65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Other Buicks and Years => Station Wagons => Topic started by: elagache on January 02, 2016, 11:32:49 AM
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Dear fans of adventurous 1965 Buick longroofs, . . . . . .
I think I've got this new year's resolutions stuff licked. I'll just have my wagon make new year's resolutions instead of me! :laughing7:
This year, my trusty 1965 Buick Special wagon made two resolutions:
- Get out and exercise more.
- Get herself more "educated." . . . . .
Since she was running for only about 6 weeks of 2015, she won't have any problem keeping her first resolution. Moreover, when you have an engine like this:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-Kw9KNJ3/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20starboard%20midway%20front%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-Kw9KNJ3/A)
You certainly don't want it to get "flabby" because of inactivity!
The second resolution isn't so far fetched either. She has an EZ-EFI self-tuning electronic fuel injection system. Between the weather and crowds, I haven't managed to get her out on some extended drives. As a result, the self-tuning isn't as good when the engine is hot as it is when cold or warming up. So I'm hoping to get the EZ-EFI to complete the self-tuning process with some longer drives.
Striking the iron when it is hot! My wagon (named Biquette) headed out early on the first (to avoid the crazy drivers who were sleeping off new years eve! :laughing7: ) Since the weather was nice, I brought along my camera for a few shots. Here is a nice front driver's side view:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-fzZrk4z/0/XL/Biquette%20-%20port%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-fzZrk4z/A)
As you can see from the background, the hills are still plenty brown from the drought even if we got a goodly amount of rain in December.
Here is a view of the driver's side and peek at the dash through the open door:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-BqbcDRS/0/XL/Biquette%20-%20port%20rear%20%28door%20open%29-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-BqbcDRS/A)
As long as I'm teasing, here is how the dash turned out:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-wqHv9G5/0/XL/Biquette%20dash%20-%20port%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-wqHv9G5/A)
Here is the instrument cluster viewed from the passenger side:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-4SxQNfV/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20dash%20-%20starboard%20center%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-4SxQNfV/A)
Even the back seat looks nice after the upholstery was redone:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-992TJRk/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20rear%20seats%20-%20port%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-992TJRk/A)
Here is one more picture with Biquette posing under a seasonally denuded winter tree:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-MXTsd3P/0/XL/Biquette%20under%20winter%20tree-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-MXTsd3P/A)
After all this, Biquette's engine was better behaved when hot:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-s8zDJkM/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20-%20port%20front%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-s8zDJkM/A)
However, she will need some more exercise before she is as smooth when hot as she is now when warming up.
I hope this gives you all some inspiration to continue work on your Buicks and a little comfort while you wait for the weather to improve so that you can drive your Buicks!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. In case you feel a little envious, Biquette's romp won't be repeated for a while. We are expecting rain starting today and lasting at least a full week. Can't complain though - we need it! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/rain_happy.gif)
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Thanks Edouard. Lovely pictures and car (of course).
Dan
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X2 on that Edouard.
With luck, some day I may get an opportunity to meet Biquette, oh and you also.
Thanks for the post,
Loren
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She's a beauty, Edouard! With my car in pieces, it is getting worked on. In fact, I was sanding the body this afternoon. And I have a chassis to rebuild. And I have an engine to rebuild. And......oh well, you get the picture. I won't be driving any of my classic cars for a long time. Enjoy, I'm envious!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Dear Dan, Loren, Chuck, and 1965 Buick fans,
Thanks guys! Glad the photos gave you a little pick-me-up! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif)
California certainly has its pluses. Biquette's survival is certainly in large part because she is a California girl.
On the other hand a mild climate does have its gotchas . . . . Yesterday, I had to put out some poisoned bait for a gopher in the lawn! :angryfire: With weather like this, yard work basically continues year around. At least you guys don't have to deal with stuff like this!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear Dan, Loren, Chuck, and 1965 Buick fans,
Thanks guys! Glad the photos gave you a little pick-me-up! ([url]http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif[/url])
California certainly has its pluses. Biquette's survival is certainly in large part because she is a California girl.
On the other hand a mild climate does have its gotchas . . . . Yesterday, I had to put out some poisoned bait for a gopher in the lawn! :angryfire: With weather like this, yard work basically continues year around. At least you guys don't have to deal with stuff like this!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
:overthetop:
As some of us are clearing the snow drifts away, you may hear a little disagreement. LOL
I've been fortunate this season, so far, and only had to plow the drive once.
Loren
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On the other hand a mild climate does have its gotchas . . . . Yesterday, I had to put out some poisoned bait for a gopher in the lawn! :angryfire: With weather like this, yard work basically continues year around. At least you guys don't have to deal with stuff like this!
I'll try to remember that next time I'm blowing another 13" of snow out of my driveway. :laughing7: Ah, winter in Wisconsin.
