Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[gssizzler]

If you have a long enough cable run it around the bell housing! They did this on the 65 /66 skylark gs
Cars that used the three speed ford transmission !

[yachtsmanbill]

Are these secured by the 1/2' trans to bellhousing bolts?    ws

[gssizzler]

Yes with small clamp style holders that go around the cable! I have made close duplicates out of believe it or not strapping steel like the kind  used on pallets and when things are shipped! It can be formed and is like spring steel! I will see if I can post the page from the manual which shows the clips!

[yachtsmanbill]

Cool! I think Ive got some plastic or rubber coated units left over from my boat work!

On the glove box lock. So far Ive probably got >5 hours in on this guy. I got really good at taking it out and apart and re-installing it. As far as I can tell, there is a problem with the mechanism. After totally putting all the stuff together it just wont latch. On top of that, theres two small roll pins that act as an axle or trunnion for the spring loaded latch to swivel on that are loose as a goose. Those actually fell out a few times manipple-ating the door to latch. Ive also made several adjustments on the door itself and the latch on same to no avail.

 I even printed out that screen shot from the assembly manual and followed it to a T!

So this is a shout out if anyone has one for sale, heres a buyer. Ill put my tumbler cylinder in so the keys are good. Send the cavalry! Any advice is appreciated !   Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

Ordered my 83 inch speedo cable today and then got on it (the work that is!). The new el-cheapo tubing bender arrived today as well. This guy was *.00 with free shipping. Theres a million on ebay up to 40.00 for the same thing. I expected the handle to bust, but it performed flawlessly. BONER the dog approved it too!
 The motor is still out till next week, so that gives me the go ahead to get a ton of smalls done. Got both front drums cleaned up and packed the wheel bearings and installed all. Even tried on a new shoe on the front and thats all good.  Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

So while rummaging around in the bolt cans, I found the antenna base bezel and plastic nut. How does the mast attach? On to Hurst shifters, got the one from a member here yesterday, and its decidedly different that the one Ive got with the T-10 and Comp + shifter. Necessity is the mother of invention eh? I can cut, drill and weld, but WHAT is the difference between the two?

Shoe fit good and after a full front end lube job, no squeaks LOL. It even lines up good with the infrastructure. The shifter is the typical square peg in the round hole and its doable... ws

[elagache]

Thanks for the updates Bill! 

So while rummaging around in the bolt cans, I found the antenna base bezel and plastic nut. How does the mast attach?

There is a flange on the mast that wider than the black nut.  So you simply screw the nut and that secures the mast.  What do you plan to do for a mast?

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Sorry ! I was in a bit of a rush and did post the "find" today on your ebay thred. Heres what I got today out of the bolt can...   Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

The other day my new $17.00,  83 inch speedo cable showed up. One end screwed onto the speedo and the other end went onto the trans.  All I need is the motor and trans in place to fill in the gap. I should have the motor and heads back tis week to bolt together and set in place for a mock up for bolt alignment etc. before assembly, Thats the rear trans mount crossmember location and the new T/A motor pads. An empty block and a trans will be much easier to manippleate than a complete unit.

Finished up on the full front part of the new brake lines and M/C job. Finally mastered my new/used $5.00 flaring kit from a garage sale. NOW, I can make all my own lines. Just never had a reason to make anything other than off the shelf before.

Got a ton of smalls cleaned and or painted off the firewall, and cleaned that before a sample paint job went on. Its no longer the WW Diplomat Blue, but rather a Cobalt Blue with a clear coat. The base looked terrible, but the clear made it pop! Wife concurs, so thats the route Im going.

Got a long road ahead, but its still being "fun". Just wished the budget matched the manifest!   Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

Just so ya know, this isnt yer dads flaring tool LOL. Mastered this function and on to bigger and better things. Working my way back as I go. Just an FYI... I grabbed the vise-grips for a perfect extraction!    Bill

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick owners who like an engine bay that spic and span,

Looking really good Bill!     So how did you get the engine bay builder's plate to turn out so clean and shiny?     That certainly is a neat touch! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks Edouard and fellow Buick purists that appreciate the fine touches! That plate is aluminum, as I am sure you realize, so its just as easy to damage/destroy as make look good. In Gods good graces, I dont know why the factory insisted on painting them "liberally" back then. My '72 on top of the cowl was merely dusted with topcoat,/primer stuff and was a breeze.

This one took a finesse touch with a propane torch. Do not even let the pain bubble (a heat gun would probably do it too!) but heat it until the paint  becomes "plastic". A few attempts with a BRASS wire tooth brush horizontally and then a few with the brush on the vertical and it turned out pretty nice. I covered it with 2" blue tape and trimmed it out with a razor blade befor the paint. Nicked the one corner which I may fix it or just let the "judges" PICK it off haha...   Bill

[Loren At 65GS]

 Hey Bill,

 Looks like you have most of the antenna parts there. The plastic nut can be polished to new appearance so it is nice and shiny. I've done a couple of those and parking lamp lenses on my buffing wheel.
 There used to be a reproduction mast available, but I wasn't able to find it again.
 
 That double faring tool kit was a really good deal. I seem to recall paying $40-$50 some 30 years ago for mine. I've got another tool that really makes beveling the outside of the tubing easy and quick. Bought it from Eastwood. Here's a picture of this neat tool.
 Loren

[yachtsmanbill]

Ive been impressed with a lot of Eastwood specialty stuff for sheet metal and such, and looking at this, I thought it would be electric and run on 2 double AA batteries, well 100.00 lithium ion batts anyways! When necessary I use a 60* countersink on the drill motor. You do need to be especially cautious of cleaning debris out of the tube when done. The cutter in my kit is an Imperial Eastman which really leaves a clean, ready to flare end. A  C'sink bump will help to start the flare however.
  Im getting a ton of satisfaction out of making my own stuff for sure. Ive always used lengths "off the shelf" tubing and can now perform specialized installs from bulk tubing! The benders are all USA made except the multi size red chinaman unit whuch is for 5/16: and has so far worked OK.  Bill

[Loren At 65GS]

Nope, no batteries needed lol
 I've used a file and reamer in the past, but this little tool does a much nicer and quicker job. I imagine there are less expensive units that do the same thing out there too. Double flares for brake lines definitely take a little practice to make correctly. Good tools make the job easier, quicker and even fun sometimes.

  Loren