1949 Buick Super Restoration project

[The 55er]

1 hour ago, 32carjump said:

I'm working to redo the interior on a 1949 Buick Super.  Any advice on removing the window cranks?  I'm sure there are clips holding them in place but there is also that tricky spring loaded metal ring around each crank.  

Easiest way to remove them is with a pair of door handle clip pliers. You push the springy part of the escutcheon back toward the door upholstery, insert the pliers down the groove in the door handle and pull the clip out from the top. 

[32carjump]

Thank you so much....I did a quick search and I can't find that exact tool but there are a few knock-offs.   Unless you have a supplier you'd recommend to pick this up, I'll roll the dice with a inter webs purchase.    Thank you for pulling the curtain back on this magic show! 

[The 55er]

There are quite a few of these Vintage K-D #430 Door Handle Removal Tools available on Ebay right now at very reasonable prices.

[32carjump]

Thank you again for the help!  Just ordered a set.  

[pvfjr]

Any progress?  Or is there actually nice weather and things to do in your neck of the woods? 

[Rusty Heaps]

I picked up  the tool at O’ Reilly’s. I believe it was called a clip removal tool.

[Skvitt]

Haven't posted in a while. Project is advancing slowly.  Patching same holes on passenger side. Nothing too exciting 😀.

[Skvitt]

Another hole has been patched up

[Skvitt]

Right rear fender is in a bit better shape than left was

[Skvitt]

Progress, patch panel fabricated.

[Skvitt]

Changed a subdgect, and finished what was started almost a year ago. Front seat finished. And it is as heavy as good size sofa  😀.

[Skvitt]

Done. Not to original, but I don't care. And I like it 😀

[Skvitt]

Not much work over last couple of months, mostly due to heat and humidity in the shop. Some easy stuff, like fender skirt. To keep project rolling

[Skvitt]

All tacked in place

[Skvitt]

Also getting ready to separate body from the chassis, so built this dolly, hopefully will be strong enough

[Skvitt]

And some upholstery work, rear seat cushion.

From this:

[Skvitt]

To this:

[Skvitt]

In a few easy steps:

[Skvitt]

And if you noticed, the Corvette on background was gone by the time I was done with the seat  . To make some room for the Buick chassis.

[Skvitt]

Back seat arm rest, quite a fancy construction.

[Skvitt]

And onto back rest, it is 2-piece construction with arm rest in the center. 

[r1lark]

Fantastic work! Just went thru this whole thread, simply amazing.

 

And great picture taking too.

Edited August 12, 2022 by r1lark (see edit history)

[Randiego]

Skvitt,

On occasion, we tune in to see what others are doing in our hobby/trade.  You sir, are a MASTER.  The attention to detail of every thing that you touch shows a skilled craftsman who really knows his "stuff".  Following you restoration of this old Buick is a fascinating tale that we enjoy immensly.  

I was saddened to not see any current postings, thinking that this car was put on "hold" due to ? ?  Anyway, it was a nice day to return to see you back at it.  

 

My dad was a "Buick head" back in the day, starting with a 1952 (after he completed medical school) sedan and progressing up to the 1956 Roadmaster wagon for our expanding family.  He purchased a 1955 21' Lonestar Cabincruiser (Aluminum construction from a Texas boat builder of the day) and he bought a 1955 red and white Buick Stationwagon to pull it and haul our family to the local lakes of S.E. Kansas/North central Arkansas.  Our lake of preference was Bull Shoals Lake close to Mountain Home, AR.

 

Those Buicks were beautiful examples of Detroit Iron and served our family well.  Our last one was the Charcoal/Red combination that was fully loaded with all the bells and whistles.  It never once faild our family in it's dutiful service.  My dad was a lifelong Buick Head. 

 

Sadly, we lost our father in 1960 and so the end of the Buicks came to pass.  But the memories of those Leviathans are permanently etched in my memorybanks.  More room and luxury for a family of 7 in those days.    

 

Restoring this model will be a "crown jewel" in the ensuing resto threads.  Can't wait to see the next installment. 

 

Great work!

[Randiego]

Skvitt,

 

Are you doing all of the sewing on the interior?  If so, you are TALENTED !   Not only are you a body man but tackling the intricies of auto upholstery is a specialty that most cannot do.  The seats look amazing and that arm rest assembly is a lot more complicated than what it looks to be. 

[Skvitt]

On 8/29/2022 at 7:40 PM, Randiego said:

Skvitt,

 

Are you doing all of the sewing on the interior?  If so, you are TALENTED !   Not only are you a body man but tackling the intricies of auto upholstery is a specialty that most cannot do.  The seats look amazing and that arm rest assembly is a lot more complicated than what it looks to be. 

Thank you, 

Yes, I'm trying to do pretty much everything by myself, learn as I go, a lots of times from my own mistakes (or from mistakes of people who took my advise 😁😁😁). It's not perfect, but I won't have anybody to blame for imperfections, but myself 😁. There is a lot of things that I've done in my life. One thing that I haven't try yet is a bodywork and painting, I guess will see how it goes😊

Project has not been put on hold, I'm doing a little thing here and there, some tasks are repeat so I don't post them. And as we all know some tasks that look too easy, take hours and days to complete to complete. These fenders took me 2 days to install and line up properly, for final welds. Now working on skirts.

Sometimes I think - what will I do with all the skills that I gained? Maybe one more resto in my lifetime, but 

 

Edited September 6, 2022 by Skvitt (see edit history)

[Skvitt]

On 8/12/2022 at 10:58 AM, r1lark said:

Fantastic work! Just went thru this whole thread, simply amazing.

 

And great picture taking too.

Thank you!

[Skvitt]

And more upholstery progress. Rear backs are done. That center arm rest I think I will have to wait until seat is installed in the car, because it has to follow the contour of the back rest.

Edited September 6, 2022 by Skvitt (see edit history)

[Skvitt]

And some easy job, cleaned, rust treated and primed back of the dashboard, 

[Skvitt]

A small progress last night. Discovered a bunch of pinholes in the rocker. Cutting those areas out and patching them up. There is still a small area between cutouts to deal with. I'll do it after 2 big ones are patched up. 

[Skvitt]

Tried to finish that weld tonight but gave up, body sits too low, will wait until I remove it from frame and put on stands or rotisserie.  

 

[Skvitt]

Decided to finish welding those fender skirts that was already taking forever.

[Skvitt]

Fast forward, untreated welds were looking not to good, so here it is finished

[Skvitt]

And installed

[Skvitt]

Next in preparation for body removal, started removing doors.

[Skvitt]

And of coarse Murphy's law never fails. Last screw holding the door, was stripped. So had to cut it off piece by piece,

[Andy J]

Man,I hope you marked the position of the door hinges before you took them off. I didn't do that to my Pontiac and had a heck of a time getting them adjusted again. I'm talking about several hours to get them right.

[Skvitt]

More progress last month. Switched over to right front fender. There was a big patch tack welded, brazed and bondoed. Underneath were 2 holes.

[Skvitt]

And reinforcement piece was almost gone at the bottom

[Skvitt]

Started with repair of reinforcement piece. Probably didn't have to make it as fancy, nobody will ever see it anyways, probably flat piece of 11 ga steel would do, but what that fun that would be:) so desided to replicate it with the bead in the middle. However not having bead roller strong enough for 14ga, decided to make it out of 3 pieces.

Edited October 20, 2022 by Skvitt (see edit history)

[Skvitt]

Could not make that sharp bend either