Dan
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Dear Loren, Dan, and mid-60s Buick caregivers from the land of great white snowdrifts . . . . .
:overthetop:
As some of us are clearing the snow drifts away, you may hear a little disagreement. LOL
I've been fortunate this season, so far, and only had to plow the drive once.
So what does El Niño mean for your winter? The local National Weather Service has this to say about San Francisco weather for this coming week:
Storms thus far this winter have been fairly typical... cold and more from the Northwest. For the upcoming week the bay area may finally start seeing a more El Niño type storm track from the west- southwest with a good sub-tropical jet.
That means the tropical moisture "fire hose" is about to be pointed directly at us. Does that moisture translate into a lot of snow when it gets to the middle of the country?
I'll try to remember that next time I'm blowing another 13" of snow out of my driveway. :laughing7: Ah, winter in Wisconsin.
Well, at least you don't have to do any pruning . . . . I'm still pruning, fertilizing, picking up the leaves and so on. What it lacks in severity, it makes up with monotony. I'm sure looking forward to an extended period of rain! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/rain_happy.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear fans of mid-60s Buick "assertive" wagons,
For the past few years now, I've tried to take some pictures of my trusty wagon with spring flowering trees and autumn colorful foliage. Well, believe it or not, spring is well under way in California and the best of the spring flowering trees has already passed. Unfortunately, because of the fussing with the EZ-EFI 1.0 system, it is self-tuning once more, and as a result, Biquette is ornery and difficult to control. So I'm trying to get her out as little as possible until the new electronic fuel injection parts finally arrive.
Nonetheless, I try to get her out at least every other week and it was time to give her some exercise. There was a need to pick up the monthly supply of bird seed, perfect wagon work! On my way out I stopped by some blooming plum trees that still had some blossoms and I took these pictures:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-9QQw7bp/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20spring%20trees%20-%20starboard%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-9QQw7bp/A)
Here is a view of more of the side:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-QP7cfs3/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20spring%20trees%20-%20starboard-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-QP7cfs3/A)
Finally here is a view of the station wagon end of things:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-dS2Vf5c/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20spring%20trees%20-%20back-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-dS2Vf5c/A)
Not the greatest trees, my wagon does need a wash, and the sunlight wasn't the strongest, but that's the only pictures I'm going to get this year.
So, if you are daydreaming about spring, perhaps this will help a little!
One more quick story. On my way home I found myself at stop light that leads to a short section were two cars must merge into a single lane. On my right was a "prissy" (Toyota Prius.) Now that darn driver actually tried to get head of my Buick with her 445 cid V-8. Biquette is in a bad mood with her cranky fuel injection system, but no "prissy" was going to beat her to that single lane!
I left that "prissy" in the dust and it stayed behind Biquette a respectful distance the rest of the way home! :hello2:
Something to smile about!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dream of Spring? Of course....we have another snowstorm forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Thanks for the great pictures to remind many of us what we have to look forward to!
:occasion14:
Chuck
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Dear mid-60s Buick longroof fans,
Today, my wagon needed a "bubble bath." I usually drive her a few miles before washing so the engine is nice and warm. It turned out that a local home improvement store 3 miles away from me was having a one day sale on wood bark chips. Well, that's work for a station wagon if there ever was any! So I rushed over and came back with . . . . . .
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-cTVrN5M/0/XL/Rain-check%20instead%20of%204%20bags%20of%20bark-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-cTVrN5M/A)
The sale was definitely only today, but the shipment of bark won't arrive until next week! So all I came back with was a rain-check. As I said, my wagon had to warm up anyway, but I felt a little silly putting in her heavy-duty carrying pad just to bring home . . . . a rain-check! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. Worst still, I have a rain-check and it isn't even raining! California is starting to fall behind again . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/desert-smiley.gif)
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Dear fans of adventurous 1965 Buick longroofs, . . . . . .
Yeah I know, in da' good ol' days - tuning was simply turning those screws on the carburetor and listening very carefully!
With the latest software-controlled electronic fuel injection - tuning a car takes a committee!! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek2.gif)
This morning I collected some log data on how my trusty wagon started when cold - because it was a little rough! By this afternoon, I had a new program to try, but since I had to get my wagon "out of bed" and I washed her last week, I decided to take her out for an impromptu photo shoot:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-MtMMTRR/0/XL/Biquette%20against%20green%20hillside%20-%20port-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-MtMMTRR/A)
Here is the passenger side:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-ZbpnB3G/0/XL/Biquette%20against%20green%20hillside%20-%20starboard-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-ZbpnB3G/A)
What's the big deal about green hillsides? Well here in California, green is rare and brown is the rule. If you have green car, better photograph her against those green hillsides . . . . while you can!
