Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[elagache]

Dear Dan, Chuck, Bill, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

The ones that CARS have listed are what I used

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-1975-Buick-Hood-to-Fender-Bumper-Narrow-HFB610/182153008715?fits=Year%3A1965%7CModel%3ASkylark&epid=665964342&hash=item2a692a564b:g:8FEAAOSw7FRWZc-f:sc:USPSFirstClass!48658!US!-1

My bumpers from Fusick will arrive on Thursday.  I'll post a comparison with the originals.

I have these CARS bumpers coming my way as we speak.  I'll be interested to see if they are close enough to be usable or not.  Perhaps the Fusick bumpers won't be as much of a pain to install.

. . . . The other biggy is the dang radiator hoses.  . . .

Sorry Bill, your setup is so unique I think you'll have to go through some trial end error.  Perhaps Michael can give you some advice once more?

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Got the hose thing figgered out... I got a universal (ribbed) lower that barely touches the oil filter, and sectioned (removed) a 2" chunk outa the upper and placed a PVC hose coupling in place with 2 clamps. It'll suffice for this year, and then I have a model to go by. Theres even an "arch" in it to clear the fan by about 3-4". Ran the wiring harness across the core support and found out I have all 4 headlamps working. Have to wiggle some plugs; just fine tuning. No front signals yet, the bumper isnt on, however the taillights work, signals and brake lights too. The BL's only work with the key on... a true FM. Even the license plate light works!

Ran another fuel line to the edelhoser.  I wasn't happy with the steel one rubbing on the HEI, so I trimmed a 6" nipple in steel off the pump and went hose from there. Also pulled the HEI out and ruff timed the motor. Its either good or 180 off. Pats gonna bump the starter for me tomorrow while I have my finger in the hole. YIKES! Also installed the driver quality front spears on the fenders. Gonna get some chinaman ventiports and stick them on. Filled the power steering pump with juice.  Need to top it off after a run.

Think Im gonna bypass the heater core for now. Budget is depleted ;-((  . Gonna try and put a few gallons of gas in the tank tomorrow to look for leaks. I have all 12 fingers crossed!!  The book sez the cooling system capacity is 19-1/2 quarts. Seems like a lot.

Now for the nagging question; should the first ride include a smokey burnout the length of my new concrete driveway??? NOT!  Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

Busy, busy, busy... Doctors stuff this week for both of us, and tonight and sat. and Sun. Pats going to a 20 hour motorcycle safety class to get her license. Up here you need a drivers license for up to a 100cc scooter, and she has a 150, so thats an MC endorsement. Im good with that, since Ive had mine for 45 years.

Got the hoses figured out. Theres good fan clearance, and minimal strain. Tomorrow MAY be the day. Ill share a MPG if it happens!

Today we got the BAD LAD outa storage. Five seconds of cranking without setting  the choke, and a few pumps, we were off to the races. The chopper was on the charger while we ran the '72 home. Got back in a half hour and the basturd wouldnt start. Dummy me, I left the key on while we were gone from the previous start attempt, and fried the points. Im guessing, but they were pretty corroded from sitting all winter with the battery in it. I had the key "ON" and moved the points with a screw driver and got a flash outa the #1 pipe. AH HA! Fire. Just like "Flight of the Phoenix".

With no fingernail file handy, I scrounged through the back of my truck and found a well used piece of 320 sandpaper. A quick rub down in situ and she lit right off. Pat couldnt believe it. I always kid her that I am a pretty competent mechanic. She was ready to go home and get the trailer. Curses! Foiled again!!

Both toys are home in shop "A" while our newer vehicles sleep under the stars for the summer.

Both Barbies needed to wipe the sleep from their eyes and waved to the on-lookers that gave me thumbs up on the way home.

Tomorrow is gas tank testing, anti-freeze holding, and a few electrical connectors, and then, maybe a test fire at Los Alamos. Had Pat bump the starter for #1 compression, which proved accurate timing mark at TDC. I guess I got lucky the other day; odds were 2 to 1 LOL.  Sweet dreams kiddies. Oh, BTW, the 72's hood bumpers are WAY wider than the Gen I parts.   Bill

[gssizzler]

 Making very good progress on the gx 455!

[yachtsmanbill]

Today may just be the day... If the gas tank isnt holed!   Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

I was "About to embark on a great crusade" this morning... sure turned into that! Put 7 gallons of fresh booze free premium in the tank, no leaks (!), and the smell of the old stuff was horrendous! A few squirts with the turkey baster down the carb and she fired, but the pump would not move fuel. The worst  thoughts came to mind like dropping the tank, new line to the rear or a new fuel pump. Hmmm. I strung up the old Model T test tank on a wire with a hose to the carb. I also put a gage on the pump discharge line. VOILA!

The pressure held steady at 3 lbs. for a few minutes. Then all of a sudden it was at 6 lbs. I took the gage off and the hose was wet. I reconnected it to the filter and we were off to the races. Oil held steeady at about 60 ish and temp was around 180, and a tad low on antifreeze. Fine tuning again.

