New Member-66 GS Post Car

[WkillGS]

Welding galvanized metal= hazardous fumes. I just grind off the galv coating before welding.
Paul, are the rockers beyond repair? One suggestion is welding/brazing on some pull tabs, applying heat to the damaged area, and pulling the damage out.
I tried to pull some minor deformation out of my rockers using a stud gun and slide hammer, but it's thick metal....It'll need some heat to soften the metal.
I'll take a look at a floor section I have and see if the rockers are salvageable. I'd recommend used originals over hand-formed repro's anyday...

[paul massicotte]

Walt, I think they're too far gone to try and reshape.   If you could let me know about cutting them out that would be awesome.

[Mark Ascher]

Unauthorized link to more info-history-pics on this project.

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?169526-I-feel-like-Jason-Cook!!-I-m-bringing-home-a-66-GS!

That second page was a hoot.

Mark

[paul massicotte]

Thanks for posting the link Mark.  I hadn't gone back and re-read the thread before.  Man, where has the four years gone since I brought it home?  Hopefully it goes back together in the next 4 years!

[paul massicotte]

Well after several delays and a few months past my original goal, the car is finally off to the body shop.  A fellow Buick guy will be doing the body work. 

I dropped the car off a few weeks ago, and went to Autobody Specialties in CT to pick up new rockers and a trunk floor.  We're not sure if the whole outer rocker will be replaced or cut and sectioned.  I did express my concerns over the galvanized metal issue. 

All told, he's anticipating the car being in paint by the winter which would be great.  Here are some photos of the day it left the garage.

[GS66]

Looks like a good project Paul!

[paul massicotte]

Thanks Jim.  As is the case with many of these projects, there hasn't really been any movement on it over at the body shop.  I had one car in front of mine and that car is still there.  Hopefully I'll have it back by the spring. 


In the meantime, I'll be in the garage at home stripping and painting parts...

[paul massicotte]

Still working on small things here and there.  There hasn't been any movement at the body shop which was to be expected to some degree. 

Had the original wheels, core support and inner fenders blasted.  They all came out great.  Here are some shots of the 1966 GS steel wheels.  I was told these were GS specific and not the same as the Skylarks. 

Not sure if the 65s were the same?

[Brian]

The difference with the steel wheels is the GS cars all came with the 7.75-14 tire size, which automatically gets you the 6" wide rims.  The smaller size tires were standard on the special and skyalrk, and they came with 5" wide rims.  My '66 was ordered with the 7.75-14 tires and it came with the same 6" steel rims.  My grandfather bought the car new and wrote in the owners manual that he got the 7.75-14 tires on it.   I have since put the chrome road wheels on it, but still have the steel wheels--put all 5 of them on my '64 and it makes the tires look better on it than the 5" ones it came with. 

[paul massicotte]

Thanks for the clarification and specifics of the wheel difference.  I think I'm going to have these painted black and mounted on the current G78-14 equivalent sized tires.  I have a clean set of the spinner hubcaps that were taken off a car in 1968-9 to go on these, but I'm undecided whether to run the hubcaps or go with the road wheels. 

The 14" road wheels just look better on these cars, so I've been collecting all the 813 and 810 wheels I can find to get a really nice set.  I'll probably end up having a set mounted for both looks. 

[Brian]

If you want an original G78-14 Goodyear Polyglass tire in perfect condition, I can set you up.  I have one I found in the trunk of a car 20 years ago that was a spare and was brand new.  I had it in my '66 as the spare for a long time, then I started showing with AACA where all 5 tires have to match, so it has been in the shed ever since.  Would love to get it out of there if you want it! 

[paul massicotte]

Thanks for the offer Brian.  I may take you up on the offer when the car gets closer to being finished.