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear fans of adventurous 1965 Buick longroofs, . . . . . .
I'm still tickering with the fuel injection system on my trusty wagon. I managed to collect some data to look over, but my wagon was supposed to head over to the home improvement store and finally haul those bark nuggets that I got a rain check for a while back. When I got there, she wasn't the only classic pressed into service for a home improvement chore:
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-B2BQBbQ/0/XL/Biquette%20next%20to%201954%20Chevy%20pickup-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-B2BQBbQ/A)
It isn't often that my wagon isn't the oldest vehicle in a parking lot, but here is a 1954 Chevy pickup truck! Okay it took me a while but eventually the spot next the truck opened up and I couldn't resist parking my wagon right next to the truck! Don't they seem to be talking up about old times?
Nonetheless, my wagon is a part of the family so she did her duty!
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-HBcmfZp/0/XL/Load%20of%20bark%20nuggets%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-HBcmfZp/A)
Take a wild guess about what I'll be doing this weekend . . . . .
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear fans of adventurous 1965 Buick longroofs, . . . . . .
(https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-HBcmfZp/0/XL/Load%20of%20bark%20nuggets%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-HBcmfZp/A)
Take a wild guess about what I'll be doing this weekend . . . . .
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
Looks like you'll be gluing all those bark bits onto some lucky trees. :overthetop: :headbang:
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Dear Tom and mid-60s Buick owners with a funny-bone! :laughing7:
Looks like you'll be gluing all those bark bits onto some lucky trees. :overthetop: :headbang:
Touché! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/touche_sword_fight.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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:icon_biggrin: Good one Tom!!
I've only bought one brand new vehicle..... a 1991 F-150 4x4 pickup with the 'Nite' blackout trim package.
It's now 25 years old and considered an antique in the state of Pennsylvania.
When I take it in for the yearly Pa safety inspection, the guys refer to it as 'The 'Home Depot Special', which is VERY accurate..... I only put a few hundred miles on it a year.... primarily to pick up supplies from the local Home Depot, Lowes or Wehrungs!
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Dear Walt and mid-60s Buick strollers down memory lane.
I've only bought one brand new vehicle..... a 1991 F-150 4x4 pickup with the 'Nite' blackout trim package.
It's now 25 years old and considered an antique in the state of Pennsylvania.
When I take it in for the yearly Pa safety inspection, the guys refer to it as 'The 'Home Depot Special', which is VERY accurate..... I only put a few hundred miles on it a year.... primarily to pick up supplies from the local Home Depot, Lowes or Wehrungs!
Our trusty wagon was bought second-hand because my Dad understood that used cars had a much greater value. So every car after that was also used . . . . until. My Dad died of a brain tumor in 2000. Shortly after his death, Mom's daily driver (a Mazda 929) developed a leak in the heater coil and gave my Mom and visiting uncle pneumonia! After they both recovered, I suggested that my Mom by a brand new 2000 Buick Century (I wasn't biased or anything! :laughing7: ) I told her at the time, it was going to be the last car she ever bought. She was a blt offended, but she didn't understand what I meant. The car is now 15 years old and looks and drives great! :thumbsup: If the junior Buick does as well as the senior Buick in the house . . . . . need I say more! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick longroof fans,
Alas, I've been so busy that I've had no time to work on my trusty wagon. Instead, she has had to earn her keep as the family wagon:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-CprF73b/0/XL/Biquette%20brings%20home%20bird%20seed%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-CprF73b/A)
Hauling 80 pounds of bird seed and 2-1/2 gallons of cleaning solution is just in a day's work for an "assertive" 51 year old family wagon!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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So did you celebrate this great American holiday by? . . . .
Taking your great American classic car out for a drive? (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/roadster%20blue.gif)
Well one assertive station wagon did her part to make this Memorial day a classic one:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-ssRJt3H/0/XL/Biquette%20in%20front%20of%20a%20building%20at%20Moraga%20ranch-XL.jpg)
Nonetheless even on a federal holiday, a station wagon's work is never done . . . . . .
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-7rfHTBm/0/XL/Cargo%20from%20the%20supermarket%20and%20home%20improvement%20stores-XL.jpg)
Cheers, Edouard (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/cheers.gif)
P.S. Alas my wagon didn't have much in the way of company even if there are a lot of classic cars in the area. The only other vintage cars I saw was a Volkswagen Beetle from the 1960s and seriously beat up 60s Ford Mustang. We are having something of a heatwave and that might have been more than most classic car owners wanted to deal with.
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Yes Edouard, we did drive an American Classic today. Finally top-down weather! Met quite a few others cruising the Minnesota River Bottom Road. Sorry, today we drove one of the Mopar's. However next weekend we will be driving the '65 GS to Verona, WI.
