This is my fathers Buick, he has owned it since '83. Nearly 10 years ago it started leaking brake fluid and sat in the backyard behind his brothers house. Then a couple years back he brought it home and it sat in his backyard. Like many other projects there was just no time to fix it up, something I think we can all relate to. So a couple months back we hauled it up to my house and now it sits in my driveway. I'm just fixing it up for him so that he can enjoy it, and then maybe one day I'll enjoy it too. I should warn you - it's not going to be a perfect restoration by any stretch of the imagination, but rather a fix up so that it can be driven down the road. I hope to eventually restore much of the body, but that'll probably come at a later date. The first few pictures are essentially how she was when I got her. Afterwords you'll see that I've removed the front seat and then you'll see some pictures of pre/post shop-vac. Right now I'm working on cleaning up the metal and determining what I'll need to do for the floor pans. It also looks like I'll need to do something with the vent tubes since they're rusting out as well. The driver side even looks like a mouse was nesting in it.
You have your work cut out for you man! But you know what.. when you dad gets behind the wheel again... it will all be worth while
Wow. You're a braver man than me. I've walked away from better cars. I just wouldn't have the patience. Keep up the good fight.
Are there any body parts I can use from other cars? Is much of the front/rear of the body the same on a 2dr LeSabre as the 4dr? Thanks!
I would think you could use the front panels off any 63-64 Le Sabre, Wildcat or Electra and the rear panels off most 63-64 4 door Le Sabre and Wildcat. The 63-64 Le Sabre and Wildcat, ALL versions, have exactly the same wheelbase (123") and I assume chassis and floorpan, they certainly share seats, dash and a host of other parts. I have seats, steering column and dash parts out of a 64 in my 63 Wildcat.
Might want to investigate here: http://c2cfabrication.com/store/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=electra http://www.classicfabrication.com/
Thanks to both of you! So after a long talk with my father, he's more concerned about getting it on the road then making sure she looks pretty. I really wanted to do a complete restoration, but I'm already running out of room for my tools as it is and I don't know if I really want to spend the money on a new welder and sand blaster just yet. Mostly because I'm in college and should be spending my money elsewhere. Interior Floor pans - will be replaced with sheet metal for now New carpet Crown Victoria seat - Dad loves it and asked me to swap it in. I'm keeping the old one so I can restore it in the future Weatherstripping Replace misc other parts (shifter knob for one) Brake system overhaul - All brake lines and components will be replaced Check wheel bearings while we're here Motor Remove oil pan and clean Remove valve covers and intake manifold, clean and lubricate Rebuild a 4 barrel Carter AFB I picked up with a manifold and install Check timing gears/chain, possibly replace Replace thermostat Replace coil, distributor cap, rotor, plug and wires Replace oil filter and fill with oil Empty and refill transmission Empty and refill gas tank Empty and refill rear axle Lubricate CV joint Replace suspension components New tires New lights Replace brake light covers New exhaust from the manifolds back, will probably just drop it off at a muffler shop unless I find a good dual exhaust elsewhere. And I think that's where I'm at this far. Now I'm stuck at a crossroads. I'm sure many of you have probably heard of the $50 paint job.. http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master.htm?http://www.rickwrench.com/50dollarpaint.html I have two choices, leave the car as it looks (which is really bad) or do some minor body work. I'd obviously have to sand it down and I would then try my hand at some fiberglass/bondo work. If I'm not completely horrible I'd go ahead and continue on, fixing some of the holes up the best I could. After that's completed I'd finish sanding and paint it just like that link. Dad wants it white, so white works for me. Thoughts? Dad talked about just masking off much of the car and painting around it, but I bought the body manual last night and will probably go ahead and just yank the exterior trim and paint from there. I'm considering the idea of removing the doors so I can paint the body inside the edges.. I'd do this paint job before installing the carpet/seats. So a couple of closing comments/questions.. The intake and carburetor I picked up came from a 63 Riviera 401, I'm under the assumption that it'll work just find, is that correct? Is there anything else I should check while I'm doing all of this work? Also, an off-body restoration will happen in the future.. probably 5 or 6 years from now. That's enough time to get my engineering degree completed and move on with life. So I'm shooting for 30 as a good age to complete the restoration The bonus will be that I'll hopefully be in California by then which will be much better then Wisconsin!
Too bad you aren't closer, Steve... there is a '63 Lesabre (think its a 4-door) in a basement carport of an big older home, visible from the street in Spokane. I've been told it may have been there for decades. Cars here tend to not always be too rusty, and its been out of the weather. Might be a good one to do body and paint while your dad gets to drive his, then use it for parts to finish this one someday.... its fun to think about. Could also do that with a 2-door, or Wildcat....:Brow: Oh, and the one here is white....
Do you know how much it'd cost? I've got two options when it comes to long haul purchases like this. The first is to drive out there and pick it up myself. I've got an F250 that hauled this buick up here and got about 18 miles to the gallon, so it'd cost about $800 round trip to haul it. But if I could get a decent price on it I would certainly consider it. The other option is to have my dad pick it up when he drives out that way. He doesn't have a set schedule or anything for driving out there, but I'm sure he'd think it was worth it if we could get a nearly rust free buick to pull parts from. Just an idea
Yeah... that would be great. I'm busy these days (like anybody else!) but will try to swing over that side of town sometime in the next few weeks and see if anybody is even around and if it might be for sale. Should be able to take a pretty good look at it, too. if you haven't heard from me by mid- July then send me a PM in case I forget....:grin:
Hey Steve... I finally looked at that car today, no-one around to ask about it at the old mansion converted to a 5 unit apartment though. It's a '63 Wildcat 4-door, white with turquoise interior, couldn't see any rips. Headliner bad. Power Windows. Factory dual exhaust including crosswise resonator. Car looks mostly straight, right side real tight against the wall so couldn't see that side real well. The extent of rust is in the two lousy pics I was able to get, garbage cans all over behind it. Not as bad on the door as it looks. Kicking myself that I forgot to see when last tagged on the plates....
