Buinicorn my 1964 wagon

Discussion in 'Drag'n Wagons' started by superbuickguy, May 21, 2017.

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  1. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    rear bumper is off to Mexico to be straightened, welded and rechromed..... not cheap, but it could be a lot worse. In other news, initially this is going to move on the 6.0 LS motor I have.... turbo 6 is coming but the 6.0 is a low-cost option so I'll save dollars.
     
  2. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

  3. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    LS motors came in the Buick Rainier so it *is* a Buick motor.... still, this is temporary so that I get it running.... I'm feeding an entire village in Mexico with the amount of chrome that's happening among my Buick projects. As I don't have a rich relative who believes in supporting my Buick obsession and I need to do my part to create jobs in Mexico... something had to give.


    That said, I would accept a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize - if they give it to terrorist leaders, my cause is ever so much more worthy
     
  4. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    I'm alright with you installing the LS in YOUR car, it just made me a little sad is all. I will still be watching your thread and the great work you're doing.
     
  5. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    me too, I wish I had the money to do it once.... but ultimately, making it run saves a $200 car and doesn't rob parts from my other loooonnnnngggggggg term build (the avatar)
     
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  6. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    pictures of bumpers that went to Mexico
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    I told the guy that I blogged everything I did - and he was fine with my taking pictures and posting. He mentioned this bumper might be on their website too because it has a bit of pretty much every flaw that you can have in a bumper... scratches, cuts, gouges, waves, bends - the only thing really missing is a hard crease

    so the mechanics is - this guy is from Arlington (near me), he reps the Bumper Depot. They pick up stuff at swap meets, send them to California where they do the straightening, and fixing. The bumper then goes to Mexico for the chemical processes (3 stages, 3x). It then goes back to California where they polish it. After that's done, they wrap it and bring it back to whichever swap meet you wish to pick it up. For me, their next swap meet is in April in Puyallup. If I don't get it there, the bumper gets here in February and I pick it up at this guy's business in Arlington..... so I am spending $700 to have this fixed (3x the cost of the car), but if I had it chromed here, it would cost $2,200.... and for those curious, it's $500 for a simple rechrome.

    and another thing - my dad had a bumper rechromed by them, so they are a 'known' company to me.
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2019
  7. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    I think I made a lateral move with this 4L80e.... time will tell
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    dragged the motor out
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    and hitched them together
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    attempt to keep the mess down
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    up we go
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    I don't remember what I was watching, but they highly recommended pulling the core support... two bolts... done
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    hmmm.... gasser style?
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    time to manage expectations... I build stuff because I'm interested in it - in this case, I've never retrofitted a LS motor. This is my 'chance' to do so. I've heard a lot of things
    such as:
    - torque converter is different (yep, this torque converter is probably off a gen1 - the trans is 99-00 - because even with the converter fully seated the trans is 1/2" away from mounting flange
    - the oil pan can work with notching... ummm.... you mean complete refabrication
    - you can use the exhaust manifolds.... sure, you can but it ain't easy on the driver's side
    - you can flip the manifolds over and use them as turbo manifolds.... :)

    anyway, need to order a pan. I'm going to replace the oil pump, change the springs and likely put a hotter cam in it. I don't know on the intake yet - I'm not afraid of EFI but I have no idea which I'm going to use.... in any case, I probably won't touch this again until after SEMA the goal tonight was clear some floor space.
     
  8. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    and let me assure everyone - my goal is a Buick powered Buick wagon (not an LS with Buick valve covers)... but I also know that there is a 20k difference and if I take this route I will have it running before summer (finished)
     
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  9. 64 skylark mike

    64 skylark mike Well-Known Member

    I think it's great that you are rebuilding this car! And also appreciate your posts about it. So what if it has a non Buick engine. That's part of hot rodding! Carry on and have fun, that's what this hobby is for!
     
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  10. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    I should be clear(er) - I blog my builds in real time, meaning people can watch the process of building a car... the point here is make it run and make it perfect later... I get pretty direct with people who think I need to follow their opinions...
     
  11. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    You know you're working on something easy when you can get the parts same-day-delivery from amazon
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    on the other hand, my tractor - it will take at least a month for a couple parts....
     
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  12. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    interference fit is bad
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    still not perfect but a lot closer
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    it is actually resting on the pan -
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    and it needs to go down a touch
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    ah well, now that I see the problems hopefully I'll see solutions at SEMA....
     
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  13. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    someone once asked for a shop view....
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  14. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    I'm not 100% sure but I think I may have read in HRM or Car Craft that there is a conversion oil pan for the '64 to '67 A-body so it drops down where it needs to go? Don't quote me on it though.
     
  15. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    I think you're right, it's a Holley 302-1... the 303-1 works but you have to buy a baffle

    in other news
    My budget for this is 10k, so I need to watch dollars but not really overwork... at this point I'm at about $2600 spent (including purchase price). Next is intake (400), oil pans (600) (trans and engine), flexplate (100), brackets for accessories (200). I already have the driveshaft and radiator. I plan on saving some funds by reflashing the computer and having the harness thinned (200). That should make it a driver. (4100)

    After, as far as budget, a/c (1400), paint/supplies (1000), chrome bumper (700), and recover the interior (1000).... total est. $8200... which means it's at 10k because I'm sure I've forgotten stuff and there's still tires/wheels (which will be 15s and poverty caps...).

    *also in this 'estimate' is parts I already have from other builds/etc.... obviously if someone was copying this, they'd have a purchase price of the motor - in this instance the motor was free because I paid $2200 for the Denali, drove it for a couple years as a pet carrier, then parted out what I didn't want.... I have positive dollars in that, but as far as that estimate is concerned it was 'free'.... and it is 'free' in the sense that anyone could do the same thing (buy, part out, then use the wanted parts).
     
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  16. ilikebmx999

    ilikebmx999 Well-Known Member

    Awesome build so far! I’m jealous of all the time you’ve got to work on it too
     
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  17. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    thanks... as far as my time - Tuesday/Thursday night, and Sunday... but each of those times are honey-do dependant and also is my time to keep the other stuff going.... I don't have cable TV, so there is that :)
    That said, I'm a really big fan of 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there and also Amazon Prime....

    I can even for example this - the motor mounts, Wednesday night I got home 30 minutes early so I had time to fit the mounts - which I ordered off Amazon Prime a couple days before while waiting on someone to get to my thing... the 5 minutes you spend now is 5 minutes closer to being done.
     
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  18. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    SEMA picture
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  19. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    and back... and removing the engine. again
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    where it's silver is where it needs to be beat
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    and just a bit on the passenger side for trans line clearance
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    it whacked easily
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    and voila, engine and trans on their mounts
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    need to replace the pan, but it all seems to fit
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    and finish welding the floorpan
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    I didn't order parts before SEMA so I'm kind of at the mercy of waiting for parts - but I have most of what I need to assemble the motor coming. I'll replace the oil pump with a high volume pump and swap cams mostly because I'm there... I think I even have a driveshaft for this....
     
  20. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    test fit the exhaust manifolds, no joy, passenger side works great, driver's side ... not so much
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    pulled plugs while doing it.... amazing how awesome they look for a motor that has 200k miles
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    driver's side (front to back)
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    interestingly enough.. I have a driveshaft.
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