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag150/Moparjim71/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170705_zpsovh8mloa.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/Moparjim71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170705_zpsovh8mloa.jpg.html)
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag150/Moparjim71/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170612_zpsg8ydlfq4.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/Moparjim71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170612_zpsg8ydlfq4.jpg.html)
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Sweet ride Jim.
Dan
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X2, nice!
Loren
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I drive a Mopar too (everyday driver).....but even with a Hemi, I'm sure it couldn't come close to keeping up with your beauty, Jim. Very nice ride!!
Chuck
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Dear Jim, Dan, Loren, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick . . . . "multi-denominational" car lovers, . . .
Yes Edouard, we did drive an American Classic today. Finally top-down weather!
Thanks for the photos! Yes indeed a beautiful car! :thumbsup:
Sorry, today we drove one of the Mopar's.
Well if you ever want to upgrade your Mopar with a state of the art electronic fuel injection system, I know just the guy you should call. Rich (the fellow who sold me my EFI system and did the tune) is also a Mopar guy! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Jim. SWEET RIDE. We all need to enjoy all of the older muscle cars, whar ever the brand.
vinnie
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That's one beautiful Mopar Jim. :thumbsup: :occasion14: That body style is just slightly below the 70 R/T in my books. If they weren't so darn costly, I'd have a 70 R/T convert in my garage. Only two were built with the 426 Hemi though. Something like 16 with the 440-6 engine.
Yes Edouard, we did drive an American Classic today. Finally top-down weather! Met quite a few others cruising the Minnesota River Bottom Road. Sorry, today we drove one of the Mopar's. However next weekend we will be driving the '65 GS to Verona, WI.
([url]http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag150/Moparjim71/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170705_zpsovh8mloa.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/Moparjim71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170705_zpsovh8mloa.jpg.html[/url])
([url]http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag150/Moparjim71/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170612_zpsg8ydlfq4.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/Moparjim71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/_20160530_170612_zpsg8ydlfq4.jpg.html[/url])
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Well thanks, y'all! Tom, I like the 70 R/T's too, hard to find reasonable ones. And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
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Jim
First car I ever bought was a 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T 440 4 speed that was In 1969. Your car brings back a lot of good memories, sweet mopar, Harle
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Jim
First car I ever bought was a 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T 440 4 speed that was In 1969. Your car brings back a lot of good memories, sweet mopar, Harle
In the interest of keeping you young Harle, here is our 68 Coronet R/T hardtop, bought in 1978 and still drive it today. Edouard, this one could use the EFI!
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag150/Moparjim71/2012-07-14_13-55-03_660_zps53794b2f.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/Moparjim71/media/2012-07-14_13-55-03_660_zps53794b2f.jpg.html)
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Jim ,
Plz stop , I have a puddle of drool in front of my key board .
:icon_tongue:
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Dear Harle, Jim, John, and mid-60s Buick nondenominational muscle car lovers,
In the interest of keeping you young Harle, here is our 68 Coronet R/T hardtop, bought in 1978 and still drive it today. Edouard, this one could use the EFI!
Plz stop , I have a puddle of drool in front of my key board .
Well now, perhaps Jim should send that photo to Rich at FAST-Man-EFI (http://www.fastmanefi.com/). That way we could get real Mopar guy to join the drooling! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of beautifully washed and waxed cars,
Gosh darn it . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/badwords.gif)
Station wagons are really good for all sorts of things. Alas, there is one chore for which a station wagon is a real drag . . . . . wash and wax. That's when you discover that d'em long roof is awful hard on your muscles . . . .
Well, yesterday I started at 10am, took a short break for lunch, and didn't finish until 4:30 pm. Still, I managed to get my trusty wagon out for a few quick glamor shots before putting her back in the garage:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-88xXJpn/0/XL/Biquette%20after%20wash%20and%20wax%20-%20port%20front%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-88xXJpn/A)
Here is the passenger side front view:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-GLzjxJX/0/XL/Biquette%20after%20wash%20and%20wax%20-%20starboard%20front%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-GLzjxJX/A)
Here is the all important tailgate from the passenger side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-wJ6DhsS/0/XL/Biquette%20after%20wash%20and%20wax%20-%20starboard%20rear%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-wJ6DhsS/A)
Finally one last view from the driver's side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-7FNPMDv/0/XL/Biquette%20after%20wash%20and%20wax%20-%20port%20rear%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-Spring-2016/i-7FNPMDv/A)
Hopefully I won't be sore for more than a day or two!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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As usual Edouard, pretty wagon.
Cleaning and waxing is always a big , time consuming task. But necessary to protect our lovely Buicks.
Loren
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Great car all around Edouard!
