What is the Year and Model of YOUR Classic Buick

Hi Zach,
I heard that in Germany, 25% of all new E-class vehicles had to be towed in due to broken down batteries. The old fashioned lead/acid batteries cannot take it when constantly being sucked half-empty by all this accessory/diagnosis sh.. ! (Lots of 7-BMWs are affected by the same phenomenom - did not even leave the showroom with their original battery after repeatedly having to show what the multimediastuff can do...)
I guess that today's cars will not be able to grow into classics anyway, simply due to the fact that the material all the integrated circuits are made of, starts to disintegrate after 15-20 years - replacement parts will be of the same age by then and reproduction will be difficult, as most car manufacturers only tell their suppliers what the black boxes should be able to do - but have not the slightest idea themselves what it looks like inside...

Have a nice weekend
Kindacool

 

Hey, Guy's! (Kindacool, Zack & Judd)

Regarding the New Throway Cars. After They stopped making full frame cars, You know everything was going to be Trouble. True some of the new Gadgets are convienient. The Idea was tocut down the weight of the vehicle. How come the weight of my 2000 Regal and my '56 Special are within 150 lbs. of each other? The '56 is a LOT Bigger car.
That famous Service Engine Soon Light that comes on and You don't know what it is? Nobody knows untill the car is analyzed by a computer. That light can be triggered by 160 different malfunctions. o No: From a bad thermostat to a loose fuel cap. If the Techknowlogy was that great, it should be able to pin-point and tell You Exactly What is wrong and not notify you just that Something is not working properly ou:

Have a Good Weekend :TU: :3gears: :beer

Tom Gallagher

 

Hi Tom,

from what I understood they told us, all that electronics was to give better fuel economy - but when you look at a BMW or Mercedes or whatever is comparable to our classics in weight and power, they all come in at 20-25 mpg ! So, where is 50 years of engineer's achievement, where is THE biiig innovation ??? I mean today, where we know that the oil available is getting more or less rare, that gasoline is more or less expensive and that our environment is harmed by our exhaust production, building a car with that kind of gas mileage is something completely different from building it in the 50s, where the gallon cost less than the morning paper and nobody knew about pollution or environmental issues... Should we not know better today ???
Bringing down the weight was another path followed in order to get better fuel economy. That is why our cars feature more and more plastic today and look like you better contact your local Tupper-lady in order to purchase one...

Have a nice weekend

P.S: Tom, I will answer your other mail as soon as my provider has brought his server up again... so much for new technology again ! Helps us solving problems we never had without it !

Kindacool

 

Zack
Get a 63 Special 215" V8 and three on the tree, convert it to 5 speed over drive and wala better milage than your 93 and you can fix it when it breaks. LOL

 

There's a plan! I like the way you think, Judd! Or, a Turbo Regal/G-N , but those are still electronic to a fault. Hmmm. --Zach.

 

Hey There, Kindacool!

As Usual You are Right on Target!

Manufacturers seem to go to all extremes to make sure that even the most competent independent mechanic will not be able to repair their product. Making it necessary to have the vehicle serviced by the dealer, for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the consumer to increase profits. Then once they have Your car in the shop, then they try to sell you this or that special that you really don't need, and God Forbid, that a Consumer is not Automotive Friendly, They will really be taken for a ride to the Bank.

Example: The Service Engine Soon Light came on on My Regal. I had a family emergency, My Sister of 49 had a massive Heart Attack and Died. The Following Day I had to make a 400 mile trip and the car needed immediate attention. My wife brought the car to the dealer. It turned out to be a bad thermostat and it needed a new serpentine belt. 40 bucks top for parts I could have easily replaced, had I known the problem and about 45 minutes labor. Dealer Bill...............$395.00. That's a pretty fair day's Pay, for one hours worth of work. Then Buick had the nerve to send me a questionaire as to what I thought of the dealers service, and after I blasted them Buick had the gall to ask me why I was so upset? Their ears are Still Ringing. My Son Saw me in Action and Swears it was because of Me that Buick dropped the Regal Name Plate. I can Laugh about it now , but at the time I was REALLY Hot. :rant: :af:

Have a Pleasent Weekend :TU: :3gears: :beer

Tom Gallagher

 

Tom, I have been an independant mechanic for 16 years now, and it is very true that the manufacturers are trying to put the independants out of business. The technology is overwhelming at times, and a lot of it is truly unnecessary. Also, the manufacturers are including maintenance on the newer cars, as well as making things non-serviceable. And this jazz about "no tune-up until 100,000 miles" really means that the spark plugs are good for 100K--you still need oil changes and air filters, fuel filters, etc. I guess their hoping t6hat you'll drive the thing 100,000 miles, not service it, and when it blows up, buy another of their "low maintenance" new cars. I call it making cars to be like Bic razors, and pens. Use it up, and throw it away. Let's recycle--our old cars! That will save energy, and natural resources. It takes less energy,etc. to maintain an existing car, than to manufacture a new one! Think about it. ---Zach.

