Da' further adventures of da' trusty billy-goat wagon!

[elagache]

Dear Steve and mid-60s Buick owner who are concerned about where the rubber meets the road,

Edoardo, what size wheels and tires did you go with here?

The wheels are the Wheel Vintiques 15"x7" reproductions of the Buick Rally wheel:

https://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels/muscle/buick-rallye.html

The tires are the Diamond Back III which is their reworking of the BFGoodrich Radial T/As:

https://dbtires.com/product/diamond-back-iii/

The front tires are P205/65-R15 and the rear tires are P235/60-R15.  I ordered the tires with 1" whitewalls.

I am certainly pleased with how the overall package turned out! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[option B9]

   Hi Edouard, Your wagon is looking great, Your choice of tire size was a good one. Last month my very good friend and Buick collector called me to see if I needed a set of 15 inch Buick rally wheels with good Firestone tires for my 65 GS project. I asked "how much" He said "FREE" The owner of the rims/tires was ordered by the WIFE to clean out the shed of car parts immediately so the Children can put the bikes in for the winter. So his loss was my gain. The rims/tires needed a good cleaning, but they look great on the GS. Tire size is 215 70 R15 for all 4 .
    You mentioned Wheel Vintiques, I ordered a set of 4  14 inch rally wheels for my GS convertible back in July and due to the Covid-19 crisis production at the California factory is severely impacted. The factory now says delivery will be the first week in January 2021. I'm in no rush to get them, I just wanted to let everyone know that if you ordered rims (and other parts too) you will get them eventually. Covid-19 is effecting everything !!!

                                HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE !
                                     Tony 

[elagache]

Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

   Hi Edouard, Your wagon is looking great, Your choice of tire size was a good one. Last month my very good friend and Buick collector called me to see if I needed a set of 15 inch Buick rally wheels with good Firestone tires for my 65 GS project. I asked "how much" He said "FREE" The owner of the rims/tires was ordered by the WIFE to clean out the shed of car parts immediately so the Children can put the bikes in for the winter. So his loss was my gain. The rims/tires needed a good cleaning, but they look great on the GS. Tire size is 215 70 R15 for all 4 .

Indeed the fellow's loss at the hands of . . . . . SWMBO  . . . . was most definitely your gain!

You mentioned Wheel Vintiques, I ordered a set of 4  14 inch rally wheels for my GS convertible back in July and due to the Covid-19 crisis production at the California factory is severely impacted. The factory now says delivery will be the first week in January 2021. I'm in no rush to get them, I just wanted to let everyone know that if you ordered rims (and other parts too) you will get them eventually. Covid-19 is effecting everything !!!

I don't know when you got your last update, but we are back in lock-down effective last Sunday.  So there could be even more delays.  Alas, Californians aren't known for sticking to their best behavior even in the face of COVID . . . . .

On the plus side, I noticed that Wheels Vintiques has expanded their line-up of 15" Buick rally wheels to provide additional back-spacing.

                             
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE !
                                     Tony 

Thanks for the sentiments, but I have a feeling we'll need to focus on a faithful and thoughtful Christmas this year.  COVID may not be the Grinch, but it sure will do in a pinch . . . .

Oh well, . . . . . Edouard

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with a soft spot for d'em "longroof" types,

Biquette made what will most likely be her last outing for this year.  She played Santa's sleigh for the delivery of Christmas cards and a cookie basket to Orinda Motors.  While she was there I took this quick photo of her parked next to the Orinda Motors station wagon:



There is a smell of burning rubber that I finally spotted to be in the vicinity of the back of the exhaust header on the passenger side.  It could be nothing more than an oil leak that I was already aware of.  Still, between that and the insane traffic that is even worse thanks to COVID, I think she'll send the rest of the year safe in the garage.  We'll see if it safe to come out after the first.

Cheers, Edouard   

[TrunkMonkey]

That Joe Gibbon's Racin' erl has sulfur, and it will present a "burning rubber" smell, since that (sulfer) is a lot of what you smell when a Buick is roasting tires.



"Biquette roasting off her new back tires
WOT tipping from your toes..."