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Dear Loren, Jim, and mid-60s Buick "acreage appraisers" . . . .
Thanks, I was lucky. Not only the wax job turned out nice, but I managed to take a really nice photos. The sun was low on the horizon and that illuminated the paint without washing it out. Considering I took all 4 pictures in less than 5 minutes - I'm pleased! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif)
Cleaning and waxing is always a big , time consuming task. But necessary to protect our lovely Buicks.
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . Yeah, but why does it seem that every six months there is even more surface to wax, while there doesn't seem to be any more room in the car? It couldn't be that I'm growin' old or somethin' . . . . .
. . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_grin_triangle.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . Yeah, but why does it seem that every six months there is even more surface to wax, while there doesn't seem to be any more room in the car? It couldn't be that I'm growin' old or somethin' . . . . .
. . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_grin_triangle.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
[/quote]
Welcome to the crowd ,
Loren
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of exotic motor vehicles,
Have you ever parked next to one of these?
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-misc-photos/i-TS3HQ8Q/0/XL/Biquette%20next%20to%20Edsel%20Ranger%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-misc-photos/i-TS3HQ8Q/A)
The car next to my trusty wagon happens to be none other than an Edsel Ranger! The story of Edsel is much more fascinating than I had ever realized. You can read up on it on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edsel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edsel)
As the Wikipedia article points out: "The Edsel is an automobile marque that was planned, developed, and manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for model years 1958-1960." You guys might have known this but I didn't realize that Ford was trying to create a new division like Buick or Pontiac. Of course GM brought together pre-existing companies with their own loyal buyers and reputations. To try to create a new division for scratch was a bold move on the part of Ford. However if they had succeeded, Ford would have 4 divisions: Ford, Edsel, Mercury, and Lincoln. That certainly would have put them close to GM. When Edsel failed, it put GM in another pickle. They so dominated the market that they were close to the Sherman anti-trust criteria. GM would lay low during the first part of the 1960s and this too set up the battle for the muscle cars.
As much as the Edsel was a flop they are now extremely collectible and are much beloved by their owners. This one was getting some work done at Orinda Motors on the same day my trusty wagon went in to have her fuel regulator replaced. The swap went perfectly. Just one small problem: the new pressure regulator was completely defective! I've returned it for a replacement. My wagon will have to limp along with the old pressure regulator until the new replacement can be installed.
I have one more bit of trusty wagon news. Back in May I ordered a pair "retro 1960s" personalized license plates and they are waiting at our local DMV office. I have an appointment to pick them up later in the month. So what does the new license plate say? You guys will just have to wait! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick outfitters for automotive "social occasions,"
A week from Saturday, my trusty wagon "is expected" at the Orinda Classic car show. This is the first year since 2011 that she can be really driven so I really should try to make her look good. I needed to ask a question on the FAST technical support forum and to motivate the guys over there to help me out I thought I would give them a bit of "eye-candy" in this photograph:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-misc-photos/i-t8xxWmr/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20bay%20after%20detailing%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-misc-photos/i-t8xxWmr/A)
I didn't do a real engine detail. I'm terrorized of screwing up some of the electronics in this engine bay (and there is a ton! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek2.gif)) However, I cleaned with what I could mineral spirits, I polished the chrome, and did the hoses with tire dressing. The results aren't too shabby!
Enjoy! Edouard :occasion14:
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Very nice, Edouard. We can see and feel the love!
Chuck
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[emoji1303][emoji1303] looks good!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners whose cars are truly a member of the family, . . .
Late this week, my trusty wagon developed a curious "skin condition" on her front bumper:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-TQLBn7T/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20bumper%20with%20%22green%20pox%22-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-TQLBn7T/A)
What's going on here? A wider view reveals the culprits:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-dDgBL9R/0/XL/Granny%20smith%20apples%20causing%20%22green%20pox%22-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-dDgBL9R/A)
I fertilized our Granny Smith apple tree and the result is that we are overwhelmed. I filled up a 5 gallon bucket and the trees still has plenty of apples that aren't ready to be picked. I rinsed the fruit off and needed a dry place that was away from critters. Since my wagon isn't moving at the moment - why not use the space in front of the car in the garage?
