Yes, it could be burned out.....All the others work, so I am hopeful it will work with a new bulb. All fuses are intact, too. I did manage to find the switch on the brake pedal assembly, so it must have it! -----Metalguy
I picked up the fuses the other day but my instrument cluster is still in a box in my kitchen. I'm trying to stick to doing one thing at a time on mine until it is fixed. Right now I'm working on the window run channels on both front doors. I started another thread on it but didn't get much response. I have all of the old rubber/felt material cleaned out of the stainless metal channel and plan to use new rubber/felt run channel here: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?partnum=06368 I plan to use a black adhesive I bought to repair the weatherstripping on my 2002 Cavalier to glue it in. An 8 foot strip of the run channel is almost enough to do both doors, but not quite. It will take 2 strips at a cost of $50 or less.
Okay Bob, I got my instrument cluster out of the box and took a close look at it. There is absolutely no place for a brake light. I have included a picture of the back of my instrument cluster with names for each location where a bulb goes. You can see there is no brake indicator light there at all. Perhaps someone else with a '61 can spread some light (pardon the pun) on this as I have no clue as to the brake warning light's location.
One more clue, I got my owners guide out and looked at it. I took a picture and as you can see it should be in the center of the instrument cluster. The guide also says the brake warning light was only standard on the 4800 series, optional on the rest. Obviously my lowly 4469 never got this option.
Well, I have yet to look further for the light. I have however, rebuilt the carb, got the new wheels, and tires on it, and found out it gets much better mileage than I anticipated. I got 19,49 MPG (ALL Highway) last week when I came back from my folk's house for Labor day. Got 19.375 on the way there, and had though it was a mistake. I do know it gets much worse in town. Like...10-12 MPG. I also have messed with the wipers. Yesterday I took the linkage apart, and lubed it, and removed the motor, and pump. The pump wasn't working, and the wipers sometimes will not come back on after they are parked. I couldn't find anything wrong with the motor, and am at a loss as to why they sometimes won't come back on! Next thing I will do is remove the switch and see if anything is lose, or missing. Rainy season is upon us here, and I will be needing them!
I found a perfect example of what my car should look like when it's finished. This one is being sold in Michigan, but it's the same body style (4469), same exterior (arctic white over sun valley cream) and interior (fawn - code 431) color scheme as mine. Same regular gas (375E) version of the 364 I have. It does have a few options that mine doesn't have (power brakes, courtesy lights, 2 spd wiper/washer), but it's essentially the same car. http://classiccars.com/listings/view/425155/1961-buick-lesabre-for-sale-in-kentwood-michigan-49512 I don't know if mine will ever get there, but I'm working on it!
One last comment on the brake light, it does not, according to the owners guide, use the same type of bulb as the others in the instrument cluster. All of those for the oil, gen, hot, cold, etc. call for a #158 bulb, but the brake warning light uses a #89 bulb, which is a totally different style bulb. So it obviously does not fit into the printed circuit board like the others. HTH
Oops, made a mistake. I looked at the paint code and it shows MM, which is Sun Valley Cream over Sun Valley Cream. In the pictures to top looked white. Probably had something to do with the lighting. In any case, it's pretty close to my car, at least the bottom color, etc.
I'd been searching for a '61 in my price range for awhile so when this one came up I jumped on it. Can't say it was my favorite body style, but it does grow on you. If I can get mine to look half as nice as the one in the pictures I will be very happy.
Well, it had been over 3 months since the last time I started my Buick, so I thought it was time for another cold start video. I woke up the dead in this one. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8sNDvPBVI8&feature=c4-overview&list=UUne6zL8zF52TYDOx9pQRSMA At least it seems to run a bit better and I was surprised how easily it started. I hope to be able to park it outside soon, but I've been busy with other projects and have yet to get the window run channels installed. I did get a tip about using Goop glue for this purpose. I may do one door with the weatherstrip adhesive and one with Goop to see which one is best. Hope to fully document it when I do the job. I couldn't find any other videos on YouTube of people just replacing the rubber part of the run channel. Should be interesting.