[elagache]

Dear Michael, and mid-60s Buick owners who also "roast things . . . . "

That Joe Gibbon's Racin' erl has sulfur, and it will present a "burning rubber" smell

Hmm, that could be additional evidence that the time has come to torque down the head caskets . . . . .

Since that (sulfer) is a lot of what you smell when a Buick is roasting tires.

. . . . . There there!  Biquette knows that I'm the chef in this household and that she should never roast her beautiful whitewall tires! . . . . . .

Cheers, Edouard 

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick "longroof" fans,

The National Weather Service is suggesting that January might be wetter than normal in our area, so yesterday I decided to get da' trusty wagon out for some exercise while the pavement was still dry.  I drove over to a Catholic church in the neighboring town.  There wasn't much sunshine, but the south side of the church presented an interesting backdrop:



If you look carefully, you can see the lights of a Christmas tree in the window just above the hood ornament (click for a larger image.)

One last bit of the holiday season before we return to the grind of January . . . .

Cheers, Edouard 

P.S.  . . . . If you guys are getting a bit tired of Biquette, look at it this way, she is just standing in until Loren can get started restoring his wagon in the spring!! . . . .

[yachtsmanbill]

So Ed.... where's the handicap tag on the mirror LOL??? Hope you and everyone else here has a profitable (Mentally and morally) new year. 2020 was such a crash and burn that it will go down in history! On a 1-10 scale I honestly have to give it a 2-3. No rhythm and a lousy beat to dance to. Still wrestling the Buick demons across the hall and they are relentless. I thought maybe after the 1st they would have tamed down but not yet. Almost ready to call in the BAD GUY from downstairs. Hmmm.

Only a few small car jobs this year including a few interior faux pas repairs, maybe a radio (!) with SIRIUS and pull the intake off the free the cross-over plugs in the heads; what an abortion that turned out to be!

Without getting all wrapped up with BLUE TEETH (I just had an all white set made haha) whats the latest and greatest AND most cost effective way to go SIRIUS with an original look and minimal "black boxes"?    ws

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

So Ed.... where's the handicap tag on the mirror LOL???
. . . . . 

. . . .   Wasn't the horrible way in which I parked proof enough? . . . . . .

Only a few small car jobs this year including a few interior faux pas repairs, maybe a radio (!) with SIRIUS
. . .
Without getting all wrapped up with BLUE TEETH (I just had an all white set made haha) whats the latest and greatest AND most cost effective way to go SIRIUS with an original look and minimal "black boxes"?

Now that you mention it, trying to get a radio with Sirius isn't very easy or cheap.   Retrosound has this model that would fit in your dash:

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1964-67-buick-skylark-long-beach-radio

However, that isn't exactly cheap and it still requires an add-on to pick up Sirius signals.  Of course these radios are usually heavily discounted in places like eBay.

The only other thing I spotted with a quick web search is this hidden radio:

https://www.hitechclassics.com/products/classic-car-custom-secret-audio-srms-hidden-radio-ipod-satellite-radio

That's a better price, but no bargain and this would involve a box you would need to hide somehow.

It might be easier to go with a portable Sirius radio.  It is a hassle, but it is much easier on your wallet.  Perhaps you could find a portable radio that you could manage to wire to the car's original speakers.  Does BADLAD already have some sort of sound system?  If not, perhaps you could look into a single system that you could use in either car.

That's a few thoughts anyway, . . . . .

Cheers, Edouard 

[Jimbo]

Since I have SiriusXM on my daily driver, and stream on my phone and home computer. Installed a custom auto sounds 740 in my Skylark. I use the Bluetooth option on the 740 and stream from my phone. Works great. When I shut off the car and restart later it just continues where I disconnected.
Also call SiriusXM when your bill is due and negotiate a lower renewal bill. I have be getting 40 to 50 % off for the last 5 years. Ask for customer retention and be friendly.

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks guys.... another investment! Right now I have a flip phone and a burned out AM radio with a single front speaker LOL... I need a little CONSTERNATION on this one...   ws

[elagache]

Dear Jim, Bill, and mid-60s Buick audiophiles,

Since I have SiriusXM on my daily driver, and stream on my phone and home computer. Installed a custom auto sounds 740 in my Skylark. I use the Bluetooth option on the 740 and stream from my phone. Works great.
. . . .

