Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[yachtsmanbill]

Strain, strain, strain, then a big Ahhhh! What a relief LOL.  After playing ring around the Rosie for the last 2 months, I bit the bullet and ordered a brand new billet fly wheel.  I manned up and called the mfgr. direct and got the 289.00 for 248.00 with free shipping. What a deal! These guys make the wheels that everyone sells.
  Picking up the 15" rally wheels Saturday and some other stuff due here when the USPS defrosts (LOL), and the best part? NO JURY DUTY tomorrow or Monday. They finally caught up with me after 45 years. Just hope I dont hafta sit fer a hangin' offence!   ws

https://americanpowertrain.com/

BIG Valentines day sale going on. Ask for Josh and tell him I sent ya!

[elagache]

Dear Bill and 65GS.com fans of buying stuff!! 

Strain, strain, strain, then a big Ahhhh! What a relief LOL.  After playing ring around the Rosie for the last 2 months, I bit the bullet and ordered a brand new billet fly wheel.

Pictures please!!  We love stuff that is nice and shiny! 

 

Picking up the 15" rally wheels Saturday and some other stuff due here when the USPS defrosts

Diito!! 

NO JURY DUTY tomorrow or Monday. They finally caught up with me after 45 years. Just hope I dont hafta sit fer a hangin' offence!

Bummer dude!    Indeed whatever it is I hope it ends quickly for you - you have many more important Buick things to do! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

You guys know that pics are a must, or it didnt happen LOL. Gonna ad some stuff to a parts wanted list. Please check that out too. This is becoming a labor of love!  Bill

[cwmcobra]

Bill, you have an email on the springs.  Sent today!

Chuck

[yachtsmanbill]

PM sent back Chuck! Thanks!!

So the pieces are falling together now! Temps skyrocketed to +14 here today, so it was T-shirtin' out in the shop. Cleaned a bunch of stuff, primed it and looked at brake line stuff. The whole 64 system is 3/16" with a single 1/4" from the MC. Hmmm. I just recieved a brake line junction from PrarieCanary on V8 and that double system is 3/16 to the front wheels, 1/4" to the back axle hose, and a double  5/16 from the MC to the block. I guess a new 1/4" pipe all the way back is in order. Probably a 3/8 fuel line while Im in there...

The crossmember was undercoated in 1964, so that took some MAPP torchin' to warm it up and scrape it clean before hitting it with the wheel. Got about 1/4 coffee can of crud off of it. The clutch fork is gonna look like new, especially with the new rubber boot wrapped around it coming next week.

Now we are gonna see if "somebody" is paying attention here. I was looking through some old classifieds and this guy needs some unobtanium pieces which I just happen to have. Since we cant post pics on PMs, Ill post them here. Next best thing to NOS!   ws

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick restorers,

So the pieces are falling together now! Temps skyrocketed to +14 here today, so it was T-shirtin' out in the shop.
. . . .

Oh my!   If you are in a T-shirt when it is 14? F, what are going to be wearing (or not) when it gets really hot next summer!!   

. . . . .
The crossmember was undercoated in 1964, so that took some MAPP torchin' to warm it up and scrape it clean before hitting it with the wheel. Got about 1/4 coffee can of crud off of it.
. . . . .

I dunno' I know that coffee is expensive these days, but are you sure you want to put that stuff in your coffee maker?    

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Gotta use a percolator pot pal! No grounds haha... Summer time means a la nuda!      ws

[WkillGS]

Brake lines.... the front-rear line was 3/16" on 64-66 and 1/4" on 67. I can't explain why they did this as it doesn't change the physics of it....same pressure, same amount of fluid needed to activate rear brake cylinders, etc. Maybe the larger diameter and volume was less likely to clog from built-up contaminants. Whatever, they did it.

The rear brake hose is different between the early/late so be prepared. IIRC, one has a tee at the end for the two lines on the rear, the other screws into a brass tee.

When I did my red 66, I added front discs and a roll control. I used the original distribution block for the front, and plumbed the rear into the new prop valve..
Bent my own lines, being conscious to avoid and up/down loops that might trap air. Here's a pic:


 

[yachtsmanbill]

I sure am glad to see that pointy sheet metal screw on that column clamp ; that had me wondering here! Ive got some scrapes on the back of the hands from that one!
 So it looks like a trip to NAPA (maybe I can get game boy to look me up some fittings!) and try to get some inverted flare reducer bushings. I can handle the 3/16 all the way back with the standard sized hose at the diff. It would be just my luck that the frame mount would be a different sized hole! Maybe the MC will have a double sized outlet (1/4 & 5/16) outputs to match the block.

