Saving a 65 GS 3 speed

[red65gs]

Thanks, Bob. Next steps are removing radiator support and then pulling engine/transmission. Working my way toward removing the z-bar bracket and the equalizer bar bracket to put on the new frame.

[GS66]

Good job!

[GranSportSedan]

Thanks, Bob. Next steps are removing radiator support and then pulling engine/transmission. Working my way toward removing the z-bar bracket and the equalizer bar bracket to put on the new frame.

you're making great progress. the end result will make it all worthwhile.

[elagache]

Dear Don, Bob, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Congratulations on the progress!  The car is looking better already.

I couldn't help but imagine what this car would be going through if it could think.  It was clearly going to rust away and all of sudden it is being saved!  If it could speak it would be certainly expressing a lot of gratitude!

Keep up the good work!

Cheers, Edouard 

[cwmcobra]

Good progress Don.  Enjoy the disassembly process and remember, you can never have too many pictures when it comes time to put it back together.  And have lots of Zip Locs on hand as well as some wire tags!

Enjoy the journey!

Chuck

[35chevcoupe]

Good work Don . Its always nice to see progress in the winter months . Once you get the car disassembled a little bit further I'll have a few questions for you . Keep up the good work .

[red65gs]

Thanks for all the tips and encouragement! I'm careful to look for any scraps of paper documentation as I disassemble but no luck so far. I'll be happy to answer any questions that I can.

[red65gs]

I've been making some good progress lately. I have all the seats out and carpet now. the floor sheet metal is very bad but the bright spot is that the rear floor is fairly solid. The front floor and toe boards will have to be replaced. The 3 speed boot looks very different than a four speed boot. The 3 speed boot doesn't have the outer ring bezel to screw down and the shape is not exactly oval on the underside.

[red65gs]

A photo of the outer rocker, inner rocker and frame on drivers side. Lot's of metal work to be done. That new frame will be fantastic.

[WkillGS]

I've been making some good progress lately. I have all the seats out and carpet now. the floor sheet metal is very bad but the bright spot is that the rear floor is fairly solid. The front floor and toe boards will have to be replaced. The 3 speed boot looks very different than a four speed boot. The 3 speed boot doesn't have the outer ring bezel to screw down and the shape is not exactly oval on the underside.

Don, that kinda looks like the boot in my (no console) '66 GS..... it's the one on the left. One on the right is the lower 'with console' boot that is avail as a repo. Mark once posted a different version of what we think is the early 65 boot. When was your car built?

[cwmcobra]

Walt, your original looks a lot like the repro boot I put in the Verde Howitzer with a 4-speed.  It was the closest thing i could find for a non-console boot.  It's a kit from Fusick, part no. SS6661KIT.  They didn't sell the boot by itself, but after receiving the kit and trimming the boot to match the correct trim ring, it fit nicely.  Perhaps an option for the 3-speed as well.

 

Chuck

[WkillGS]

I bought one of the Fusick boots as well. It's bigger than the earlier boot but does have the same design ('cept for the rectangular shift handle vs round).

[cwmcobra]

While it's true that the Fusick boot has a rectangular shape, it is very pliable and when installed on my round shifter it almost perfectly conformed to the round shape.

[red65gs]

Thanks guys! That is very good information. Sounds like Fusick is the way to go. Walt mine is a 3rd week of April build and a Flint built car.

[red65gs]

I found some markings on the LH side while disassembling. Looks like 22, I know it's hard to see from photos. even in person that first 2 is very faint.