Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[cwmcobra]

So Chuck, whats the deal on the GS springs??   ws

Hi Bill,

You can have the springs if you'll pay to ship them.  I'll check them out over the weekend to see if they'll fit in a flat rate box.  Pretty heavy, but also pretty indestructible!  I'll be gone tomorrow, but will get back to you in a couple of days on whether they can ship flat rate.

A good (if cold) weekend to all!

 

Chuck

[yachtsmanbill]

My fellow Buick sesquipedalians... Its always been my modest attempt to eschew obfuscation, but being on a modest fixed income, the objective of putting this guy together is provided I adhere to a somewhat modicum of a low budget. Right now, the labor is cheap, for me anyway, but the machine shop is gonna kill that budget and I still need to acquire a flywheel. That alone is gonna set me back a minimum of 300.00 plus the truck.

The days of going into a shop and saying "Ill take 4 of these mounted and balanced" are gone. Ill even consider good used skins off of CL; as long as they're not 28's LOL...  The final product will probably make its initial appearance in an original 1964 patina. Pop the hood and its gonna provide a substantial WOW factor. Follow along as we progress through the odyssey. 2230hrs and its bedtime, and MINUS 8 right now and forecast for worse tomorrow. Sleep tight and stay warm!    WeS 

Thanks for the offer Chuck... shipping is a given, and I hope I can return the favor!
Bill Stephan 2327 9th st. Two Rivers, Wi. 54241

[yachtsmanbill]

Up at 0445hrs and the temp has plummeted to a minus 16 ! Good day to do Buick work INSIDE. So off to a few hours of searching for parts; this is my quality time LOL. Yooz guys enjoy yer Saturday!   ws

[dsags]

Up at 0445hrs and the temp has plummeted to a minus 16 ! Good day to do Buick work INSIDE. So off to a few hours of searching for parts; this is my quality time LOL. Yooz guys enjoy yer Saturday!   ws

That new 100K furnace might have a struggle in that kind of winter wonderland. For what it’s worth GB is at minus 22 at 0730.

Dan

[yachtsmanbill]

That new atom smasher has been able to keep up so far... shop is totally insulated and even have a thermopane window facing east. The rafters are open and insulated to the peak with a 48 inch Hunter fan blowing down (for the winter) circulating the air. Maybe next year ductwork; just ran outa time this year. I let that heat run for an hour and its a nice 70F when I get back out.  The T stats on an outside wall (no choice there) and I find having to set it back to about 67 when Im working under the fan is a happy medium.   ws

[GS66]

With the progress you?re making this might be ready for a couple days on the Power Tour.

[yachtsmanbill]

Still have the 72 XGS with A/C... whats the itinerary???  ws

[yachtsmanbill]

Finally got tired of looking at rusty stuff and got down to some priming today. Rustoleo rusty metal primer does the trick. Thinned it a little so it penetrates and creeps. Gonna do the bottom side tomorrow. At least it looks like progress.

Started washing some parts yesterday too. Got the belhousing cleaned and painted with "Bright Zinc" used for chain link fences. Nice looking metal flake, then about 3-4 coats of clear on that. Left the shop for the day so the stuff can dry undisturbed. The brake booster was galvanized as well, not cadmium plated. It looked "OK", but a buzz with the wire wheel took 99% of that off and rather not having it rust up again, or look like it was wheeled and cleared, I did that with the zinc too. Turned out pretty well.

Having a nice hearty beef stew for dinner to take the chill off. MMMM...   ws

[GS66]

Still have the 72 XGS with A/C... whats the itinerary???  ws

See the 2019 Power Tour thread under events for where we will be. Hope you can join us.

[yachtsmanbill]

Finally figgered out the events schedule and the HRPT... I wish it were gonna be making a pass up this way! Thats right around the time I get my boat settled in for summer... all 2 months of it here LOL... So does everyone from up this way make the drive to Indy then to Ohiya?   ws

[elagache]

Dear Bill, Jim, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick owners willing to think outside the box,

I've been curious about this post and I can't find an easy answer - so I'll ask!

So, Im looking at tires all the way around. Right now, theres original F78/14s bias ply tires. Close to being OEM Im sure. So without measuring, Im guessing at a 14X6 rim?  I dont mind the 14s along with poverty caps on black or blue wheels.
. . . .

So suppose you wanted to make a really stealthy Buick sleeper and wanted to us the original poverty caps on steel wheels, but wanted 15" for a larger tire - is there any way to do that?

I did some quick searches, but nobody seems to make reproduction "plain jane" 15" steel wheels that you could paint to look like a 1960s car.  Are there steel wheels from donor cars that are 15" but would fit on our Buicks?

Like I said, just curious but I would be interested in knowing the answer one way or the other . .

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Im at a crossroad, and not sure which way to go... Im kinda partial, due to the "era" of the Special, and kinda building it like an early Daytona style car with short tires, level, and black wheels. Well, ad poverty caps for dress-up anyway. Theres the pro-stock look, and of course, the gasser look.
They all have something to say. I think for now due to budget constraints, Im gonna have to stick with the 14's with some decent skins, unless something really nice comes up for a set of 4 with tires; and that does happen. I search all the time. I am always thinking outside the box. I justwant to get this guy back on the road and pull a blast!      ws

[WkillGS]

.... Are there steel wheels from donor cars that are 15" but would fit on our Buicks?....

Sure! There was a list on V8 of which later cars had 15" x 8" plain steel wheels. 15 x 7 was much more common.

Summit has 15" steel wheels for about $30 each. Would give it a circle car look.
Or just hit the junkyards and see what you can find. There were lots of styled steel wheels used thru the 1980's that would fit.

[elagache]

Dear Bill, Walt, and mid-60s Buick owners curious about different looks,

.... Are there steel wheels from donor cars that are 15" but would fit on our Buicks?....

Sure! There was a list on V8 of which later cars had 15" x 8" plain steel wheels. 15 x 7 was much more common.

Summit has 15" steel wheels for about $30 each. Would give it a circle car look.
Or just hit the junkyards and see what you can find. There were lots of styled steel wheels used thru the 1980's that would fit.

Thanks!  It is one more bit of info to stick into my thinking cap!  While I know an awful lot about a particular rascally Buick wagon, there is plenty I can learn about the larger Buick world!

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Looks like I hafta play the race card. Drag race that is!  LOL... May switch over to Chevy rally wheels. A complete set of 5 wheels with caps and rings for 200.00 in better than driver quality. If I dont like them, I should be able to swap them around a little bit. So Im a sheeny! These are 15 X 7 and an FW code. Just a slight upgrade from a black wheel with out getting too ostentatious.
These can get the treatment and cure before mounting tires. I already have two 15" BFG / TA's from the 72 to burn up. ws