63 Electra 225 - need help

[AZMeade]

I just received a 63 Buick Electra 225 from my grandfather. He is the original owner and is still very proud of his car, despite its "needs TLC" status. He has passed it onto me because he is no longer able to drive.

Where should I begin? I want to get it into good running order before my grandfather passes and possibly take him for a drive.

Where can I find parts easily and cheap?

I live in Arizona, if anyone can make online or in state suggestions.

Are there any good manuals/books?

Thanks!

Matt

[BamaWildcat]

Buying the factory service manual is the best place to start. You can commonly find them on eBay, or CARS, Inc. www.oldbuickparts.com can sell you one.

Once you have good documentation, safety items are first on the list of repair or restoration. The car needs good tires, and good brakes. Second in line would be tune up items in the powertrain, then you are into cosmetics.

I generally find plenty of parts are available for our old cars, including the "Nailhead" engine. The problem is they all have to be shipped from specialty companies, so expect projects to span two weekends. Engine parts such as belts, gaskets, timing gears, etc, I have found at Advance Auto, AutoZone, and NAPA. Specialty items I purchase from the previously mentioned CARS, Inc., www.classicbuicks.com, and others.

Adam Martin has a whole list of vendors at http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/

Also, be sure to check out my website about my '64 Fullsize: www.1964buick.com

[AZMeade]

Thanks for the information, I will start checking the sites you suggested.

[JohnD1956]

AZ, what do you think the car needs? Have you taken any pictures to share? Especially of the parts you think need refurbishing.

JD

[AZMeade]

Not sure what exactly it needs. Last time I rode in it was a few years ago, since then my grandfather has driven it a couple of times and bought new tires. Everything except the paint is still factory original. I need to check the brakes and perform a basic tune-up, then I will needs replacement parts from there (as needed from possible findings during the tune-up). I also know that my grandfather has possibly stained (blood) the original upholstery. I don't want to replace it for a small stain, so I will look for delicate fabric stain treatments.

I want/need a manual as a starting point for the tune-up.

[JohnD1956]

Well AZ, under the circumstances you describe, I wouldn't do anything except put it on the road and begin driving it. I think one thing you can expect is some engine stumbling from aged gasoline. If the car has been run in recent years, you can either drop some STP ( red bottle) additive in the gas, and put a new fuel filter on, change the oil and filter and then take it out to burn up the old gas, or go the more expensive route and drop the gas tank to drain it, clean it and then blow out the gas line.

The thing is this, if the car was in moderate dry storage, chances are nothing ever went bad with the old tune up ( plugs, wires, points etc.) . What you want to do is prevent water and other debris from entering the fuel pump and carb. You can get a simple straight through gas filter at NAPA and add this to the engine end of the fuel line before the gas goes into the carb. The rest needs some use for you to determine what needs to be replaced.

Now here's a few things to watch for:

While warming the car up, look for or sniff for gasoline smell. If you smell it or see it, stop and start replacing the rest of the rubber gas line.

Once warmed up, look for bulges in the radiator hoses and heater hoses. Please, this should be done when warn enough to get heat out of the heater but with the engine off and ( honestly) with the keys out of the ignition. Those metal fan blades are unforgiving and no point taking a chance.

Also look under the car for leaking fluids, including back by the gas tank. Often times the flexible line to the tank end of the fuel line will get dry rotted and allow the system to suck air.

And another thing to do is pump the brake pedal a few times. Obviously if it goes to the floor, you got a broken line. Not so obvious is a leaking wheel cylinder which will give you a slow sinking of the pedal. You need to look at the back of the tires on the bottom for a stream of brake fluid just to make sure.

Once you get into your third tank of gas you should begin to see much better performance from the engine and a reduction of the stumble. Until the stumble goes away, try to avoid rush hours. Lots of people love old cars, untill they are blocking them from the nights first beer.

JD

[Guest brh]

Since shes been on the road recently I'd recommend two things. A complete brake job, all lines replace or rebuild master and all cyl. Then buy a fire ext and keep it in the front. Reason being if anything goes bad ya want to be able to stop and if ya miss a leak and it catches fire ya want to put it out. You will eventually need to replace all original hoses, etc. anything made of rubber. Change oil often and after the engine has warmed up and change the oil filter at the same time.

[AZMeade]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I need to go out of town to pick it up and bring it home so I can take a better look at it. One other question you might be able to help with is that when I start it up it has a really fowl smell. Do you think it is just old gas or a much worse problem? My dad thinks its old gas but he is not sure either.

[Guest brh]

If the car has been sitting a foul smell can be anything from old gas to critters nesting in the muffler. I would be more concerned of the color of the exhaust. Black smoke indicates flooding-old gas is great for that, or improper carb settings etc.--but nothing to be concerned about on the short term. If she has blue smoke on start up thats oil, again may or may not be a problem, but if she has been driven for a while, you are doing reg oil changes and the blue smoke persists then you will need to adress this. For now enjoy her. Check fliud levels before starting and every gas station stop.

[AZMeade]

Well I received a packet from my grandfather yesterday that has all the information about the car in it. It included the original owner's manual, chassis service book, window sticker, and every maintenance including oil changes since 1963. A little TLC and I think she'll be a champ again.

[Guest brh]

I know the feeling well. I got my 65 Skylark from my grandparents as a graduation gift. It was 9 years old and had a whole 34,000 miles on her. I have all original documents including a blank order sheet from Buick. I took good care of this car and still have it to this day. Enjoy!!!!