455ci 68 Lesabre - Wish me well!

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by Woodsters, Dec 3, 2008.

  1. Ken Mild

    Ken Mild King of 18 Year Resto's

    The 68 LeSabre body style is awesome. I love it. Please keep posting your progress. And stay with the big block idea.

    Incidentally, I thought a 430 was optional on those or was that not available till 69? The insert of the big block should be no problem?

    Nobody else has seemed to weigh in on this. :confused:
     
  2. Woodsters

    Woodsters Woodster

    I need help locating three items... maybe somebody can help? Remember, this is a full-size B body.

    1. The entire trunk pan. I can't salvage what I have. Rust has claimed another victim.

    2. The metal channel around the trunk where the rubber sits (to seal the trunk lid). Another victim of Mr. Rust.

    3. The detent rollers for the door hinges. I'll probably need to replace the pins for the rollers as well. I have hinge pins and bushings, but haven't been able to locate the rollers.

    Thanks. David
     
  3. furiousgoat

    furiousgoat Sold goat, bought Buick!

    Hey Ken,

    The 430 was the engine for the Wildcat. The Lesabre was only allowed a small block until 1970 (the 400 option in 68/69 was a high comp 350 4bbl, and a turbo400 tranny). However by '68 the Wildcat and Lesabre bodies were the same.
     
  4. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Very good info. I was unaware of that.

    Devon
     
  5. Woodsters

    Woodsters Woodster

    Progress! Thanks to all who have chimed in to encourage me. Thanks to wheelz I now have a '73 455. Frame pads have been ordered. I'll have to pick up a timing cover before I set the engine into place for mock-up.

    I am limited in front by the radiator to water pump clearance. How/where do I locate the short-shaft water pump?

    Anybody have a suggestion about which rear sway bar will fit? I'll be boxing the lower controls arms soon.

    David
     

    Attached Files:

  6. DruRizzo

    DruRizzo Well-Known Member

    Man You do have some work cut out for yourself! Nice to see a local V8Buick Member.. Hey keep me posted on random parts you need, Me and my dad hit the junk yards from time to time and I can keep my eye out since im trying to spot Lesabres anyways. We go up to georgia for some not so rusted out junk cars.

    The progress is looking good, and don't get discouraged, have fun with it. When its all said and done, no one will be doubting you anymore and you will be cruisin in a very unique 68 Lesabre at the Turkey Run hopefully side by side with your fellow Buick fan here.:beers2:

    Keep up the good work :TU:

    -Dru

    Oh :idea2: and a great place to find parts, for me at least is craigslist, they have a national search engine that works great for searching surrounding city's it is www.craiglook.com
     
  7. DruRizzo

    DruRizzo Well-Known Member

    Hey David and Tami,

    Just dropping in to see how the project is going. I know the weather has been pretty unfavorable but hopefully its not holding your progress up too much. Don't get frustrated and just.....[​IMG]

    -Dru

    Oh and I kept my eye open for a 68 Lesabre at Brewer's Junkyard on Lee rd. Didn't see any though just a 70 wildcat with not much left on it.
     
  8. Rob_Gray

    Rob_Gray Well-Known Member

    The 430 came as the standard engine in the Electra for my year ('67).

    Regarding the car in the post: keep up the good work!
     
  9. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    I can confirm for '67 at least that LeSabre was unique in wheelbase and front end sheet metal - shorter by a few inches from the firewall forward.

    Devon
     
  10. DruRizzo

    DruRizzo Well-Known Member

    Hows the progress fellow Floridian??
     
  11. roboteq-1@hotma

    roboteq-1@hotma 76 T Top

    Might i suggest an aluminum radiator and some electric fans to help out on your cooling/clearance issues? - And i would sue the guy on the plating. even if you just make a lot of noise and promise to blog his shop on every car site you can think of with pictures of his "work" and copies of the bill, i bet he cries uncle and gives something back!
    Robert
     
  12. Woodsters

    Woodsters Woodster

    I haven't forgotten my project but it seems there just aren't enough hours to get it all done. It sure doesn't help that the car is 90 miles from where I live! :(

    The latest... "buickgsman" came through with a timing cover. "65skyturbo" provided a very nice Hurst floor shifter. "junkman" is hooking me up with an oil pan, windshield and a few other sundry parts. :TU:

    I'm stalled for a few more months and will use the time to keep accumulating stuff ---like a short shaft water pump and TA oil pump. I appreciate you all checking on me. I haven't given up. Far from it. I think and dream about finally getting back on the road every single day. Perhaps you can relate!!!!:3gears:
     
  13. Woodsters

    Woodsters Woodster

    Forward progress. I've got some friends lined up Oct 2-5 and we're going to blast and prime the chassis and body.

    -Dru- you busy that weekend? Interested in maybe swapping labor for Gator football tickets?

    -Robert- I do have an aluminum radiator. It's much thicker than the stock radiator though. I'll let you know dimensions after I get the engine in place.

    Side note... looking at an ADDCO 933 rear sway bar. I think it will fit. Anybody see why not?

    David
     
  14. Woodsters

    Woodsters Woodster

    Geez, has it really been 9 months since I posted! In that time I've finished blasting and painting the frame. Freshly rebuilt suspension parts are assembled and waiting to be mounted to the frame. The firewall / lower windshield /dash area has been mostly repaired and the passenger side drip rail has been removed and smoothed.

    My dad has had emergency surgery (pacemaker), my mom broke her elbow and the docs found a tumor on her ovary. I went to Alaska and Haiti on short term mission trips. My wife advanced to full-time rotations (PA program) and I bought her a '73 Vette as an early "graduation present."

    I had to do just a bit of work on the Vette. Stripped the car (literally), rebuilt suspension/brakes/steering, cleaned and treated the frame with POR15, removed all traces of "Bubba" wiring/patch jobs, ordered necessary parts and now just beginning the process of bodywork.

    Also picked up a 'glass T-bucket project at the Turkey Rod Run (Daytona, November). 4.3L V6 powered. 39 Ford front axle. I'm finishing the wiring this weekend.

    Never a dull moment around the Wood household. The Buick's still on the list, but it's been bumped down a few notches. Sure is nice to pick the phone up and have the parts for our Vette delivered a couple days later. Not really possible with my '68 B-body.:( I keep telling my wife I'd be dangerous with a garage. She said that if I keep working on her car she'll buy/build us a garage. Now that's a pretty good deal!:bglasses:
     

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