I know my '72 runs a 1/4 to the rear, so there must be 2 different hoses for the years back there as well. I need a few bleeders as well. The 2 fronts came out OK yesterday but were plugged solid. I did round one off  a tad; it was pucker string tight, and I didnt have a bleeder wrench. DANG! Put them back in loose, with a smidge of never seize on the threads, but thinking Ill replace them both today. The new (not RB) MC and hoses should be here any day too. Lousy weather and PMS counter girl at Crackauto in town.

I just grabbed this, but its what i need to accomplish... from a GTO forum...Its def from In Line Tube but is almost exactly like the iron unit off the 67.   ws

[WkillGS]

When making your own lines, you'll discover some of the tube nuts are weird sizes. For example, a 3/16" line could have a tube nut with the standard 3/8" threads, or a larger 1/2" threads. I don't think NAPA carries the odd sizes but a specialty supplier such as Inline of Right stuff will. Here's a page from the Right Stuff Catalog
https://www.getdiscbrakes.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/pdf/RightStuffCatalog/RS%20Catalog%20FINAL.pdf

[schlepcar]

Hey Walt,
Is that a polite way of saying "Don't use adapters!". Thanks for posting that I did not know they were available. I had to scrounge some used ones,blast them and reuse them on my friends chevelle(sorry to use the c word)....Hopefully this will save others some time and avoid the dreaded pile of fittings.This 64 project is moving right along and makes me think I should be working on mine.  Dan

[WkillGS]

Haha!  Adapters are ok, but there's another seal that can leak, or it adds extra hardware that may not fit as well or become unsightly if you overdo it. And not everyone wants to do their own tubing flares.
I like to make my own lines.... buy a 25 ft roll of tubing from NAPA and either bend to match originals, or custom bend to fit. You can even buy the spring type tubing guards like the originals. I haven't ventured into using stainless tubing yet.... that's a challenge to flare properly.

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks for that link Walt! I knew I had it somewhere but havent seen it for a while. Sucks when stuff gets virtually lost eh? Its now in my faves under the "BUICK" file haha. Right now I am gonna source some of the piping locally (saves shipping) and since I bend my own (nice set of Parker-Hannifin benders) I can save on shipping, plus give some locals the business. Lord knows we need that here! The job wont be too bad except for under the car,and even then its due for cleaning and paint. Maybe the new MC and hoses will get here Monday. Bad round of weather held them up. That and the PMS gal at the motor parts store put the "curse" on them LOL.

So today I picked up my wheels. The guy wouldnt budge off of the 200.00. He's got a badass 1969 Firebird, redone in all 1969 Camaro sheetmetal with a 496 and Tremec 5 speed with a 411 12 bolt. All in BLACK and looks great!  Pretty good for a 72 YO guy! I guess theres still hope afterall. I need to finish the Special before I kack. Wheels are above driver quality maybe 20%. Not perfect, but I am my own worst judge. Theyll do me fine. They were on the 'bird so the guy knew them to be straight. The trip to GB was 40 miles in country fog from the warm (30F) air on the frozen tundra. Had <1 mile viz.

Got home and unloaded the silver bullet and put all the boxed wheels into the shop. 5 wheels, 5 caps, and 8 rings. Mail came in and Pat brought out a new rubber for us to enjoy. Slipped right into the hole and was securely fit by the rim (Hmmm!) Just had a flashback LOL.
Also unloaded a pair of nice rear springs and boxed arms. Thanks Steve... I havent forgot ya! Gonna hoot it, shoot it, and goot it tomorrow. Theres places to go and people, er parts, to paint.

Stopped by harbor fright and they replaced my LED flashlight. Brighter than heck with magnets all over the place on it for hands free operation...

So for the imaginationarilly impaired, I pulled out the ol' Brownie for some pics.  ws

[yachtsmanbill]

Just a few more pics to bore yooz guys. The Specials' alternator is a 37 amp job. I thought it was a 42A unit. Anyone need it? Shes a little stiff from sitting for 40 years, but will probably spin right up!

Primer dried nice on the crossmember. DO NOT TOUCH until dry is my motto. The original bell housing is a testament to time as well. The paint is Bright Zinc spray with Clear (3-4 coats) to cover it... no fingerprints!  ws

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick exterior decorators, . . .

So today I picked up my wheels. The guy wouldnt budge off of the 200.00.
. . . .

Okay so they look very nice, but there is that distasteful matter of that "Chevrolet Motor Division" on the caps.  So are you planning to paint out this unfortunate detail?  I might be a bit hard to hide since the lettering is pressed into the cap.

Stopped by harbor fright and they replaced my LED flashlight. Brighter than heck with magnets all over the place on it for hands free operation...

Yet LED lights are amazing - perhaps a bit too much so.  Definitely don't look directly into the LEDs as they will hurt your eyes!

So for the imaginationarilly impaired, I pulled out the ol' Brownie for some pics.  ws

I'm not imaginationarilly impaired, I'm just addicted to pics! . . . . 

Thanks for taking the time to pull out the Brownie! 

Cheers, Edouard