Buddy's Beauty - 65GS Hardtop

[WkillGS]

Just realized that the ID plate was never posted here...

....

Is there somewhere on this site to look these things up?
Digging around i always get distracted... 

There is a cowl plate decoder here:
https://65gs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/1965-Buick-VIN-plate.pdf

Since yours was built in Fremont, Calif, it doesn't include any info as to the options it has. The numbers you have in the ACC block are a manifest number for internal documentation at the Fremont plant, which is long lost.

There is a great '65 Olds 442 site that has some relevant info. Poke around, there is some great stuff there!
www.442bro.com

[Clatter]

Ah, man, thanks gentlemen for the wisdom.
I keep saying it, but it's very much appreciated.

That lady at SMS, she was more sure that code 159 had a saddle headliner than I've ever heard anyone more sure of anything before!
She even refused to send a fawn headliner material sample and instead sent saddle.
That's why they send samples, right?
Being a color-blind guy, good thing I'm married!
My wife gets another chance to be right! 

Getting a pile of stuff ready to go to powder coat.
Got a new gas tank here, and wondering if it should be done too?
So crusty, it's hard to tell.
Is it supposed to be black?
Almost looks like it stays in galvanize... 

[WkillGS]

Gas tank has a Terne coating, a Tin-Lead material which kinda has a galvanized look.
Clear coating it is prob an option, don't know if there would be adhesion issues tho.

[Jim]

Hi, heard of many problems with sms .got our interior  from ledgendary interior. Jim

[Loren At 65GS]

I've said this before, but it does warrant repeating. Between Legendary and PUI, I prefer Legendary covers and door panels. I have installed both brands and found the Legendary to be made more accurate to the originals.

  Loren

[Loren At 65GS]

Ah, man, thanks gentlemen for the wisdom.
I keep saying it, but it's very much appreciated.

That lady at SMS, she was more sure that code 159 had a saddle headliner than I've ever heard anyone more sure of anything before!
She even refused to send a fawn headliner material sample and instead sent saddle.
That's why they send samples, right?
Being a color-blind guy, good thing I'm married!
My wife gets another chance to be right! 

Getting a pile of stuff ready to go to powder coat.
Got a new gas tank here, and wondering if it should be done too?
So crusty, it's hard to tell.
Is it supposed to be black?
Almost looks like it stays in galvanize... 

 Here is a picture captured of a page in a 1965 dealer Features and Facts book I have.
 Take a look at the "Interior Color Coordination" area. Oh, geez it says a saddle interior has a fawn headliner.

  Loren

[Clatter]

Luckily, our car here is un-restored and has scraps of the interior remaining.

Doing homework, we decided on Legendary, and got their door panels and seat covers.
Had to go directly to them, as resellers like OGPI don't carry saddle.
It took many months, but their stuff came and looks great. 
They told me that they are using NOS material that they got in Flint to make the stuff
(crazy as that might sound, you would think it rotten by now).

Legendary sent headliner samples, but admitted they weren't super accurate.
Checking them, this is indeed true.

Supposedly, SMS has the best material, it's just that dealing with them can be painful.
Have a nightmare SMS story involving tens of thousands of dollars and many years I'll withhold telling here.
Suffice it to say they have accurate stuff, but unfortunately, they're the only game in town and they know it. 

The Saddle samples they send (if they do send samples) we'll just have to compare.
If we need fawn, then I'll order samples for one of these other color codes.
The lady there is a bluebird of golden sunshine and happiness.
Could picture her riding a unicorn. 
Guess dealing with irate people all day will do that to ya...

My hope is that maybe they have a headliner already in stock and we won't have to be waiting years,
Or calling the credit card company,
Or sending certified letters,
Or...

Otherwise,
We might try one of those Autozone headliners just because it's a cheap experiment.
Sometimes places will surprise you.

So....,
Who has the good carpet?
 

[WkillGS]

....
Otherwise,
We might try one of those Autozone headliners just because it's a cheap experiment.
Sometimes places will surprise you.

So....,
Who has the good carpet?
 

I took a look on Rockauto, they list a Fawn headliner in a Basket weave pattern (Is that correct?). It's Acme brand. I have no idea of the quality.

