65 antenna teardrop gasket

[option B9]

Hi everyone, I ran across a problem with my GS & Special, The antenna teardrop was cutting into the paint. I know that Buick did not make a gasket for 65. So the next best thing to do was make a gasket. So I went out and purchased a roll of cork gasket, 1st I traced the teardrop shape and the center circle out with a pencil. 2nd I used an Exacto knife to cut the outer shape. 3rd I needed to make a 1 inch hole for the antenna mast so I found a 1 inch copper pipe fitting, sharpened one end of it with a dremmel tool now I had a gasket punch. 4th I placed the gasket on a small block of wood & I lined up the punch and tapped it several times with a hammer. Gasket done !! I used a small amount of contact cement to hold the gasket to the bezel, let it dry for ten minutes and installed it. Looks great. I took some photos (Below) with my phone that I will share with you. If you would like a gasket please send me PM with your name & address and I will get one out to you. I'm not charging for this service but if you would like to make a donation to the REGISTRY in care of Loren everyone would appreciate it..   

                                                                                                                              Tony

[elagache]

Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick "DIY" types,

Hi everyone, I ran across a problem with my GS & Special, The antenna teardrop was cutting into the paint. I know that Buick did not make a gasket for 65. So the next best thing to do was make a gasket. So I went out and purchased a roll of cork gasket . . . . .

. . . . Cork!  Why that's so pre-World War II! . . . 

Of course I ran into exactly the same problem.  However, I am (or at least used to be) a model railroad and had some sheet styrene plastic.  So I used that instead of cork.  My first attempt was to cut the plastic a bit too wide.  When I had my wagon repainted, the body shop guys though I had left too much waste and trimmed it closer to the teardrop.  What surprises me is that styrene plastic isn't intended for outdoor use and should be extremely vulnerable to UV rays.  So far though, the plastic has held up very nicely even after more than a decade of service.

I was planning to use the same trick for my restored hood ornament but of course I'm waiting for the engine to return for my trusty wagon before installing that.

. . . . So if you run out of cork, you might run by your local hobby shop and try some styrene plastic for size! . .   

Thanks for offering this to the community  and yes, you most likely have the better choice of material for this service.  The trouble is model railroaders typically only use cork in the thickness of about 1/4" as a bed for track.  A 1/4" cork roadbed probably would be noticeable under the antenna teardrop! . . . 

Cheers, Edouard 

[elagache]

Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick owners who are detailed-oriented,

Hi everyone, I ran across a problem with my GS & Special, The antenna teardrop was cutting into the paint. I know that Buick did not make a gasket for 65. So the next best thing to do was make a gasket.

I had some time to take a look at my own creation.  It is better shape than I expected but still is quite "weary."



Here is what it looks like topside:



Unfortunately, it is clear it isn't doing a very good job of protecting the paint.  So I think my best recourse is to defer to Tony's better choice of materials.

If you would like a gasket please send me PM with your name & address and I will get one out to you. I'm not charging for this service but if you would like to make a donation to the REGISTRY in care of Loren everyone would appreciate it.

I just made a donation so I covered that part!    However, wouldn't it be easier if I sent you a self-addressed and stamped envelope?  That would save you the postage and the hassles of writing down an address.  I'm about to PM you to ask for an address to send the envelope to!

Thanks for doing this for the community Tony!   

Cheers, Edouard 

P.S. Could you double-check on the weight of the gaskets?  If there is any doubt, it would be simpler to put the postage for an extra ounce.  I will include some protective cardboard so the cork doesn't get damaged in transit.

[Loren At 65GS]

Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick owners who are detailed-oriented,

Hi everyone, I ran across a problem with my GS & Special, The antenna teardrop was cutting into the paint. I know that Buick did not make a gasket for 65. So the next best thing to do was make a gasket.

I had some time to take a look at my own creation.  It is better shape than I expected but still is quite "weary."



Here is what it looks like topside:



Unfortunately, it is clear it isn't doing a very good job of protecting the paint.  So I think my best recourse is to defer to Tony's better choice of materials.

If you would like a gasket please send me PM with your name & address and I will get one out to you. I'm not charging for this service but if you would like to make a donation to the REGISTRY in care of Loren everyone would appreciate it.

I just made a donation so I covered that part!    However, wouldn't it be easier if I sent you a self-addressed and stamped envelope?  That would save you the postage and the hassles of writing down an address.  I'm about to PM you to ask for an address to send the envelope to!

Thanks for doing this for the community Tony!   