My wagon has faced this sort of embarrassment before:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-KJxqthv/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20%22orange%20pox%22%202014-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-KJxqthv/A)
Oranges make for an even more intense effect:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-DnbC4kF/0/XL/Biquette%20afflicted%20with%20%22orange-pox%22%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-bumper-pox/i-DnbC4kF/A)
Fortunately, the problem vanishes when the fruit is finally dry and can be relocated!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of trusty wagons,
Yesterday, my trusty wagon headed back over to Orinda Motors to make another attempt to replace the fuel pressure regulator and try to fix two oil leaks. Over the past year or so, Orinda Motors has acquired a wagon of their own. They will use it to shuttle car owners as they use their van now. However, the wagon is also an advertising tool for their growing classic car work. When I arrived at Orinda Motors I was able to park right next to their wagon:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-H5TWdXH/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20OM%20wagon%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-H5TWdXH/A)
Here is more of a side view:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-wwCFcT2/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20OM%20wagon%20-%20starboard%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-wwCFcT2/A)
Here is what the two wagons looked like from the back:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-WQbBg3z/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20OM%20wagon%20-%20rear-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-WQbBg3z/A)
Note the respective personalized license plates. Finally here is one last view from the driver's side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-VrPzsFw/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20OM%20wagon%20-%20port%20rear%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-OM-wagon/i-VrPzsFw/A)
You might be able to see that their is a logo painted on the rear windows of the cargo area which advertises Orinda Motors classic car service.
The fuel pressure regulator should be straightforward replacement. One of the oil leaks is coming from the fuel pump block-off plate. This plate is made of a weak steel and has leaked in both incarnations of this engine. I asked Mike Tomaszewski of TA-Performance and he encouraged me to look for a beefier plate. I was skeptical, but I looked anyway and found an outfit selling some very nice aluminum plates on eBay:
http://stores.ebay.com/jacer-enterprises/BUICK-/_i.html?_fsub=8095114010 (http://stores.ebay.com/jacer-enterprises/BUICK-/_i.html?_fsub=8095114010)
I don't know if you guys would be very interested but he even makes fuel-pump block of plates for the 401 and 425 Nailhead engines!
The oil leak on the passenger side of the engine is more mysterious. It is coming up through the hole of the center cylinder head bolt. Mike knows that this hole doesn't come near oil or even water, so something is out of whack here. Mike has given me a list of things for Orinda Motors to check and I'll run over there to take a bunch of pictures before we try anything to stop the leak. Mike can look the situation over remotely and decide what's the best course of action.
In the meantime, my wagon will have plenty of classic company. Right now Orinda motors has: 2 Ford Mustangs, 2 Ford pickup trucks (one from the 1930s,) a Ford Thunderbird, a Corvette, and one other car that I didn't get a good look at. There were more classics in the service bay than modern cars!
Looks like she'll be in good hands!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
One of my ongoing struggles in my three ringed circus life of mine was trying to solve a strange hot-starting problem my trusty wagon was having. She has a FAST XFI Sportsman electronic fuel injection system (http://www.fuelairspark.com/fas/xfi-sportsmantm-throttle-body-engine-control-systemhtml/) that is described on this thread (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=2719.0). The ECU also controls the ignition using an E6 controller box (http://www.fuelairspark.com/fas/ignition-systems-components/e6-e92-ignition-system-kithtml). After a moderate run on the freeway and having her sit on the driveway a few minutes to unload, she would turn over but not start. The first time this happened to me, I opened the hood hoping it was some sort of overheating issue, and sure enough, after 15-30 minutes she was back to normal. Ever since this problem has started I suspected this was some sort of overheating issue, but I could never nail it down definitively.
All this started back in the Spring but this problem had gone to back burner because of oil leaks and other issues. With the leaks fixed, yesterday I took her out on an extended freeway run to get the engine good and hot before trying to capture the hot start problem on my laptop when I got home.
Well, I finally did get home all right, but by then there was no need for logging. About 1 mile from home the engine abruptly - quit! I was on a busy access road at the time and just barely was able to make it onto a side street before rolling to a halt. Up went the hood and the emergency flashers were turned on.
It was a strange experience! All of a sudden a number of people stopped and offered to help. Normally suburbia is so impersonal. It was an excuse for people to admire my wagon and she got a lot of complements. Still she was a very difficult spot on a side road with some traffic. As soon as I could I managed to start her again, but she only was able to travel about a 1/4 mile before stalling again. This wasn't a good spot either, but I managed to get to street with even less traffic. So there she sat for another 20 minutes:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-misc-photos/i-3nWFPPJ/0/XL/Biquette%20disabled%20by%20overheating%20ignition%20controller%20box-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-misc-photos/i-3nWFPPJ/A)
Finally the faulty part appears to have cooled off enough that I was able to drive the rest of the way home. I posted a question about the incident on the FAST technical support forum (http://www.cpgnation.com/forum/forums/fast-support-forum.235/) and the only replies thus far suggest that the E6 controller box is faulty and will have to be replaced. Fortunately, it should still be under warranty. However, I'm not entirely sure the box is defective. The instructions recommended placing this box in the passenger cabin if at all possible because it does have the potential of overheating. The engine bay in my wagon can get really warm. I have observed hot start logs with the intake air temperature over 150? when the ambient air temperature was not above 70? - with the hood open! :angryfire: I don't know how much heat these boxes can take, so I'll need to find that before deciding what to do next.