For carpet, ACC is pretty good.
ACC carpet is sold by many different vendors, so price and shipping costs vary widely. You can just buy a Chevelle/GTO/etc carpet set for more vendor options. It's a good item to buy locally due to shipping cost.

Trim Parts was also recommended by Jim Weise back in 2014. However I don't see carpet sets listed on their webpage anymore.

[Clatter]

Thanks again for the info.
Looking again at the color chart Loren posted,
Notice that Saddle isn't an option with Midnight Aqua(!)
Yet, our ID plate says otherwise, and this car is almost certainly unrestored.
Interesting... 

'gssizzler' posted in my 'new guy' thread the headliner was a tier grain pattern?
Not really sure what that means... 


Been reaching out to many vendors on the 'Parts Sources' thread:

Had great luck with Mitch Romanawski for center caps.

Horns are off at Gary Stienkellner, and he seems good.

Gas tank mat came from Patton Glade.
It's a nice part, but different that the original (see attached).
Not sure i really care, as you'll never see it.

Lares never answers the phone or e-mail.
No biggie, as Hector Carillo does pumps as well as steering boxes.
He answers the phone and seems like the right guy.

Not a word from Dan H. on lenses.
Messaged him here, on V8, sent emails twice...
Looks like we'll just get some off of ebay.

Was all excited to get a trunk mat from Hill Jenkins Interiors but never heard back.

Same with emblemagic.com; looks like they went the way of the Dodo.

Been really stoked with stuff from CARS.
Next pic - hood insulation in the correct color,
Buick letters for the hood made in USA. 
Got emblem inserts, and the emblem itself ready for the chromer.
The hood is officially 'done' save for bodywork and paint... 

Same with the rear trunk/tank area.
Backup lights, bumper/bolts, plate bracket, light, tank, straps, pad, filler, cap, etc.
It's all up in the attic and labeled for when the paint dries.

No real work done until this other car is out of my space,
but,
At least a couple of hours every day searching stuff out and following up.

While i haven't gotten everything, the least list is complete.

Once it comes time to really do metalwork and paint/body,
I'll not have time or space (or brain space  ) for distractions.

it will be really fun to dig all of this stuff out of the attic and start bolting it on one day.
Seems like 'cart before the horse', but this takes some real digging.

Back to buffing bus doors... Ugh. 

[cwmcobra]

Hi Steve,

A few comments:

- You are correct about the gas tank mat from Patton Glade. It's different but is never seen. That's what I used.
- Hector rebuilt my steering gear with a quicker ratio. Works great. I asked him to return it without paint and painted it myself.
- Strange that you haven't heard back from Dan H. Hope all is OK in his world.
- I have the reproduction woven trunk mat from Hill Jenkins. It doesn't have the rubber backing that the original did, so I also bought black felt from them and glued it to the back of the mat.

You're making good progress!

Chuck

[Clatter]

Man, i just love that nerdy stuff you can get new for these cars.

Flap for above the gas filler, even includes the right staples... 

[cwmcobra]

That's a great find. I wasn't aware those were reproduced!

That should be added to Parts Sources thread!

Chuck

[Clatter]

Slowly plugging along.
Nothing from SMS for samples or material ordered..

Been tearing apart interior stuff and bagging/tagging.
We'll spare y'all a bunch of pics.
The big factory manuals are great for their detail and old-school line drawings.
-But-
One thing i cannot find after digging and digging...

How does the dang console come free?

Other than the attachment screws in the rear compartment area,
Can't find any more.

Don't want to just go to randomly prying...

Anybody know the secret?

Please and thanks

[Clatter]

OK, check this out...
Tearing down front seats today right?

Up under one of the bases i found this odd spring.
Not really sure what that is, but wait... 

What's that little folded piece of paper?

Is that what I think it is?? 

[Loren At 65GS]

That looks like a door spring.
Nice find with the options paper.

 Now to answer your question about taking the console out.
You have to remove the plate that the shift lever slides in. Start by removing the knob. It simply unthreads from the shaft. Put the lever in the middle position and look at the back edge of the plate where the angled area is. There is a round retainer button. Push it in, it has a spring behind it. Push it in enough to lift the back of the shift plate up at an angle. Pull the plate back some and out it comes. There are two large head screws you now have access to. Remove those and the ones in the storage box area. The console should be ready to come out.

  Loren