hey guys trying to get some help on this one we are currently restoring my fathers 55 buick special car is coming of the frame and getting media blasted this upcoming week hopefully . im trying to take of the glass from the doors but cant seem to find the way to do so any help would be great, im also trying to find somewhere to buy trim for the car. lights (lens and rear housings) anything would be much apreciated:beers2: you guys have a good weekend im new to this forum but ill be posting up pictures of the car
Sorry I can't help you with glass. I've never had mine out. Try Ebay for the lenses. You can get portholes and other trim, too. here's some other places to get parts. Kanter http://www.kanter.com/ CARS Buick parts http://www.oldbuickparts.com/catalog/up-to-1960-buick-c-76.html Russ Martin http://www.centervilleautorepair.com/ Good Luck!:TU: :idea2::kodak:
Rear taillamp housings in good condition will be tough. These were serious pitters, and even 30 years ago, finding really good ones was nearly impossible. I'm afraid that you will have to get the ones that you have - or will buy, redone. Expect to spend some serious money on taillight housings. The lenses stand up pretty well - you should be able to find them on Ebay or in Hemmings. The exterior trim - the sweepspear and other non-pot-metal bright trim stood up pretty well too. The issue is finding stuff in good (non-dented) condition. On your side is the fact that 1955 was one of Buick's best sales years. There are still a bunch of '55s around.
im looking for something that can be redone for tail light housings the ones i got have holes from cancer over time the trim ill probably have to live with it and send them in somewhere i did finally get the windows out today motor and trans were being a headache today so i called it a day i got a question though before i break something thats gonna cost me a leg to find:Brow: the driveshaft do you unbolt it and just slide it out i kno makes me sound like a dumbass but it looks like such a tight fit and i have tried to remove without any movement to give tomorrow will be another day im really trying to get this car to get media blasting and start the body work
Are you speaking of the driveshaft that propels the car, or of a shaft in the power window mechanism? I have a '55 service manual if you need technical info.
:rant:i meant the drive shaft that slides into the transmission i figured it out and it doesnt make me happy at all about it unless someone has a better idea from what i remember on some of these with a internal drive shaft in order to pull it out you have to slide the rear axle with housing back enough to clear this is very frustrating but something has to be done im thinking since i have just the shell to bare bones to just pull it off the frame and make it easier :Smarty:" src="http://www.v8buick.com/images/smilies/znaika.gif"> haha
I have an extra set of pitted '55 tail housings. I'll try and take some pics tomorrow and if they're usable for you, you can let know what you might want to give me. I'm actually going to use '56's on my car, I like them a little better so I have the '55's on the car and the extra set, so I don't need both. Eric
Some things to remember when shopping for taillight housings; They are side specific (left and right) The taillight housings are car size specific, Super(50) and Roadmaster(70) will interchange with one-another Special(40) and Century(60) will interchange with one-another The right side tend to get more pitted than the left due to the proximity of the tail-pipe Backup light housings are interchangeable left to right and between all series sizes
so we got a 40 series i always got confused with all that ,ours is a four door special i got some pictures i have to upload everything else later we got about 30 hours into it and its a bare shell now those pictures are about 2 weeks old ill get more recent ones later first classic project for this guy father bought this a couple years ago and has been sitting since so i got some intrest in it after a few car shows and i decided to say why not haha its been fun and frustrating at point so many cables everywhere haha
Pulling the rear end really isn't that big a deal. Undo the parking brake cable, the flex brake hose, the lever-action shock links, the Panhard rod, a couple of big nuts that hold the rear springs in place, and the capscrews to the torque ball on the transmission. Then just roll 'er out from under. Hint: As you will have to bleed the brakes when you reinstall the rear axle, this would be a good time to spray the bleeder screws with Free-All, PB Blaster, or another good penetrating oil. WD-40 is not the best penetrating oil. If you are going to replace the wheel cylinders, you can skip this step.
One of the things about the '55s that gets little mention is the under-seat heater. I had three '55s and I remember driving back to MA from NH in my Century ragtop. The outside temperature was just about zero, and I was driving in my shirtsleeves with both heaters on medium. The two heaters would literally drive you out of the car when they were on high.
very unique when i took of the seat i was like wat ta hell air cooled seats till i saw hoses coming to it haha i got a question have you guys ever took of the steering colum off one of these i will get more pictures of soon of the progress i need to get this car media blasted soon
I'm not sure if I did I right, but I pulled mine with the steering box connected to the column. The firewall plate comes off and leaves a huge hole in the firewall and it will come out from the inside of the car. Thank you, Ron Pyles
