Few updates. Dug out the original tinted back window. Got it all cleaned up and prepared for install. Cleaned up the rust in the window channel as good as I could with a couple of 80 grit roll off discs. My daughter helped me lay it in. Getting the driver’s side door window functioning was next on the list. I’ve been dreading this job because I knew it would snowball. I was right. Peeling off the original driver’s side door panel revealed exactly what I thought. The door is half packed with mice nests, and the window motor is burned up. Since I already had a nice door from a North Carolina cornet gold 70 skylark, it’s going on. This door will get the power regulator with another spare working motor, the best hardware, the original tinted glass and all the wiring.
This is as good as it’s gonna get. The front gap is a bit tight, but the door and fender don’t touch. Doesn’t help that the door has a little damage there, also. The window works ok with the replacement motor. I’m not a great assembler, so they may all may end up needing help going back up. That’s gonna be good enough. It needs e-brake cables installed and the wipers put on and working. I made an appointment to get it aligned this coming Friday. That “should” about wrap it up. Insurance and plate coming this week.
One last update for the weekend. I forgot about the rust in the cowl until I started working on the wipers. This is leftover J trim from a garage project. I picked it because it’s aluminum and easy to form. A couple of relief cuts will help it fit. Bathroom silicone FTW. This might be my greatest butchery on the entire car. Hopefully it stays dry inside when we’re caught in a downpour in Kentucky.
I managed to knock out some little stuff tonight. First up was getting the taillights to work. What I thought was going to turn into me removing the bumper actually ended up being way easier. Last night I tried 5 or 6 bulbs in the drivers side, and none of them worked. Stopped at advanced auto on my way home from work and bought a couple packs of new 1157s. Stabbed em in tonight, and I have all working lights now. I replaced one of the damaged original lenses with a decent one that I saved from another car. They brightened up pretty decent with a little foam pad glaze and a microfiber towel. While I was inside installing the courtesy light bulbs, I started to revisit the glove box area. I have a new box from year one, and if I can get the rusty hardware out, it’s worth a shot. The dark green door was the nicest one I had. The original has no hinge left, and my other black one’s hinge is rusted solid. Not ideal, but hey, now I have a glove box. Tomorrow I’ll be getting it insured and registered.
I prob. have a nicer black glovebox door here that I could donate to the cause along w/the back seat.
A little snag today. Apparently when a car has been off the road and in one person’s name for over 10 years in this great commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the state purges the records of said car. They want $39 mailed to them in the form of a check or postal money order so they can reactivate the car in their system. You know. The same government that’s pushing for a cashless society can’t take an electronic payment to expedite anything. It takes 10-15 days to complete according to my local notary. So, I’m not changing any of my plans. The car is insured starting today, and we live in rural PA. I’ll just leave it at that.
I just got home from a 15 mile test drive. Put 10 gallons of gas in. The car ran out well. Great power, and the warm quadrajet is on point. The trans goes in all the gears just like it’s supposed to. Temp doesn’t go above 180, but it is a little brisk out. Hot idle oil pressure is at 30psi. I’m not used to that in any Buick. The heat works. Power windows all still work. I found a couple of things that’ll need attention. First, the turn signals don’t flash. They just turn on. Second, with 10 gallons of gas, the cap leaks under acceleration. Not a big deal. Last, the rotors could use turned. Not really a surprise since I basically used a roll off disc to clean the heavy rust off. The car goes in for alignment Friday morning.
I dropped her off at my buddy’s shop early this morning for the alignment. It was about 20 miles, and 15 of that was the car’s first highway road test. The car ran really good, and having overdrive with 3.64s makes it highway friendly. Also noticed the smell of gas yesterday. Turns out the oem gas tank is leaking around the filler neck at the tank connection. It didn’t leak when I had 6 gallons in it, but at 10 it’s pretty wet. Jeg’s showed the Gm34b in stock and on sale, so that was ordered. I’m hoping to have it by Tuesday so I can slam it in before I load up.
Nice build Tim!! That look over the hood reminds me of my first GS back in 1982, a bamboo cream GS455..... I miss that car. Good luck and have fun!