Cheers, Edouard 

P.S. Could you double-check on the weight of the gaskets?  If there is any doubt, it would be simpler to put the postage for an extra ounce.  I will include some protective cardboard so the cork doesn't get damaged in transit.

Edouard,

 I received the notice from PP of your generous support. 

 Thank you very much,  I appreciate your help and energetic contributions to the community here at 65GS.com.

 Loren

[option B9]

   Edouard, I just sent you a PM with my contact info. A regular envelope with standard postage should do it, it does not weigh much at all. I have the first two that I made, Loren is getting #3 and #4 will be on its way to you... Let me know what you think of it when you install it. Feedback either + or - is good.
   Years ago I also made the gasket that is attached to the oil filler/PCV cap for our 225,300,401 & 425 motors. I made about 15-20 and brought them to the BCA national meet in Danvers MA where I had a vendor table selling 65 Special/Skylark GS parts. I sold all but 2 gaskets, so I made my money back that I spent on gasket paper and supplies to make the 2 dies that were required to make the gasket. I still have the dies so we could revisit that one day if needed.

                                                                                         Tony 

[elagache]

Dear Loren, Tony, and mid-60s Buick lovers, . . 

I received the notice from PP of your generous support. 

 Thank you very much,  I appreciate your help and energetic contributions to the community here at 65GS.com.

You are most welcome!  I'm glad to have an Internet spot like this to "hang out!"

   Edouard, I just sent you a PM with my contact info. A regular envelope with standard postage should do it, it does not weigh much at all. I have the first two that I made, Loren is getting #3 and #4 will be on its way to you...

It turns out that the card-stock that I included to keep the envelope from getting bent is quite heavy, so it did need an extra ounce of postage.  It is all packed up and will leave with today's "Pony Express" for destinations East!

Cheers, Edouard 

[option B9]

   Hi Edouard, Loren and all lovers of 65 Special & Skylarks.   Edouard, since you are sending that envelope out from the left coast it should be here Friday or Saturday. I mailed out Loren's today, I did not use any cardboard. I placed it in a mini zip-lock bag with an index card then then wrapped 2 sheets of paper around it and placed it in a envelope and off it went.. the Pony Express has it now.. 
                                                                                   
                                                                                  Tony

[BuickGS65]

Hi Tony -

I just sent you a PM (or an email?).  Please let me know if you got it.  Thanks!

[option B9]

   Yes I got it, and I sent you a reply. I only have one left and its going to Edouard. But I will make more towards the end of the week and mail them right out to the addresses that are sent to me.

                                                            Thanks for the interest in the gasket..    Tony
                                                                         

[option B9]

    Hi Dan. Took a break from painting the inside of the house and made another batch of gaskets. So yours is in the envelope and will be mailed out in the morning,
  after coffee !!!
                                                   Tony

[Loren At 65GS]

Hey Tony,

  Received my gasket yesterday.  The GS is in storage at Bill's for the winter, so it will be a while before I can install it.

  Thanks,
   Loren

[option B9]

     Hi Edouard, The Pony Express arrived today so now I have your SASE, I will give it back to the Pony in the morning, I just hope the Pony does not drop dead on the way back to the Left coast. Let me know when you get it and how it fits. If you don't get it by March the Pony is dead !!

                                                                                Tony

[elagache]

Hi Tony and fans of "ponies" that have get up and go!

     Hi Edouard, The Pony Express arrived today so now I have your SASE, I will give it back to the Pony in the morning, I just hope the Pony does not drop dead on the way back to the Left coast. Let me know when you get it and how it fits.

. . . . Gee whiz!  D'em ponies just don't have the same get up and go that they used to have.  I think the problem here is that they aren't using an iron horse anymore!!

If you don't get it by March the Pony is dead !!

. . . . Really?  I just thought that meant it was stopped by d'em revenuers and forced to pay their taxes early! . . . . .

Seriously, Thanks Tony!   I'll watch the mailbox for it! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[BuickGS65]

Thanks Tony!!!

[elagache]

Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick owners who wish the Post Office would trade in their ponies for fleet of 1965 Buick Gran Sports! . . . . 

I will give it back to the Pony in the morning, I just hope the Pony does not drop dead on the way back to the Left coast. Let me know when you get it and how it fits.

Well, d'em ponies managed to pick up the pace a bit and the gasket arrived with today's post.  Thanks Tony!    Unfortunately, this week has gotten super-busy all of a sudden.  However, once things calm down once more I promise to test fit the gasket and report back.

Thanks again!

Cheers, Edouard