WoW excellent work!!! I would gladly trade my rusty bumpers and grill for those shiny new ones I just picked up a 57 special a few months ago and its nice to see other people working on these. I chose the buick for its great lines and uniqueness. Everywhere you go there are tri-5 chevies running around but you almost never see the buick.
Thanks and good luck with your '57 Special. However, probably not interested in trading bumpers or grill... Here's a couple of pictures after mocking up the dash to see what's going to fit and what's not going to fit... regarding the AC evaporator. Certainly not much room under there and as usual with the other cars, the glove compartment is history. Small price to pay. We'll see shortly now, what's going to work out.
Do you reckon, that you will be able to use the dash outlets as on; 57 factory AC jobs? Or, will you have to put the outlets elsewhere?
James, since this one had factory air, we fully intend to use top center of the padded dash and the corner dash factory outlets. They were in nice shape. We've removed the chrome 'grill' off of them for rechroming and I'm 'renewing' the plastic directional louvers.
Will you be using a vacuum motor or electric? I've still got the vacuum on mine. I've been thinking of converting to electric. :TU: I'm eager to see, that. Keep up the good work.
The vacuum motor is up at Bob Ficken's place as we 'speak'. He's the Trico guru that's done thousands of them and several for me over the years. Here's my take on the wiper situation. After rebuild, these things work very well. Down in this part of the country, it doesn't rain very often and this car will only be driven selectively. Finally, I smoothed the firewall and put an electric motor in a '57 Nomad I finished back in 2007 and wasn't too crazy about the linkage design to the transmissions and fit quality. Had to have one bushing honed out at the machine shop. It's going to be tight under there anyway and for these reasons, I'm staying with what came on the lady. Here' a shot before sending it off. I'll put one up when I get it back.
The wiper motor is rebuilt on mine. It works well. No issue there.. For 55, Roadmaster had a variable sweep on the wipers. For, 55 only and for Roadmasters, only. This sweep feature is stuck on mine and I get about, a third of the full sweep. I need to learn more about how/why (or, why not) it works. I think I could fix it. One way or another. Or, go electric.
As far as that goes; I don't like the "newer" Buick emblems I like the 1950 and older; http://www.stunningmesh.com/2009/12/evolution-of-car-logos/
For electric conversion; I think that that would be the best way to go. Does that, conversion use the original type cable actuated control?, or not?
Yes, it is controlled just like the vacuum unit. In mounting, there is need to make a couple of little adapters. one adjusts for the mounting, and the other extends the drive to mate with the Buick transmission. See thumbnails. -- Dan
That one that is labeled 1942 is also on the steering wheel hub of 55 & 56. I like it best. Because, of the detail.
Spent most of the afternoon making outside door glass and quarter glass whisker strips to closely match the orginals and installing them. Was able to use the existing quarter holes, but had to drill new ones in the door, since it originally had the cutout for the long snap-in clips. Used the same small flathead type sheetmetal screws on the door that came stock on the quarter. When you pull them up tight, the head buries itself in the whisker backing and basically goes out of sight and doesn't affect the glass. Going to do the passenger side tomorrow and then start on the roof rail seals and upper quarter tracks. Got to get the wipers in and mock up the evaporator before we can go on with the dash. That passenger side defroster duct is most likely coming out.....Small price to pay.
Well, it's been a pretty good day. A major hurdle we've been facing for a while was what evaporator is going to fit up inside the dash (without major surgery)...if any? After much ado, we determined that all Vintage Air units are 10 1/2" front to back....too big. However, Old Air has one that is 8 1/2" and that one will work with giving up the glove box and the big PS defroster duct removed. The space to work with on this '57 is about 9 1/4" firewall to bottom of dash. Here's a few pictures. Looks like it will go if that duct is removed.. Drilled out spot welds and cut two brackets and.... your out big boy... The mock up module is in and it made our day. We'll block off one of the defroster ducts and one of the center ducts for the dash outlets, since the car has one on each end and one at the front center of the dash. Somewhere down the road, this might be an advantage for someone..
Beautiful cars! Real classics! If I'd had that convertible a few years ago (well, quite a few), I'd had to fight the chicks off with a switch...Dreaming now.
That, first picture looks like it came from a 1957 advertisement. And, the Roadmaster; WOW!! Two beautiful Buicks you have, Dan.
bhambulldog: That photo was taken in the Red Rocks State Park, a few miles south of Golden, CO. You can tell that it is the same car as the second photo by the narrow whitewall radials. I sold that car in order to finance the Roadmaster. James Sears of Denver now owns it. And by the way, thanks for the kudos. - Dan
