Next on the list was long awaited engine removal. Buick moved into the garage. I've tried to unbolt exhaust pipes, they wouldn't let the engine up enough. But they wouldn't unbolt. I waved them good bye with my grinder Here You can see gearbox joining with torque tube. What should I unbolt? I really had no idea, so... ... I've unbolted both connections. My mistake, i had a shower of trans fluid. Removing gear selector mechanism. Later i've learned that i forgot to remove speedo cable. Put the engine cart under, so the trans won't go too low. Up, up, and away! Very old weed or something? I always lift the engine by the seat belts wrapped around exhaust. They are strong and easy to remove. I made educated guess where to put them and bingo - i managed to get engine and trans perfectly level. So empty here. What surprised me, is that engine and trans are so HEAVY. They weight MUCH. My engine lift had very big trouble lifting that weight. Buick itself is now so light... Dynaflow. Original...
And out again. I've received a lot of attention On its place again. On the right - Caprice frame. Temporary secured, till new tent is made.
I will put here some old photos of dismantling the headlights, but there was nothing in them to be proud of... Now i am putting them together. Anyway, that is the lamp. I removed that chromed ring. Then i've removed sealed beam. It was sandwiched between stainless steel ring (seen on photo) and a zinc-plated "plate". I set them apart. Inside is not pretty, but it has 55 years of service... But I've just received some of my bolts and other stuff from zinc plating (done for a bottle of something ) I've also received a few thinghs from sandblating and powder coating. So I could assemble such looking headlight (there is also new rubber grommet): New lamp, european beam. You can see what holds it inside. And completed headlamp assembly. This is actually first completed thing on my Buick...
Usually we didn't. One's only chance to have such a car in the 50's was to be a very important communist :/
I had enough stumbling by that big hunk of steel, i mean Buick engine and trans. Unfortunately it is so heavy, that in order to move it i had to use engine lift and two other persons... I had to do something with this. It happened that i had spare shelving donated by my friend. I borrowed a welder from another friend and started making sparks. Frame for the beginning. Then i invented using what was left of original engine mounts as a new mount, with new rubber. Thats how it looks put on the frame. Unfortunately in order to run this engine on the stand i have to do something with this... Carb should be level... But it wasn't because of trans laying on the frame. I could make longer front mounts, but i wanted the engine to sit quite low. So i used remains of trans mount as a template. Making that: Oil filter persuaded to me that he has too tight space to be in when engine runs. Check. That welds are making me proud - i am welding second time in my life Thats how it looks finished. Sadly, that wheels are too weak, i have to put stronger ones on. But at least i can move the engine around by myself.
I had to entertein myself and get a little bit motivated. Time to run this engine I have made very simple ignition and used old thinner bottle as a gas tank. During first try I suddenly remembered that i removed oil pressure sender pipe Since it was very annoying lying by the engine, i moved to the development department of my garage and managed to fabricate block off pipe. Remember, in Poland it is quite difficult to find imperial screws, so I have stolen pneumatic connector from my compressor and added to it laser-cut circle (out of old can). You can see result on photos After that came time to fully enjoy V8 sound Voice comments are from my friend. <object height="505" width="640"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/42zPwgYmJQc&hl=pl_PL&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="505" width="640"></object> <object height="505" width="640"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vadaKKv2rcg&hl=pl_PL&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="505" width="640"></object>
Something has moved forward. Let's start from the frame preparation. Chevrolet caprice frame has 116" wheelbase, my Buick has 122". It needs to be lenghtened 6" in order to be used under Buick... Thats how that caprice frame looks like. I managed to get station wagon frame, which is stronger than sedan's. It has also additional supports in rear part. It should be strong enough. You can see here sedan's frame rear. It has open profile and no supports between longitudinal and transversal parts. We will use it's front longitudinal parts. Now it's time to start (with a little fear) cutting. My friend who has workshop we are doing this said that there are two stupid persons - one that imagined such a project, second that agreed to do that... For starters (apart from measuring, measuring and once again measuring) we need to remove rear part of the frame at the factory connection. Now it's time to use sedan's analogic longitudinal parts in original places. They will be longer and will allow us to have frame lenghtened. Several hundred times measuring. Frame is in fact leveled despite it looks tweaked. After grafting sedan's frame parts we set their proper width and welded them to that grey thing. Now we need to make sure they are leveled, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the transverse part of the frame. Measuring again and again, until diagonals are equal. After measuring and welding that connections we can remove excess material. Front part of the frame. That part was cut lengthwise in order to allow narrowing its profile. That way we can insert front part of the frame into the rear part and weld it on much wider area. Just like this. Measuring again, of course... After several hundreds of measures we can weld it for good! Ready. You can see in background newly finished inner part of the frame connection. In next update - floor.