Barbequed some chicken thighs on the Weber Grill with some peas and wine. Yumm. "Twas a good day. Just a few minor leaks to address.   Bill

https://youtu.be/NqWvVroXJm4

[cwmcobra]

Great progress Bill.  Off to the races next weekend??

 

Chuck

[yachtsmanbill]

This is from the other day... WhataBuickweek!!!   Bill

https://youtu.be/Oswjvmf17Rw

[cwmcobra]

Sounds like she's a keeper....both of them!! 

[yachtsmanbill]

All THREE! Especially Pat!! The new single wire chinalternator was putting out 14.6 volts too! Cleaning shop tomorrow...

On the hood bumpers; for the record, these are the 1972 style. Probably OEM...  Bill

[elagache]

Congratulations Bill!!   

You've had a great weekend! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks Ed! Im still finishing the pro-logue to Mein Kampf II. I did get the tags transferred for a measly 5.00 today. THAT in itself was a shocker!

So now I am cleaning up the front bumper before installing it, and of course I need to pull the signals apart and clean them etc. I find one has a broken 1157 clear bulb and the base stuck in the plug. Hmm. Someone has been here before me! The two spring loaded contacts on the wires that secure the bulb are stuck in the down (compressed) position. I managed to twist the fitted rubber boot off the back of the housing. The housing is the ground BTW. The little black part that secures the contacts' indexing is busted. Its all apart now, but some one here had a repair method to use a new socket and replace the small indexing disc ( 3/4" diameter with two 1/8" holes for indexing). Theres also a part that extends through the housing to keep all the stuff timed correctly.

Who or what was the fix on this?  I hate to take a hole saw and cut a new hole for a grounded socket. Please send the cavalry!  Bill


And heres the link...

http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=1090.msg5989#msg5989

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick electricians,

So now I am cleaning up the front bumper before installing it, and of course I need to pull the signals apart and clean them etc. I find one has a broken 1157 clear bulb and the base stuck in the plug. Hmm. Someone has been here before me! The two spring loaded contacts on the wires that secure the bulb are stuck in the down (compressed) position. I managed to twist the fitted rubber boot off the back of the housing. The housing is the ground BTW. The little black part that secures the contacts' indexing is busted. Its all apart now, but some one here had a repair method to use a new socket and replace the small indexing disc ( 3/4" diameter with two 1/8" holes for indexing). Theres also a part that extends through the housing to keep all the stuff timed correctly.

Who or what was the fix on this?  I hate to take a hole saw and cut a new hole for a grounded socket. Please send the cavalry!

I'm guessing you need to replace the contacts part?  Here is a picture of the old and "new" and I repaired Biquette's:



The replacement sockets I found were at NAPA auto parts (and probably most others.)  Here is the link to the NAPA website:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NW_787117

The NAPA part comes in a metal housing that I discarded and only kept the part I needed.



I reconditioned the boots as best I could because they allow the wires to slide more easily when replacing a bulb.  I replaced the old contact with the new and soldered that to the original wiring.  I then carefully protected everything with heat shrink tubing.  This is what I ended up with before installation:



Is that enough to get you unstuck?  I have still more pictures if need be!

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

RIGHTO! I used the #'s from the link above from an earlier post. These were 3.29 each and just a little different but the guts were identical. The dang 1157 bulbs were over 6.00 for a pair!   I dont know how in the world the chinaman got 5/16 X 1/2" translated into 7.87345645474030mm X 15.937635345324mm and made a perfect fit.

Even the contact position is correct. The lenses have been scrubbed with some hot water and Dawn soap and are hung by the fireplace with care, in hopes that the Buick saint soon will be there. The amber inserts look like BRAND NEW. I almost felt like tossing the amber inserts and using an amber bulb a la 1970-72 GS stuff. The skylarks used an amber lense and  the GS was clear. 442's and SS chevelles did the same trick. Just a touch-o-trivia.

Thanks for getting back so quick on this Ed! I knew I read the post regarding this some time back and was again, in panic mode, then found the thred. Thanks to all the Buick people here its a breeze!

So the bumper was cleaned, primed and painted aluminum on the INSIDE to camouflage the poor condition from Wisconsin salt. The outside looks "pretty fair".  Tomorrow is an SOS pad with new lights and bolted on. Maybe a first ride after lunch.   Thanks again!   Bill

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick "luminaries" . . . . .

RIGHTO! I used the #'s from the link above from an earlier post. These were 3.29 each and just a little different but the guts were identical.

I'm glad you got that sorted out!  Once you know where to get the replacement part it is a straightforward repair.

The dang 1157 bulbs were over 6.00 for a pair!   

When you get ambitious for some detail oriented stuff, supposedly you can find LED replacements that are actually generating the same beam.  It is on my do-to list.  LEDs will be gentler on your parking light lenses.

So the bumper was cleaned, primed and painted aluminum on the INSIDE to camouflage the poor condition from Wisconsin salt. The outside looks "pretty fair".  Tomorrow is an SOS pad with new lights and bolted on. Maybe a first ride after lunch.   Thanks again!   Bill

You are most welcome!    Glad you are getting close to growling da' pavement!  Do let us know and by all means post pictures!

Cheers, Edouard