 

Zach, there were studies in Great Britain that said that 40% of the energy a car will consume in all its life, is already spent into the production of it ! Think about that for a minute and tell me why not using this energy already spent as long as possible i.e. by driving a car as long as possible ? THAT is true friendship with the environment !!!
Not to mention that older cars require more maintenance, which will create thousands and thousands of jobs locally instead of a few thousand accumulated on certain spots where new cars are built...
And, Tom and Zach, regarding service policies of the auto industry: I know of a guy who has Mercedes Van: A bulb in one of the control lights blew and he went into Mercedes-service to have it replaced. Now get yourself a seat: They told him blank those bulbs are not available seperately and he will have to install an all new instrument unit... yes, with tach, speedo, gauges etc - Costs: the equivalent of $600.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLUS labor, of course !!! For a bulb !!!!!! Hello-ho ?????? Anybody home in King-customer's castle ???? :shock:
(A clever Mercedes dealer would obtain these bulbs aftermarket and install it for the customer, making $100.00 turnover for labor and saved them a customer, would he not ?)

Have a nice weekend and go on a looong ride with your classic...
Michael

 

Zack

This old fart can remember when the auto manufacturers went to 6,000 mile lube schedule from 3,000 mile all they did was change the owners manual. and then they went to lifetime lubrication on suspension parts all they did was eliminate the grease fittings.

Judd

 

It's not only Mercedes doing this! Our own beloved Buick Motors Division is also doing it to some degree. :rant: When the dahsboard lights on my wifes 93 Regal heater control all died, I found out that the dealer wanted to sell me a whole new control. If I recall correctly, they quoted $140.00 for the control back in 1997. I managed to find a used control in a junkyard which I got for free after buying some other expensive things, and luckilly the bulbs worked. As they started to die this year I went back to the dealer and this time they sold me the bulbs. Smaller than your fingernail, and $6.00 apiece. Then I took the old control apart and managed to unsolder the old bulbs. Unfortunately the holes closed right in with the liquid solder, so I had to buy a mini drill bit, and a different collett for my dremel ( which really didn't work right) but I drilled out the old solder, and soldered in the new bulbs. :beer

$24.00 for dashboard lights, $1.79 for the drill bit, $2.50 for the collett, and about an hours work. :grin:

Meanwhile when the dashboard lights went out on my 56, I made a jumper wire to bypass the rheostat in the headlight switch and they work perfect now, as long as you don't want to dim them that is.

John D

 

Hey Judd
I on the Buick with the 4 port holes is that a 2 door or a 4 door its hard to tell and what year is it??

Sandy

 

Hey Skylark
I also live in calif and have found a few places to get parts for our Buicks
There is one in Riverside and one in Sun Valley just let me know which one you
Need and i will get the phone number to you.
Sandy

 

Hey Mharby
I also live in California In the Corona Area .. Know of any good places to get gas tanks
org if possible??

Sandy

 

Sandy
This car is a 56 Super 4 dr ht owned by Dan DeSantis in Texas. We meet at Cruisin the Coast here in Mississippi every year, nice people If you ever meet them.

 

Hi Sandy,

Lucky You! Your son has a '56. :TU: :bglasses: What Model?
For a Gas Tank, You can try Mattson's Rediator 716-826-0357 or Mac's Radiator Service 562-920-1871. Does the car have the Original Gas Tank that needs Repair? For a Good Used Radiator give Ken Reeves at Wheatbelt Buick a call 580-855-2449 or the Buick Bonery 916-381-5271.

Tom Gallagher

 

Beginning restoration project

I just got my '55 4dr Special out of storage and into my Father-In-Law's garage. We're starting engine to tranny to rear end and so on. I've joined the V8Buick group because I anticipate needing some advice and assistance as we proceed. Anyone out there been through this already with a '55.

 

I have done the same with my '55 over the past few years. Being a professional auto mechanic helps a little. I can advise you if needed. I rebuilt the Dynaflow myself, mainly because I didn't know who to take it to. And, because I wanted to learn something new. I also did my own paint and body work, glass installation, etc. If you are handy, and have some tools, it should go pretty smoothly. If you don't already have a factory service manual, I recommend buying one. It will be indispensible. Good luck, and keep us posted. - Zach

 

Buickbum
What are the casting numbers on your heads,do the rods bolt on the piston wrist pins or press on. Is the oil fill in the valley pan or the valve covers?
Judd

 

'55 Special

Thanks for the replies! I have a '55 Shop Manual on CD, but from looking through it, it assumes quite a bit of prior mechanical knowledge (not real detailed). As for casting numbers; I haven't checked and don't have a clue on the rods. The oil fill is an angled tube about 8" long right in front of the carburetor (with a breather cap on it). We've started 'er up and she runs fine! Now we drained the tranny and found that most of the fluid has migrated to the rear end. We're looking for the seals needed before we jump into the big task of dropping the whole rear end to work on it. My manual shows two seals inside the torque tube (where it bolts to the tranny and where the tube bolts to the rear end). We also need seal(s) for the RR axle that shows exterior leakage.

 

Buickbum
I'd suggest you replace the torque ball seal and the seals on the front pump ( torque converter ) while you have it apart. I guaranty they are or will leak soon if they have been sitting unused.