Okay, I didn't know you could get Sirius to run on a smart phone.  That's an interesting idea.

Thanks guys.... another investment! Right now I have a flip phone and a burned out AM radio with a single front speaker LOL... I need a little CONSTERNATION on this one...   ws

Agreed you'll need to make some investments, but it might be still less expensive than trying to get some sort of direct Sirius solution for BADLASS.  RetroSound has another stereo model with Bluetooth that is about 1/2 the price of the one I quoted above

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1964-67-buick-skylark-hermosa-radio?rq=yr_1964~mk_buick~md_skylark&variant=35170441550

I don't know what is the cheapest possible smart phone you can get, but I would hope you can grab some sort of an android model at a bargain price.  Okay at this point you would have to hold your nose and install the Sirius app on the phone and connect it to the stereo.  I would hope that isn't too painful and perhaps Jim can offer some pointers.  Once you've done that, your music streaming would be good for the life of the phone.

Going this route could save you a few hundred bucks.  Unfortunately, when it comes to services like Sirius, you just aren't going to have much luck looking for discontinued and used stuff.

Alas, those technology guys - can't easily live with them but it is getting increasingly difficult to live without them.

Oh well, . . . . . Edouard

[yachtsmanbill]

That one on amazon is actually 20.00 more with optional face plates etc,, but doesnt include an optional Sirius package (70.00 with a full rebate).
This is just an amazon page with yours and a ton of chinese 30.00 FM units (generic). I kinda hate to cut my dash up as its perfect (as in 100% nice AND correct) for a 1964. If I can find a "decent" replacement dash and hack it up for a radio, then mounting the gages there as well is a no brainer... DECISIONS! BTW, a lot of the chinaradios have 32G flash drive plugs but they are in the back; extension cord perhaps??  ws

Also was confused by a 1. 1.5, or 2 DIN mount; read on: Ahhh New York, New York ;-))

 https://www.retromanufacturing.com/blogs/news/bigger-is-better-one-and-a-half-times-better 

https://www.amazon.com/Hermosa-Radio-Chrome-Bezel-HC-M2-01113-03-73/dp/B07TVF4HV5

[Jimbo]

Fairly simple to connect. Yes you download the SiriusXM app on your phone. I set the app up as automatic sign in whenever I open the app.
Turn on the radio and go to Bluetooth mode, have your phone in Bluetooth settings, recognize the radio when it pops up. Open the app and pick your station. (I have several stations on my favorites)
Once it's set up, just turn on the radio, open the app and pick a channel. When I shut off the car the app pauses. After restarting my trusty sport coupe, just hit play on the phone and music is back!
The 740 also comes with a microphone you can plug in the back of the radio and do phone calls like in a modern car. You can also load your music on a thumb drive and plug in the 740,switch to the USB mode and listen to music. Here's the one I have... no dash cutting and I used original knobs. Also can listen to my playlists in my phone music app.
 https://customautosoundmfg.com/product/custom-in-dash-radios/usa-740?&autoMake=buick&autoModel=all-buicks&autoModel=all-buicks&product=cam-buk-72-740

The picture is before the radio was centered.

[campfamily]

What I have done is use a portable Bluetooth speaker. I just set the speaker on the passenger floorboard. It is hooked to my phone through Bluetooth. Then I can listen to Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, or any other music streaming service from my phone. I don't like paying $15/month for Satellite radio when I can get it for free (with ads) from other services, or have it included with a service I'm already paying for (like Amazon Prime).

Here's one for less than $25. https://www.amazon.com/Enhanced-Splashproof-Portable-Bluetooth-Radiator/dp/B010OYASRG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=bluetooth+speaker&qid=1609801924&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVlNVVEJQS0FLTkNTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDY1NDEwT0MwMzNKR05LWEdJJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyOTIzNzIyRDBNSlAxV1FPMUM5JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Another benefit of this approach is that when you're not driving your old car, you can use the speaker out in the garage or the yard or ????

Keith