Never a dull moment when you own a classic car! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek2.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Back dealing with the "techies" again? I was wondering if you can actually see fuel spraying from that injection unit. I had simililiar problems after long driving and it ended up being no problem at all. The car would just vapor lock at anything above certain temperatures and altitude ranges. If It happened I would let it cool for two hours and it was normal again. This would generally happen above 200 degrees Fahrenheit. I ended up overdoing my coolant system and it solved the problem. If the car has a slow crank when this happens,it may be just too hot even though it isn't overheating.
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Dear Dan and mid-60s Buick troubleshooters,
Back dealing with the "techies" again?
Afraid so, but it seems in this case the conclusion is beyond doubt. According to a guy on the FAST technical support forum, The E6 Ignition box is defective and that's why it is overheating. There is a lifetime warranty on the part, so I need to find a time when I can send it in for repair or replacement.
I was wondering if you can actually see fuel spraying from that injection unit.
Well, I haven't looked, but I am able to drive the car, so clearly the engine must be getting fuel. I did log a hot-start before this incident and the fuel pressure is now steady as it should be. So replacing the fuel pressure regulation seems to have solved the apparent "vapor-lock" problem.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of longroofs,
The weather was good and I need to warm up my trusty wagon to see if I could find out which fuel injection component was overheating to cause me getting stranded by the side of the road (as reported earlier in this thread!) So I took my camera and caught a few scenes of the end of autumn including this one:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-qcsLZJ4/0/XL/Biquette%20and%20ranch%20house-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-qcsLZJ4/A)
It is the site of a former ranch in the area where some of the buildings have been restored. I'll try to digitally age this photo to make it look like it was taken in the 1960s. Stay tuned!
Having gotten the engine good and hot, I took a blow hair dryer and attempted to cause the starter coil and the E-6 ignition controller box to overheat. Well, trying to get the starter coil to overheat was basically hopeless. The coil is already downstream of the radiator electric fans. That coil was already blasted with heat far more than my wimpy hair dryer could effect. So I ruled it out as overheating.
So I turned the hair dryer on the E-6 box and got it hotter and hotter and hotter. Finally the darn box was so hot that I couldn't keep my hand close to it. Yet the engine just kept idling without so much as a problem.
So apparently I can rule out either the E-6 controller box or the starter coil. That leaves me with a situation that is clear as . . . . MUD!! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/sad-smiley.png)
It's time to let this matter wait for the end of the holiday weekend, but come Monday I'll get back on the phone in search of some fresh ideas!
Oh well, . . . . Edouard
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Thanks for sharing , she has the right idea, fresh air and long peaceful drives is what any one of our babies need. Since I live in Austin Texas where it can be all seasons in a day , I will take advantage of dry days and take Dusty out. He has rested enough. We hope to drive him to Bowling Green next autumn. Things on the need to do is horn. On the wants, a fresh coat of paint. Almost there. He has come a long way. To all my friends up north stay safe and warm . And keep sharing your knowledge with me. Thanks to all of you I have made progress
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
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Dear Barb and mid-60s Buick seekers of classic automotive "Zen . . . "
Thanks for sharing , she has the right idea, fresh air and long peaceful drives is what any one of our babies need.
Well yes for "most" 50+ year old Buicks that would be the right thing, but my trusty wagon seems to always do things "differently." After all, a photograph of her ended up in my PhD dissertation from U.C. Berkeley! This isn't an ordinary 1965 Buick - as if any surviving 1965 Buick is ordinary!
However, returning to the problem of the moment. I'm wondering if I need to get Biquette on the freeway to make sure that the E-6 ignition controller box develops enough internal heat so that you can then apply the additional heat with the hair dryer to demonstrate the overheating problem. I was chicken to get her out on the freeway Thanksgiving because the San Francisco bay area is overcrowded . . . . with lunatic drivers! I'll repeat this experiment with some freeway driving included to see if perhaps the E-6 box is actually the culprit.
Since I live in Austin Texas where it can be all seasons in a day , I will take advantage of dry days and take Dusty out. He has rested enough. We hope to drive him to Bowling Green next autumn.
Okay, I was curious to know if Dusty would need to be "bedded down" for the winter or not. Dusty is like Biquette in that regard. So you want to take Dusty to the Buick Grand Nationals? Here is a photo slide show of another 1965 Buick that made it to the Grand Nationals in 2005:
https://gmcguy.shutterfly.com/pictures/622 (https://gmcguy.shutterfly.com/pictures/622)
The 1965 Buick Special wagon in this story was hauling a 1968 drag race car. However, I did the math and car on a flat bed trailer weighs about as much as an Airstream 23' travel trailer from the mid-1970s. Thus the dream of my trusty wagon hauling around a vintage travel trailer was born.
