Hi all, decided to move this thread over from the intro section as it was getting kind of long and that really wasn't the place for it, so if you want to check out the previous posts you can do that here: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=214435 Now, for my first question here, my Buick needs a complete exhaust system from the manifold back and I have searched the web high and low and this appears to be the best deal going at $275: http://classicexhaustinc.com/exhaustsystems.htm#Buick But the website is a bit vague and doesn't contain any pictures of what I would be getting. Does anyone have a better source for a complete single exhaust system? Question 2, is there a trick to getting the brake master cylinder off? I tried today, but can't seem to budge any of the nuts on it under the dash.
Soak those nuts with a little PB blaster. Awesome stuff. It smells strong so be judicious and put down a plastic dropcloth. I have never used Classic Exhaust but I have seen many good reviews. The prices are certainly attractive.
Thanks, actually I have better luck with Marvel mystery oil myself, but to each his own. This job will have to wait for spring as it's covered in about 4 inches of snow right now! At least I have a good cover on the car. My plan is to attend some swap meets and see what I can find there before I order the exhaust. I would have preferred to just replace the Y pipe and then take it to a local exhaust shop for the rest of the system, but I can't find a Y pipe for it anywhere!
Not sure, but the one here local always orders the Y pipe if needed and then fabricates the rest of the system. I know this b/c I had to wait for a week one time for one to arrive on a car of mine they needed one on. I would say the price would be near the same by the time they custom made one and then did the rest of the system as it is totally shot. At least I managed to find a parts carb on Ebay so now I can get my carb rebuilt and working properly. The choke rod is broke on mine so no sense rebuilding it until I had a new rod. I wish spring would hurry up and get here. They are calling for another 4-6 inches of snow tomorrow. What fun. NOT!
these guys are a no BS outfit if you want to buy a whole kit: http://www.waldronexhaust.com/ I got a quote from a local exhaust shop for duals and glass packs, either 2.25" or 2.5" for $400 bucks out the door...
Thanks, might give them a try. Looks to be a bit more expensive at $369, but might be better quality stuff. Will check them out also.
maybe some parts for you?: http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13990 scroll down
I just ordered a complete system including "Y". From Waldron. $370. ("y" pipe, a la carte; $150. ) They said; expect delivery in 4 weeks.
Thanks! Will have to keep those in mind, but I didn't really see anything I could use. Would like to have that body style instead of my 4 door sedan.
I just got mine today from Classic exhaust. $275+$40 shipping, took about a month to get it. Have not opened the box yet, would probably go out and start putting it on if I did and I have to go back to work tomorrow. Been off since Friday, thought sure it would be here this past weekend. Always next weekend, but it will probably be raining. I got my registration done a couple of weeks ago, so I will be set to take it around the block a couple of times when I get the exhaust on! Can't wait!
Well, thought I would get to work on it tomorrow, but going to the swap meet at Springfield, OH instead. Guess it will have to wait for Sunday and Monday. EDIT: Well the swap meet Saturday about wore me out so I didn't get anything done to my exhaust this weekend. Besides that it was just too dang hot at 90 plus both Sunday and Monday. I did lay it all out in the yard to see how it fit together, posted a short video on YouTube you can see here: http://bit.ly/kVrtsF Hope to get it on maybe the weekend after next as I have my granddaughter's graduation to attend next weekend. Hopefully the weather will be more reasonable. I will let everyone know how it goes when I get it on.
Quick update on the car, I was unable to wrench the nuts which hold the Y pipe to the header, so I am seeking professional help. My brother-in-law (the same one who helped me get the car home from Minnesota) is bringing his dolly up to tow the car over to where the work will be done. I could drive it, but I have gotten 2 speeding tickets in KY in the last year and don't want another one for loud pipes! I already have to go take the driving school course now as it is. :rant: Hopefully this will get done Thursday and I will have my exhaust on by the weekend. Still need some brake work too, they work, but not very good. Can't wait to drive it further than 20 feet!
OK Moss: Try grinding them off with a die grinder with a small cut off wheel. It should be a piece of cake. Mitch,
Excellent story with a happy ending, what more could you ask for! Quiet does make a difference, you can read my story below...
Actually got them out with heat, but ended up ruining the studs in the process. Guess what, can't find studs this large anymore! My suggestion was to just use bolts, but my stubborn mechanic (friend) insisted on finding new studs. After a wasted afternoon I returned the next morning to find he was using bolts after renewing the threads in the header. Driver side nuts came right off but the ones on the passenger side were the ones which had to be replaced. The rest of the system went together very easily and we used the original hangers. Kudos to Classic Exhaust, Inc. for a product which was exactly as promised, fit just like the original in every aspect. Not bad for $275+$40 for shipping. The LeSabre is extremely quiet now and we have moved on to the next problem which was/is brakes. The old master cylinder had to be replaced with a rebuilt unit I bought on Ebay and that gave me some braking ability, but not enough to be drivable. After properly bleeding the brakes we discovered that 3 of the 4 wheel cylinders are not functioning, so they will need to be replaced. Surprisingly NAPA says they are still available and will be here by Wednesday. That will just leave the charging problem and I've told him not to waste a lot of time on that as I have the ability to replace the gen/VR with a late model alternator and the necessary brackets. My mechanic says he knows someone who is very good with the older stuff and wants to at least take a crack at fixing the gen/VR first. So hopefully I will have a drivable car by next weekend, I can't wait! EDIT: One more thing I wanted to ask, when we were towing the car over to where the work was to be done, I could have sworn the engine tried to start! My bro-in-law pulled off to the side and we double checked the car was still in neutral with the key off and we never exceeded 35 MPH which was the recommended safe towing speed in both the service manual and several experts I talked to. Once there the car started up just fine and I was able to move it forward and backward with no problems, so I guess it's okay, but that was just a bit strange to me.
Ditch the generator. It'll save you headaches and money in the long run. If the car was in neutral, it shouldn't have been able to start. BUT, you can actually push start a Dynaflow equipped vehicle. Maybe your linkage is out of adjustment, and it was actually in gear?
I don't think so b/c once it is started it doesn't move in neutral. The trip was nearly 20 miles and this occurred near the end of our journey, so surely if it was in gear it would have happened long before this. As for the generator, I agree, but he wants to see if he can get it working, more of a pride kind of thing. I told him okay, but I didn't want to waste a lot of time or money on it.
