Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 Ok Buick People! One might guess from my "handle" and 21 years of posting on the forum that I am into 65 Wildcats. This one is the second one I purchased. The first is my Sea Foam Green Custom Convertible that showed up in Hemmings around 1998. I had to call and ask about it for the most obscure reason- the phone prefix was the same as my work establishment (681) so I figured it would be close by. But that is not the car I am featuring in this post. The second one purchased came from S. Carolina. I had a job there and had a friend look at it...he advised not to purchase LOL. While it was in transit an issue of the Bugle had a lead (from none other than Pete Phillips) for a 65 Wildcat 4-speed coupe. I was conflicted for 10 seconds and had to make the call for that one too. 2 65 Coupes on the way, the year: 2000. Registered one in April and one in May. This automatic, bucket seat, console, Flame Red custom was inoperative as there had been an engine fire that damaged the hood-an Electra btw, at least by the center trim! It is still leaning against the back wall too. Year 2000 was the year I lost my Mom. Dad and I found our garage coming from the cemetery as it is situated next door. We purchased the 6080 sq ft building as soon as we could. With all that space I could do a frame off restoration on the 65. In my mind, this project would determine if I was any good at restoration and if I would do more. Maybe not So the car came apart. So Many Parts! 20 years of collecting more - 3 cars worth of parts from MO, 1 from Chicago, 1 from PA, 1 from Michigan, Engines, 3.91 rear ends, 4-note horns, am/fm treasures from far and wide. First off came the body.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 Built an engine or 2. First idea was a 66 Nailhead with a q-jet. Then it changed to an X-Code dual quad. Then 5-speed Tremec, hydraulic clutch. I found 65 Impala pedals and modified to work with the WIldcat's pedal/steering column bracket and hydraulic throw out bearing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 I decided I had too many red cars and no black cars. This one now color changed to Regal Black. I used some of my best chrome on the front. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 Keep trying. I think you are about to get this restoration thing down... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 I am good at collecting parts, but finishing the job has been challenging for every project. 1) Super X-Code intake manifold 2) the state of the trim situation- when I had the ss polished in 2005 I had accidentally sent 2 rh qtr belt moldings. Found a pair to polish next round. Drip rail and window opening seals in. 3) goodies from the stash for windows and doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 Loaded for the trip to Columbus for attention. I stopped by the upholstery shop to visit the seats that have been done for 8 years. I've my own shelf unit there...seats look excellent in the red Madrid Grain Vinyl reproductions from PUI. He has the door panels and everything but the headliner/visors. Steve and I will have the car running and ready for Darrin to concentrate on headliner, seats and door panels next year. All fur now, Wildcatters! Ted 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 3, 2021 Share Posted September 3, 2021 Sounds like it's getting to be time to add another Wildcat! https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/buick/wildcat/2429729.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 A lot of work going into this job! I have Steve H doing the heavy lifting aka installing door hardware, windows, painting and redoing the front and rear glass. Gaps were all wrong due to incorrect sealant dimension, plus we needed to paint these areas for the interior color change. Vent windows are a pain, here they are fixed...this is where I stopped 10 years ago. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) Don't mind that stick in there...Tremec is in for test fitting and hydraulic clutch installation. I fabbed up the clutch pedal and hydraulic cylinder a while back. The little reservoir is getting painted black. Edited October 31, 2021 by Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 Interior color change - in 65 the option for red interior in a coupe was limited to the Deluxe line- bench seat only. This is my dream car, so we are doing a one of(?) Custom Bucket seat interior in Red. The reproduction Custom interior parts have been at the trim shop for a few years now. Trim shop will be the last stop after we get this running. Pictures show areas that had to be re painted for the color change. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 Dash pieces painted and ready to come back to my care. I'm going to fit all these together with the dash frame and we will install as 1 big piece. 65 was the last year of this complicated dash assembly. 1966 the dash became a whole lot less complicated. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Awesome! Glad to see this one resurrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 The 65 Dash is a work of art! I am surprised you did not use a dash with the factory AC outlets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 I got the wiring harness out to repair the crusty connections and just get familiar again with all that is going on there. Test fitted some parts, looked for fasteners...scavenged spare harnesses for connectors and wire bits. Not much to show. I did find the 200 Kph speedo that Jukka sent me 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 Seats have been done for a while. This pic is from 2017 and they had been collecting dust already :0 I went to see them last month, cleaned them off and did an inventory of what was out there- found my silver headliner and visors!!! That was cool; toats forgot them. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted November 5, 2021 Author Share Posted November 5, 2021 test fitting parts 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted November 7, 2021 Author Share Posted November 7, 2021 Yesterday was sorting spaghetti day. Trying to assemble all the wire harness and attach with original style fasteners. I swear they hide from me the day I need them. Had to get a new soldering gun - made me realize how long I've had the old one. It would not melt butter. New one much needed. I had to harvest wires and connectors from 3 parts harnesses. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 7, 2021 Share Posted November 7, 2021 I like your eng--- I mean dash stand! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted November 7, 2021 Author Share Posted November 7, 2021 Meanwhile Steve has the rest of the car and we are trying to work out how the shifter and console will work. First, the shifter will have to look like a 64 "boomerang" style. Here is what I want mocked up with a real 64 stick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted November 7, 2021 Author Share Posted November 7, 2021 Of course the situation on the car is a little different. When I got the transmission I specified the shifter position to be as far back as possible. I think there are more options now but in 2003 this was the best I could do. Off to the chopper. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 On 11/7/2021 at 8:37 AM, EmTee said: I like your eng--- I mean dash stand! It was purchased as an engine stand but it is so cheap it stared bending when I tried to put a long block 425 on it. It is working well for a dash stand though 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 Darwin Falk offered this on EBay so guess what. It is going in this car! Rare radio Delete plate. The only one I've seen before was on a black 4-door @ Kokomo BCA nats. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Don't need no stinkin' radio! If it's too quiet in the cabin, just downshift to 3rd and mash the GO pedal... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 This under dash stuff is almost done. So much easier without the dash in the way. Hopefully the plan to put the dash in as a unit pays off. It is the last year of a very complicated assembly. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 Steve repaired, prepped and primed the console. Next comes the red... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 Door handles rechromed and installed. Locks and keys were hiding from Steve- some of my past projects have key matching problems, so I was really focused on having a properly curated lock selection Bag of keys and locks found, ready to finish this part of the job. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 70 was displayed at MCACN - Speed Detailing & Jax Wax fixed the paint on the 70 so the black car will get the treatment to get the swirl marks in that black paint. I'm currently fixing the dash for the 65. Next: engine retrieval. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted December 13, 2021 Author Share Posted December 13, 2021 Engine for this car was built and tested on a dynomometer a few years ago. I borrowed it to make my 64 Wagon run, which it did very well! But back to its original purpose- motivation for the 65. Getting it out, cleaned and re dresssed for the 5-speed application in the next few weeks. Here it is freshly plucked from the KX wagon, the 2 engines before the dyno, the X-code manifold that is going on the engine 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 Console in color now, Radio delete, shiny pulleys. Onward through the fog! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Engine is only a few feet away from the engine bay again. One of the modifications is visible here...TA Performance shorty headers. The Tremec requires a needle bearing pilot instead of the bronze bushing I got from Carmen. I have to have a bushing fabricated that will house the needle bearing. Then we can bolt up the billet flywheel, clutch assembly and get it together for the bleeding of the hydraulic clutch. I can share that this is a critical point as there is little access to the hydraulic throw out bearing inside the bell housing once it is together. Happy new year! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 Every mod makes itself known when the engine goes in...brake line I fabbed in the way, line for hydraulics interfered, shorty headers close to things...but a great day to have the ol 425 back in the frame. Cheery Hello! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu31VyXlTzo ...or a Wildcat! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Plumbing- Fuel-radiator/heater core-exhaust-brake bleeding-hydraulic clutch...so many connections. Ordered long case ultra flow welded mufflers. Battery cables came but starter wire not in stock so we will clean up the old one temporarily. I was hoping to get up to the shop yesterday but had to cancel, so the bespoke and curated parts I've been collecting will have to wait a week. Happiness will be January in my rear view mirror! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted February 1, 2022 Author Share Posted February 1, 2022 (edited) parking lights...picked up radiator and the dash assembly today. Onward. Looks like I need those bumper rubbers! Edited February 1, 2022 by Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted February 1, 2022 Author Share Posted February 1, 2022 Gratuitous Shiny dash picture. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted February 2, 2022 Author Share Posted February 2, 2022 Steve H picked this up yesterday and it it in the Wildcat already! Now you can see the Radio Delete goodness. Darwin Falk had this thing on eBay - had to grab it. When I had the car painted we used a front fender without an antenna hole...and there is little chance of me cutting through the rear qtr to put one in. So Delete! About 20 years ago I was visualizing this project and had toyed with the idea of 2 antennas raked back off the rear quarters. Not yet, but this Impala does look wicked cool with dual antennas. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 (edited) These are hard to find in great condition. I had this one apart, repainted the red and black, put back together yesterday. Also getting the parking brake hardware ready. I tried to get the chrome paint back into the antlers but up close one can see my skill level is not up to the task. from 5 ft it looks fine Edited February 7, 2022 by Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 12 Volts and some lights for this Friday! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted March 2, 2022 Author Share Posted March 2, 2022 Engine fired up for the first time in the Super Wildcat 5-speed! Sounds wicked, no mufflers yet. Exhaust system is going to be fabricated later. T 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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