Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[elagache]

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

First time in 39 years under her own steam; literally! Made about 12 blocks and the temp gage was getting pretty warm.

. . . . Silly boy! That's an internal combustion engine!  You've been watching too many Big Boy Loco videos!! . . . . .

Seriously - congratulations!!   

. . . . I highly recommend replacing the gas tank with a fresh one.  . . . .

I'll second that motion.  During Biquette's second downtime for engine repairs, I did the best I could to siphon all the gas out and even so, the EFI fuel pump failed and the gas sending unit is damaged.  Replacing the tank will probably save you a bunch of hassles later on.

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

I cant (read: wont) argue a valid point. Right now its just not in the cards, however, next winter when the trunk floor gets replaced, the tank will too. Just cant do it right now. Id be surprised if this guy gets 500 miles on it this summer. Most of the car driving is for local shows and cruise nights.

I did go junking today and got 4 OEM hood bumpers off a '65 for 2.00 Two broke upon removal but then thats what glue is for; "now". Gotta live for today fellas. Tomorrow may be too late.

So the 65 guy sent me on a 10 mile wild goose chase.  If youve never been to a 100 year old junk yard in the Wisconsin bush, yer missing something! Glad it was before the poison ivy sprouts LOL.  Gonna go back in the fall when I am a bit more prepared. Just to set the mood, it was 40F and misting.   Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

And a few for posterity!   Bill

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

. . . .
So the 65 guy sent me on a 10 mile wild goose chase.  If youve never been to a 100 year old junk yard in the Wisconsin bush, yer missing something! Glad it was before the poison ivy sprouts LOL.  Gonna go back in the fall when I am a bit more prepared. Just to set the mood, it was 40F and misting. 
. . . . .

Thanks for sharing the pictures!  We don't have anything like this nearby.  Land is just to valuable.

. . . . . But you didn't take two important pictures!  . . . .

The first of your second batch of photos there is wagon behind the Roadmaster - which wagon was it?

On the third picture of that same second batch - what's after that RV?  Could there be a 1965 24 foot Airstream Tradewind in immaculate condition that could be had for a song? . . . . 

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Looks like Ill hafta go back and take some more pics! That wagon didnt strike me as being a Buick, but there was sooo much stuff that half of the place I felt like a mountain goat LOL.  What RV are you referring to? The Class A motor home, or the FORDSON tractor LOL?

So this long weekend, I had a HS pal come up here to fish, and he stays on the BOATEL.. He loves it!

Waiting for the new gas tank and sender. Gonna run a new 3/8" frame pipe, got a new temp gage installed, glove box is back in, 3rd NEW master cylinder is bled and in... just usual stuff while he brown truck makes its' way north...  Bill

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

. . . . .
Waiting for the new gas tank and sender. Gonna run a new 3/8" frame pipe, got a new temp gage installed, glove box is back in, 3rd NEW master cylinder is bled and in... just usual stuff while he brown truck makes its' way north...

Thanks for the photo update!  What is the donor car for the air cleaner?  Assuming of course you know!  It looks vaguely familiar.

I suppose the last photo is your restored gas cap.  It was in much better shape than it appeared on the earlier picture!  That's one more item you can cross off your do-to list!

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

That air filter came from my Buick engine farmer guy... most of his engines came out of 1970 & up big cars. Im a bit of a non air filter expert but this one may have been off of a 430; the PCV inlet is just to the back of the horn, pointing towards the front of the DS (port side LOL) valve cover with maybe a center cover oil filler? My XGS has the 455 covers with the filler up front and the vent at the rear.

The gas cap cleaned up well, and is one of those things that a camera exaggerates the finish on. In yer hand it looks fine and performs as designed. Picked up a 25 foot coil of new gas line and a steel inline filter for the new tank job. Rest of today is R&R from the weekend LOL...   Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

So now the nightmare begins. New trank showed up just now and of course, its damaged. Waiting for a response from the seller. The repair is gonna cost more than the tank. Bets on whether they refund the cost and let me repair it?  Whatcha tink? Wun Long Dong got me again.

I fully expected this; a tank I ordered last year from rot-auto for a '88 T bird I was flipping came the same way. Taiwanoodle as well. I had to repair that one too. JESUS H. CHRIST... Is it just me or the whole world going to hell in a chinese handbasket ???     Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

So. Did i jump the gun? I called and of course they are an hour ahead. Im on CST and they are on EST. I left a message and said Id call tomorrow.  I also sent an email with a few pics and was IMMEDIATELY given a full refund. Another salesman sent me an email and said that FPAP (DBA First Place Auto parts) doesnt sell tanks, but trimparts.com does. Same address and same phone number. The ebay seller was in fact FPAP. I guess Ill be soldering tomorrow with some chinesium steel. YUMMMM. Cant wait. If this were in california Id be going for chemo next week.    ws

[Loren At 65GS]

 Always a bummer when parts get damaged in transit.  Looks like it can be repaired though.

  Loren

[TrunkMonkey]

It's how my Spectra tank arrived. Took the MAP gas and solder and 5 minutes later, it was happy.

[yachtsmanbill]

NEED DETAILS! Solid 60/40? Acid core? How was the fit up? This one is "OK" but you know how solder can run and run. Ive also got a giant electric iron plus old copper irons. Sweating copperpipe is a breeze but I hate soldering dirty steel. Advice??

Its clean and new; I can also MIG it...    Bill

[Loren At 65GS]

 It's just like soldering copper plumbing. I've used the solid solder and acid flux paste. The first one I did was an NOS Chevelle tank I found 30 years ago to put in my GS. The neck is different between the two . So I removed the Chevelle neck from the new tank and sweat in an original Buick neck. Mapp gas is the best to use for this task in my opinion.
 Be sure the neck is at the correct angle though before you fix it. Looking at the gap, I would suspect that it is out of alignment a bit.

  Good luck!
  Loren

 PS. Did you ever come up with the horns you were looking for ?

[TrunkMonkey]

^^^
What that guy up there said.
 

[elagache]

Dear Bill, Michael, Loren, and mid-60s Buick fuel management specialists,

So now the nightmare begins. New trank showed up just now and of course, its damaged.
. . . . .

Bummer dude!    

Always a bummer when parts get damaged in transit.  Looks like it can be repaired though.

Now that you have the instructions do let us know if you can save the patient through surgery!

Cheers, Edouard