Hi Guys, I am looking for some help on my wagon project. It is going to be my tow vehicle for my drag car, a 1967 Buick Skylark. I got my wagon from Dan's Garage in Kennewick, WA. My question is on the tailgate. Since the car had been sitting outside for years, I was able to get the window down with lots of Kroil, and I re-wired the ACC. switch, as to bypass the IGN. switch, so I can just run that circuit. I don't have any keys either. I assume that the key on the tailgate operates the window? Not sure? Also, what does the chrome handle do on the inside of the tailgate do? It seems frozen, again, not sure. Any help is greatly appreciated. Larry "Psycholark" Anderson
Nice looking drag car, and I like the Special wagon too. The key on the tailgate operates the window. The chrome handle to how you open the tailgate. It works just like your inside door handles up front. There are two latches, one on each side of the tail gate. There are 2 rods , one for each latch, operated by the chrome handle. From what you say about Kroil you may need some of that or similar product to get it all working. If you can find a Fisher body manual for 67, or even a 66, they have good pictures and breakdown of the tailgate. If you have no manual, you can join Wild About Cars, http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-bin/pub9990334158924.cgi?categoryid=9920381846034 for FREE. They have access to factory manuals online, you can view and download/print the needed material FREE. The body manuals are under the General Motors section. The manual for the Buick wagon is the same (functionally) as an Oldsmobile manual. The tailgates are the same inside and all parts interchange in there. There are springs which help the window and are just like the doors, strong and can be dangerous, just a word of warning. Mike
I forget exactly how this works - but - there is a sensor that only enables the latch for the gate to open when the window is in the full-down position. If the gate window is power, there should also be a switch inside on the instrument/dash. It is usually in the same spot as where the convertible top switch or rear blower/defogger switch would be on a non-wagon car. ... just some advice - upgrade your brakes considerably. The SportWagons were heavy even for the normal A-body brakes. I would not want to be towing heavy and have the trailer brakes malfunction and just be relying on the stock brake setup to do the job. I'd go oversized disks which will also require bigger wheels (16" i think would be minimum)
I've not encountered a safety switch on the window and latch workings on the 66 and 67's that I have had, these are the only years I have owned. But there is a safety switch to keep the window from working unless the gate is closed completely. This switches the ground wire for the motor, it is located by the passenger side latch on the tail gate. I have a new on if someone has need. Mike
Looks like a great project!! Tells us what you have in mind with the wagon? upgrades? paint? or just patina?.. Gives us salivating Buick nuts a breakdown on the drag car!..
I wound up by passing my window safety switch in my wagon. I also need to adjust my opening handles. Tim
