65 hardtop gs restoration

[gssizzler]

So I have owned this one 33 years! Lots of ups and downs in life! Way past time to get her on the road!
Going to try and post pictures with captions with Loren’s help! For those who want to follow along and a preview I have a post on the V8 Buick site under members rides so far!

[cwmcobra]

Looking forward to following along!

[elagache]

Dear Jon, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

So I have owned this one 33 years! Lots of ups and downs in life! Way past time to get her on the road!
. . .

I know how life can get in the way of taking care of your car!  I'm glad that you are getting enough time to give your car some 'luv!  Indeed as Chuck proposes, please keep us posted on your progress!

Edouard

[GS66]

Glad to hear this!

[gssizzler]

Thanks guys! Trying to have a little order to post! We picked up a Eastwood rotisserie I went and got it directly from the store in Alsip IL! I had tried to get ahold of others in the area but they didn’t call or  text me back! They lost MY business!!!! And any future business!!! I had an excellent time at the store ,guys working there are super helpful! And car guys! One of the guy was even working on his 55 Chevy at the store which was on the rotisserie that was purchased! Got to see it in action! So some pictures!

[gssizzler]

So I had built a frame/ rolling chassis out for it in 1991-92 but it was from a 66 GS ! Found it local and cheap! But I sold my convertible project that I wanted to build but kept the really nice 65 frame to build!
Also a picture of the current state before she went on rotisserie!

[gssizzler]

Pictures on the rotisserie ready for work

[gssizzler]

Out of order but dug these pictures out of disassembly in 1998 or 1999 pictures of pictures! You get an idea of the rust! Frame was broke in half back by the right rear control arm with big chunks falling out! I should have crushed it , but I bought it with dad ,lost him 2002! Numbers matching , early small badge car , pro tect o plate, trim shop tag , 4 speed with power brakes! It is the only one that I know of in this combo! Not saying it is rare or special or anything . There were probably many built this way!? But not many of are loved 65’s left! I have been buying working on , researching these cars for over 35 years now! What a journey! I have met so many lifelong friends from this hobby! A fun side note I talked to the original owner’s Daughter in 2022!

[cwmcobra]

Thanks for the update Jon. But pictures don't seem to be working. None were attached. Hope you can solve that!

Chuck

[GS66]

That sure looks great with the Cragar wheels in the second picture!

[gssizzler]

CWMCOBRA,  Loren is helping with posting pictures! (Thanks so much)! I will try and get them up with posts in order if possible! GS66 the Cragers were old non unilug beveled fronts and deep dish rears with poly glass Goodyears that would really smoke! I laid 50 feet of marks in road once!, boy did dad get pissed! lol
I had a vibration when I first got the car? It ended up being rear wheel spacers! They were not really needed I think the prior owners liked the look? Anyways took them off and they went to the scrap! No more vibration!

[gssizzler]

So my buddy Randy helped me get this thing straightened out! Fixing a lot of the restoration shops messes! I can’t pay to be so disappointed again!! I can only blame myself if it doesn’t get improved over what it was when I first got it! Which it already is improving! Nice solid floors and trunk! No noises from the broken rusty frame and dash that the spot welds were broken loose! Here are some early pictures when I first started on the work! Used an original floor out of another gs! When I first started on this car the nice floor pans we have now weren’t made! Just really crappie patches!

[elagache]

Thank you Jon for getting the photos straightened out with Loren's help and allowing us to follow along with your restoration!

Edouard

[gssizzler]

So things to fix are , were! Front and rear window corners, front window channel indents so the A pillar fit! The repo replacement front channel didn’t have the right indentations so we heated them up and corrected this!

[gssizzler]

Next were the toe boards and front floor seem ! Prior restoration work had a strap piece on this seem which we removed! Started with the right side. Also had some repair to the kick panel area where the floor mounts!