76 Electra,rear window defroster

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by pontchief, Oct 4, 2005.

  1. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    I am looking for a rear window defroster for my 76 Buick Electra Limited 4dr ht .I really going to need it when I get it back to Norway. :)
    They may be similar other years and maybe other brands like Caddy, Olds, Chevy and Pontiac. I really dont know.
    I am also interested in a mini console, which I understand was an option with bench.An original Compass would have been great too. :)
    The head lamp bezel on passenger side is also of interest, also a frame mounted trailer hitch.
    Is the frame mounted trailer hitch on the Buicks similar to Caddy, Pontiac an Olds?

    Per Arne
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2005
  2. Phil Racicot

    Phil Racicot Well-Known Member

    I have a headlamp bezel on my 76 parts car but the chrome isn't too great on it. It's not cracked however. It also has a rear defroster (heated glass) but it's a two door so the backglass isn't the same (I don't think it is). I might be able to get a mini-console in a junkyard that I'll visit soon. I hope it's not gone from the car. I want the air deflector for the heater but I won't need the console itself. The console is red but it could be repainted blue.

    Here is what it looks like in my 75. I got this mine on Ebay some time ago and haven't installed it permanantly yet but I probably will.
     

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  3. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    Hi
    I am interested in the mini console, if you can get it for me.
    I will need you to send it down to Florida, so I can put it in the Buick before it gets shipped to Norway. But it will not be shipped before mid December.
    I dont know about the bezel, mine is shiny, but has a crack.
    Do you use paypal?

    Picture of my bezel.
     

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  4. Phil Racicot

    Phil Racicot Well-Known Member

    Yes I do use PayPal.

    I'll try to visit the junkyard where (I hope) the console is next week (it's about 200 miles from here...) and I'll take a picture of my 76 bezel to show you how it is.

    Phil
     
  5. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    That's great. :) :) :)
     
  6. Phil Racicot

    Phil Racicot Well-Known Member

    I went to the junkyard this week and the mini console was gone from the car. At least, the part I wanted wasn't removed (the modified deflector for the heater outlet).
    I didn't have time to take a picture of the bezel yet but I'll try to do it this weekend.

    Phil
     
  7. 78ParkAvenue

    78ParkAvenue LED Interior Lighting

    Are you looking for the blower defroster or the electric grid defroster? I'd go for the electric. My 76 Electra has the blower and it just doesn't work very well. My 78 Lincoln has an electronic rear grid and they work great, just like newer cars.
     
  8. Phil Racicot

    Phil Racicot Well-Known Member

    The canadian Buick dealer brochure states that the electric rear defogger was standard on 76 Electras. However, the blower was still available as an option for those who didn't want the electric one...

    The main problem with these electric defrosters is that they can't be turned off manually. They should stay on for exactly 10 miutes and go off. Mine recently had a problem with it's timer and it takes much more time before it goes off. I replaced the timer/relay with another one from my 76 but it has the same problem... I have to replace it again but it's a pain to reach in my 75 as it's located above the passenger side air bag. It's much easier to reach on cars without air bags as it's located near the steering column.
     
  9. yuk

    yuk Well-Known Member

    i have a blower type from a 74 lesabre ... my master parts book only goes to 75 so i dont know for sure if they are the same part number ...
    it has no switch with it so you would still need a switch..
    but i would be more than happy to part with it..
     
  10. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    Hi
    I am interested in the fan, do you have the bezel for it to.
    Do you use pay pal. How much do you want for it?
    The shipping will be to FL 33069.

    Per Arne
     
  11. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    Hi
    For the time being I am looking for the rear defroster fan. When I am going to put new paint on the car I maybe will put in a new rear window.
    But I am now restoring my 57 Olds, so I will go for a fan now. Have to be better than nothing. :) I live buy the coast here in Norway so it doesnt get so cold in the winter, but we always have a lot of rain and dew on the windows

    Per Arne
     
  12. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    Hi Phil
    And thank you for looking for the console for me, sooner or later there will show up one for sale. :)

    Per Arne
     
  13. yuk

    yuk Well-Known Member

    here is what i have .. it is pretty dust covered ...but is in very good shape.
    i hooked it to a battery on the workbench and it instantly blew dust all over me.
    one of the grille studs needs a little work to make the nut go on easier, but that appears to be the only thing abnormal.
    although i dont have the wiring for it ... it looks like it uses the same plug as a power trunk popper.

    i dont do the paypal thing ....
    i like postal money orders ... $25 will cover the price AND the shipping/insured (i aint shipping this overseas am i? :shock: ).

    PM me to do an address swap if you want it.
     

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  14. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    Sent you an PM.

    Per Arne
     
  15. yuk

    yuk Well-Known Member

    hey Per ...
    i havent shipped this the def yet because i think waiting for the hurricane to blow over florida might be wise.... i dont want the package delayed/stored/lost in a warehouse in "who knows where" if there ends up being lots of destruction.

    i have a def switch in my 76 lesabre (thats getting parked/parted soon) that works fine except the light inside of it comes and goes ... if you want it for another 10 dollars let me know within the next 5 or 6 days and i will ship it with the blower... :TU:
     
  16. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    Hi
    The hurricane season seems to never end this year. :(
    We do sometimes have strong storms over here in North Norway, but they are nothing compared to this hurricanes over there.
    I want the switch too, is there a bulb or is it a led light in it?

    Per Arne
     
  17. 78ParkAvenue

    78ParkAvenue LED Interior Lighting

    Some of the dash lights are fibre optic (dim).
     
  18. Phil Racicot

    Phil Racicot Well-Known Member

    The switch has a bulb in it, it's different from the switch for the heated glass version. It's easy to determine which one is which as the blower switch has 3 positions (low-off-high) and the heated glass switch as only a "on" position in which it doesn't stay (like the power antenna or power window switches). You can't turn off the heated glass manually (unless you turn off the ignition switch), otherwise, it turns off automatically after 10 minutes.

    I'm wondering if the Buick Farm has a switch like that? I bought a NOS defroster kit for my 74 LeSabre from them a couple of years ago.
    For the low speed operation, you'll need a resistance wire too.
     
  19. yuk

    yuk Well-Known Member

    isnt the resistor built into the switch?

    my switch has a bulb in it ... i think it is just a loses connection... if you hit the dash pad it will come back on until you hit a bump usually ...might need a terminal tweeked or a connection soldered ...
    the fan operation is not affected by the bulb being on or off.
    once i get the switch out, i will see if i can get the bulb fixed before i box it up for shippin'.
     
  20. pontchief

    pontchief Norwegian car nut.

    Hi
    The most important is that the switch works. :)
    I have another question, is the consol door/lid on the mini consoles made of wood?
    There is a consol for sale on eBay, but it looks it in bad condition.
    [​IMG]

    Per Arne :)
     

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