Hi from Australia. I am just about to start a resto on my caballero. It could possibly be the only one in Australia. If anyone out there has done one I would love to hear from you as i am new to Buicks and major restoration. Any tips for restoring any 58 models would be very helpful. Hoping to hear from you,Rob.:beers2:
It t'aint easy . . . (Re: 58 caballero wagon) Hello Rob, Best of luck on this project and definitely use this forum and other Internet sources. I just finished some major body repairs to my 65 Special wagon and . . . parts were already hard to come by. I hate to think I'm lucky! Cheers, Edouard :beer
I would guess that a '58 Caballero would be an extremely rare car. Especially if it is RHD. Although I owned a '58 briefly back in the dark ages, I don't know much about that year. It certainly would be a car worth restoring, however.
Thanks for the replies. It was imported a couple of years ago so is lhd. Nearly everything can be repaired but if i could still get some decent parts it might make life a bit easier. I will try some junkyards over there when i get a proper list. Im hoping most parts i need are common with the hardtops. Hope to get some great info on these forums
Those are very nice wagons and you never see one. I would think very hard to restore. Would love to see pics of your project.
Photos are found in Rob's introduction post: Click here :Comp: It looks like Rob's car still has all the rare Caballero parts, so he can use parts from "normal" 1958 Buicks to restore the wagon :TU: The Caballero has a 122 inches wheelbase, same as the Special and Century. The Super, Roadmaster and Limited came with a 127.5 inches wheelbase. Important if you search for stuff like body mouldings ? If I'm right, Rob's car is based on the Special. Model number 58-69, body style 58-4682
I still have a lot of research to do to see what is common on some cars. I have a parts interchange book coming.It has century badges on the door trims.It was missing a couple of small pieces of chrome and a caballero badge(which i thought i would never get) but after cleaning the inside I found them, lucky.I will get some photos going when i start next week
Okay Rob, If it's a Century based Caballero: Model #: 58-49 Body style: 58-4481 Factory price: US$ 3,145 Shipping weight: 4,396 lbs. 3,663 were built (model year 1958 Special Caballero: 4,456)
thanks for the replies.Can anyone recommend a complete engine rebuild kit supplier for the 364 nailhead? I saw one on ebay for about $1300, does this sound good? Thanks again,Rob
I had some issues with Kanter's rocker arms. Someone posted that Kanter probably gets them from the same offshore manufacturer that some other sellers do. Kanter was great about taking them back. To save you a couple of posts, the issue was the geometry of the actual rocker arms. the shafts and stands were fine.
Hi. Does anyone know of a 58 century or wagon closer to the east coast in a junkyard or privately that I could get some parts off? I have rang a few junkyards but still waiting for responses. Some chrome parts, front end panels, depending on condition. thanks, Rob
...LOVE the Cab's - defiantely worth restoring but your hunt will take time bottom of page - several '58 parts cars http://www.ctcautoranch.com/Parts C...ck/1958 and Back Sub-Pages/1958 and Back.html http://wyomingclassiccars.com/default.aspx http://www.allamericanclassics.com/ http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Cars/1958BuickSpecialPartsCar/index.htm http://www.callingallcars.ca/General_Motors/GM_Info/1958 Buick 4DR wgn181.htm
Hi. Well the car is stripped revealing a bit more rust than I would have liked, the rear support panel and surrounds needs to be replaced along with rocker panels and floor pans. Does anyone know if any chevy panels are compatible? There are a few guys here that deal with chevs but not buicks of this era. I am waiting on a parts interchange book to arrive, but until then I am nearly ready for some panels. Can you get reproductions for rear support panels and surrounding panels under tailgate or will I have to try and get them made here. I have been talking to a few guys from junk yards but not getting too much response, getting frustrating already. Anyway I might have to improvise a bit. Thanks, Rob
You have a great car. Grab the welder and some sheet metal and start burning. The start is exciting. Don't let the hard to find parts slow you down. Keep working away at other areas little by little and push the frustation aside.
As far as I know, NOTHING is made specifically for your car. If fabbing a whole panel/floor seems too much, Im sure modding something that exists for another car that you can readily get will be a good jumpstart but I have no idea (nor have I seen any) on what available parts are best for a starting point. Take specific measurements of what you have and what you need and then cross it against what is available. While I dont envy the road ahead of you, I will certainly envy your wagon once completed as well as admire the effort it will take/took to get it there :beers2:
hi. Well I have someone making up the rear panels for me so in the meantime I am still trying to track down some decent chrome parts. I have had one reply but still waiting to see what else is available. Can anyone confirm that the door glass and windscreen in the caballero century different sizes to the century hardtop? Once again if anyone knows of a good parts car that would be helpful. Thanks, rob
I am just putting things back on my 58 Buick Estate Wagon. I was wondering if you have found a source for the molding clips that hold the stainless to the exterior lift gate ... and the long (2" #20 thread)) molding clips that hold the stainless to the fixed rear side windows? And, any thoughts on what goes between the exterior of the vent mechanism where it meets the exterior of the door? There is also a sizeable gap on the door hinge pillar where it meets the vent mechanism. Thoughts? Cheers. Michael.