As the frame is ready, we can move to floor preparation. Rear part of the floor... Peel not needed metal... And put it back on the frame. Similar with front part of the floor. It is missing few inches... Fear not. We're going to fill it. Slowly, but surely forward. Inner doorsill. Almost there.
Now it's time for the real work to begin. Comparison photo of both chassis. Let's start cutting... What's that doubtful face? Cutting. Good looking flames. Angle grinder may be more convenient? Front is cut. And the trunk. Here should be the photo of lifting off the body, but i had to help lifting it Shell is ready to go. On the right is hopefully my car, on the left chassis no one knows what to do with right now. Take it home Looks terryfying, but it will be ok.
Now it's time to post some photos to cheer You up after cutting such a nice car First we put the body on the floor to see what fits and what doesn't. Rear looks rather good, front was left with too much metal in order to clearly see what had to be cut. Measuring of course continues... After making necessary cuts. Looks good. In front it would be difficult to join everything, as there are a lot of things to care about. The firewall happened to be about 4" forward than original one, so is front seat. That was not expected, so i was worried if the front seat would not be too forward. After measuring and comparing to previous position we agreed that it would be ok. On the other hand rear legroom has been greatly improved Passenger area fits very well, everything aligns good. That's how it looks. Rear inner fenders in Buick were closer to each other than in Caprice, but it also aligned well. Question is should we leave the trunk floor as it is, or lower it (along with rear part of the frame) as it was in Buick originally. Rear part of the floor in Chevrolet had also lower part for trunk passengers legroom, it needs to be modified to meet Buick's rear panel in original connection point. Initial welding of two firewalls together. If measuring will assure me it fits, it is a chance to use Chevrolet's air conditioning. Rear seat will go here. Fits real good. Drivers seat position. I think it will be ok
Welding continues... and it will be continued for quite some time. Front of the frame is ready - here can be seen connection between Buick's front profile and caprice's frame. I can't make better photo because front sheetmetal is mounted on the frame. It is welded for good anyway Initial welding of 'B' pillars and under the rear seat. And welded ready. 'B' pillar. Under the rear seat. And side view. Rear seat mounting location; rear seatbelt mounting hole And left side, not ready yet. The trunk is almost ready. It looks very well, only rear part and connection with rear sheetmetal is not yet ready. And detailed view - rear left wheeltub just behind the rear seat. Rear tub again. We have now recessed areas on the sides, as a result of keeping original Buick's floor level, as well as original caprice's floor level. The upper part from caprice's floor is where frame goes. That's how it looks. And right part of the trunk.
Rear part of caprice floor had a recess for third row seat passengers legs. We kept that part to have more room under 'official' trunk floor level (it will be about the level of the lower trunk opening). That part however has been shortened. It looks very well. Here can be seen remains of original floor. We have to invent something clever here And my priceless assistants, who could not wait for their first ride in our 'new' Buick We were also on the junkyard, searching something, and the kids found that car the most interesting
55 Buick is my favorite car of all time!! Nice work! I enjoy reading and seeing the photos of your progress. It's most interesting to me. Keep up the good the good work:TU: I look forward to your next post.
Thanks. I need a lot of cheering up from You, because sometimes it is hard to keep faith in what i'm doing... Especially when it comes to paying for metalwork for example News for today - i have to pay part of the welders bill and the trunk is ready for good, rear part of the frame is finished and we are waiting for a complete heating/A/C/defrost system. I will visit Buick on saturday and take photos, and off to the junkyard looking for ventilation system from something. First thoughts are peugeot 206 (which may have too small A/C evaporator) or honda accord.
It's good to see an old Buick resurrected. As I said before, 1955 Buick is my favorite Buick, of all. Are you going to re-install the Buick engine? If you are not, I would understand. But, I think it would well represent Buick with an original type nailhead. Re: A/C; I don't know any specifics about Peugeot or Honda. But, comparing cabin volume, 55 Buick vs, Peugeot or Honda; I would guess that there may be an issue with the size of the evaporator(s).o No: I'll eagerly look for your updates. Keep up the good work:TU:.
