread on new Buick ownership. https://forums.aaca.org/topic/346174-22-buick-needs-someone-to-get-it-running/?tab=comments#comment-2062248 There is a lot to sort on these cars, but they are great fun and you can preserve a lot of history. You do have to address the pot metal issues and you will be amazed at how well these run. We have lots of technical docs to help so ask if a search on the forum does not bring up what you are looking for. Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Milewski Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Have dealt with RJL in Penfield NY for supplies, I chose to purchase the wires and ends separately and fit them to my 23-6-48 myself, great guy to deal with and talk with, everyone on the forum is very helpful, there are so few of us with 23's Jim Milewski BCA 50735, 23 Buick Opera Coupe 6-48 - am located in Central NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Milewski Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Forgot to mention it in the earlier post, Hugh is correct there are three small ports in the valve cover to add oil to lubricate, lookin at your pic - I cant tell if you need a drivers side window crank, may have one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 Jim I do need one I also need the drivers outside door handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Milewski Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Mike - Send me a PM, will take a pic, do not have the outer handle Jim - encon6523@outlook.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 Another lesson to learn. The tires on the 23 say 31 x 4 over sized on them can anybody translate? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Double the second number and subtract that from the first to get rim diameter 31 - 8 = 23 inch rims 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Per the book 70 Years of Buick, your car was $1175 new and weighs 2575# 7004 produced Note that very few 1923 6 cylinder Buick parts fit the 4 cylinder models or vice versa. The parts may look close but it’s like everything on your car is 70% the size of the part on the six. Body, chassis etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 31 x 4 isn't really an "oversize" size so maybe it just says 4 but is bigger if you measure it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 Actually says oversize cord. I can not find 31 x 4 tires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Those are not the tires that came on your car. Look for a 23" tire or a 32 x 4 1/2". I think you have an option for a balloon tire as well which will give you a better ride. Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Get these: https://www.cokertire.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=+32+x+4+1%2F2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Or these: https://www.universaltire.com/catalog_filter/?ftire_size=32x4+1%2F2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 or these https://www.lucasclassictires.com/32x4-1-2_c109.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Look into a 33 x 5 as well. Whatever makes a 23" rim (33- 5X2) . The added sidewall makes a little softer ride. I personally prefer the look of a larger sidewall tire. In 33 x 5 you have more tire options as well. 31 x 4 looks to be an obsolete tire size. Hugh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 (edited) Found a little more info for you in the BCA (Buick Club of America) judging manual. Another verification that the serial number is 1923 and the motor is 1922. The tire information gets interesting. The BCA Judging manual lists your tires as being 31 x 4, while in my earlier post (data from the Large Buick Book of parts) list the tire size for your car as 30 x 3 1/2". 30 x 3 1/2" was discontinued long ago. You have run into the same thing as I have run into. My 1925 Buick Standard has 22" rims and lists a tire size with BCA judging as 30 x 4. These smaller cross section tires are no longer available. Yours in a 3 1/2" and mine in a 4". My car has a 22" rim, and this is a 1 year only tire size, and now only available in a 6" cross section. My tires are 22-6.00 which is a 34 x 6 tire. So for you to be closest to original, a 31 x 4 is the tire, but larger cross sections will work as well. 31 x 4 does not look to be obsolete. Here is a link to a 31 x 4 tire. https://www.universaltire.com/universal-brand-tires/high-pressure-straight-sided/31-x-4-universal-ribbed-blackwall.html Hugh Edited October 3, 2020 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 Does anybody have a wheel puller to get rear wheels off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Mike, Pulling the rear hub is addressed at the end of these 4 pages. I am going to post all of this information as it will help you with putting the hub back together. FYI Larry DiBarry just made a batch of 7/8" tab washers for the rear wheel nuts. I would suggest that you get a few new and a spare while they are available Hugh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 Very helpful Thank you! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyfamily Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 (edited) On 9/27/2020 at 7:51 PM, dibarlaw said: PA Mike: Let me know where you are at in PA as I am in Chambersburg and would love to help. The photos I am posting are of a 1923-36 for sale near me several years ago. As to rarity by having "suicide doors" many open and closed cars of the period had rear mounted hinged doors.(The rear doors of my 1937 Buick are "suicide" type. Rear hinged. This was when it sat out on Route 30 The Lincoln Highway. Only 7 miles from my home. I have photos of the interior which was original and in very good condition. It was in really nice condition outside of not being the correct maroon body color, broken ignition switch and reversed changed over carb. A local person around St Thomas PA. bought it. I believe he is just storing it as he has not responded to my calls to see if he needed any help. Send me a Personal Message if needed. I’ve been awol for a while due to crazy life getting in the way of the pleasure of your all’s company on here but…. do you recall what they wanted for the car? NEVER MIND I SAW IT ABOVE!!!!! Edited July 18, 2021 by Crazyfamily (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Just as a side note all these Buick 4 cylinder coupes are a tight fit for us on the portly side. The original seller was I believe over 300 lbs. though. He had it for over 40 years and only drove it once he got it running again. That was about 100 yards from his storage building to where he had it for sale along the Lincoln Highway the summer of 2015. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted September 23, 2021 Author Share Posted September 23, 2021 I am looking for the two clamps to hold my rear bumper on.. When I bought the car it was off the car and the clamps were not. I believe they are the same as the front. Thanks 1923 buick 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) Larry, do you have any more of the 7/8 tab washers? Thanks PA Mike Edited October 31, 2021 by PA Mike (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 The model 23-36 is pretty rare: http://hyzercreek.com/Buick.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 Mike: Yes I have more of the tab washers. Verify size.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Mike Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) Mine now are the 9 tab. If you send me address and cost I will get it in the mail. And the other dims are correct. Thanks Mike Edited November 2, 2021 by PA Mike (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 PM sent. $6.00 each and $2.50 postage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now