The Infamous Parts Car is Home!

[cwmcobra]

Okay, I'll say it.....
That car looks to good to part out!
Is it beyond saving?

Hi Walt,

Actually, you're right.  It is not beyond saving and would make a good restoration project.  I've seen much worse.  That said, I don't plan on another restoration and this car just has too many parts that Bob and I want/need.  I understand that in a way, it's a shame to part it out, but on the other hand, it will make our restorations higher quality and easier.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!   

A great weekend to all!

Chuck

[Brian]

I looked it over good and it would basically take a body swap to fix that car.  Roof is completely rusted away. Lip around the trunk opening is completely gone all the way around, floor pans and trunk floor need replacing, and it is severely rotted at the base of the front windshield.  Oh, and the lower qtrs have rust in the normal places.  It would take another body shell to fix it.  Therefore it is a perfect parts car! 

[Turbonut85]

They are beginning to circle and I may be one of them.

I could be put on that list....lol.

Great find!!

[cwmcobra]

Bob and I are making progress on disassembly of the parts car.  And now it's more obvious that this would be more of a restoration project than I would be up to.  Can't touch anything without rust falling.  But that's why it's a part car!

A few pictures are attached.

 

Chuck

[mdkd]

All

Really makes you think twice about buying a vinyl top car from the mid 60's.

I know the 64 Skylark I purchased in San Jose California with halo trim and vinyl top in 73 was a moon roof by 76.

The vinyl cracked allowing water to rust the unprotected metal underneath.

I don't think the Minnesota road salt helped much.

It was my daily driver at the time.

Milton

[elagache]

Dear Chuck, Milton, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Bob and I are making progress on disassembly of the parts car.  And now it's more obvious that this would be more of a restoration project than I would be up to.  Can't touch anything without rust falling.  But that's why it's a part car!

Yup, can't disagree with your assessment looking at the pictures.  At least this car you can part-out without feeling any guilt!

Cheers, Edouard

[Brian]

You have all the hard work done already!  Once you get the rest of what you want to save off the body, removing the body from the frame is easy.  I took apart one really rusty like that, and once I was down to the bare body shell on the frame, I took the mounts loose, then grabbed the body under the rocker panel on one side with my hands and flipped it up and over upside down off of the frame--it was going to the scrap yard anyway.  It slid up onto the trailer on it's roof really easy!

[cwmcobra]

Good to hear, Brian.  It will be a bit lighter by the time we remove the quarters and rear panel!

A great weekend to all!

Chuck

[cwmcobra]

More progress today.  Holy (holey) floor! 

All that's left in the body is those darn courtesy lights in the sail panels.  Any advice on how to take them out would be appreciated.  Looks to me like the light housings have to be removed from inside the trunk following the wires down since the wires for both sides connect together into one connector in the trunk.  And the hole on the inside of the trunk is too small to squeeze them through.  The housings are not in great shape, so I'm thinking of just cutting the wires.

 

Chuck

[cwmcobra]

Bob and I have made more progress.  Almost ready to take the body off the frame.  We're betting the body mount bolts will be a big challenge, considering all the rust in this car.....

The top was as crispy as we thought it would be after removing the vinyl.  And my ugly mug was made uglier by the Arkansas rust and dirt that showered down on me as I was using the Sawzall in the wheel wells!

 

Chuck

[GS66]

Good progress. Wow, that roof looks rough.

[elagache]

Dear Chuck, Jim, and mid-60s Buick owners who occasionally are in need of "transplant parts,"

Sure enough Chuck, you made an excellent call of what this car could be used for.  It was definitely well beyond restoration!

Cheers, Edouard

[cwmcobra]

Body is ready for the scrap heap.  The rest is tucked away for the winter.

Some of the parts are ending up on my Verde Howitzer!

 

Chuck

[GS66]

Glad you guys were able to salvage a lot of parts. That car sure was rusty.

[gssizzler]

Wow! and I thought the convertible I 'm working on was rusty! Sometimes you just can't save them! But the parts help others live on!