Things on the need to do is horn. On the wants, a fresh coat of paint. Almost there. He has come a long way.
What Dusty needs, you are probably on the mark. What Dusty wants . . . . the list is almost insatiable!!
To all my friends up north stay safe and warm . And keep sharing your knowledge with me. Thanks to all of you I have made progress
Indeed to those who have put your cars to sleep for a long winter's hibernation - keep dreaming about the spring! For all of us you live in more temperate climates, don't forget to take a few pictures of our classics from time to time. It helps feed the itch for the rest who cannot take out their cars until spring!
Take care all you mid-60s Buick types!! :angel4:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of "longroofs,"
All this happened on Friday, but I haven't had a chance to write up until now. Not to steal the thunder from another 1965 Buick, but my wagon had also gotten rather dusty. So I decided to give her a quick "bubble bath." To warm up the engine, I ran a quick errand. Before I got out of the driveway, a neighbor and her friend was giving Biquette a big thumb's up! The friend owns two mid-60s Mercedes, but alas, he is having trouble finding parts for them. In contrast, he complimented Biquette's extremely smooth idle and steady acceleration. The electronic fuel injection is paying dividends!
As I arrived at the store, I noticed a BMW station wagon parked in the shade with a man standing next to it. I also parked Biquette in the shade far away from the store entrance (to reduce the risk of harm from the riff raff.) As soon as I stepped out of Biquette, the man congratulated me! You see he is another "wagon kind of guy." His BMW was an older model with a straight six and manual transmission - so a rare bird in its own right. We shared the gripe of how SUVs have taken over the turf that rightfully belongs to the station wagon, and then, the poor fellow was picked up by a friend in a Ford SUV!
After I got home I give Biquette the "bubble bath" treatment with my Griot's Garage Foaming Sprayer (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=2972.0). It works great if you are mostly trying to remove dust and for car that spends most of the time in the garage - there isn't much else. I took this picture after I was done:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-SpZhxzx/0/XL/Biquette%20after%20a%20%22bubble-bath.%22-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-SpZhxzx/A)
The winter sunlight coming from the back is hardly ideal photographic conditions, but the photo has a bit of a surreal effect.
I hope that's a bit of cheer to all you guys who will have to wait until spring before your cars can start collecting more smiles per mile!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Oooooh! Shiny! :glasses9:
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Lookin' good! Mine are dusty now.
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Dear TrunkMonkey, Jim, and mid-60 Buick fans of glossy cars on a nice sunny day!
Oooooh! Shiny! :glasses9:
Lookin' good! Mine are dusty now.
For just dust, the Griot's garage foaming sprayer does work very nicely. I just applied the foam, rinsed, and then removed the water with an electric leaf blower. So zero-impact on the paint. Of course, this only works when you have nice fair weather! Even in Northern California we are expecting a period of much needed rain, so my trusty wagon will also be cooped in the in garage for a while.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Lookin' good! Mine are dusty now.
As are mine. Been meaning to wash them so I could at least put a car cover on them for the winter. But I also have reservations about using water to clean them..... just the thought of water going inside my doors, cowl, etc makes me paranoid about feeding rust!
Anyone else feel that way?
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WATER IS THE ENEMY!!!!!! After the car is washed it NEEDS to go for a nice drive to try & dry/blowout the water. WORST THING TO DO IS WASH THEN PARK IN THE GARAGE!!!!!
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Dear Walt, Tom, and mid-60s Buick warriors against rust.
WATER IS THE ENEMY!!!!!! After the car is washed it NEEDS to go for a nice drive to try & dry/blowout the water. WORST THING TO DO IS WASH THEN PARK IN THE GARAGE!!!!!
Yes you are correct, but it isn't nearly as much of a problem in California these days. Even in winter water evaporates surprisingly quickly on a dry day. The wagon dried out very quickly thanks to removing the surface water with leaf blower. You make a good point though. It doesn't that much more time to get the car on the road and make sure that any accumulated water is shaken off. I'm afraid I continue to be paranoid about potential accidents, so I'm gun shy of getting her on the road after the schools are out. The "soccer moms" can be a terror on the road.
By the way, if you would like to try the "bubble bath" concept, you can substitute any hose-powered insect sprayer to apply the car wash. It doesn't foam as well, but it does lay down a mixture of wash and water that starts the process of wetting the greasy material so that washing the car is easier. I would aim for a 1/10 dilution as sprayed compared to the manufacturers instructions for dilution in the wash bucket. Most of us have an insect sprayer, so it is something you can try for free.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear owners of mid-60s Buicks held captive by harsh winters,
California hasn't been exactly classic car friendly either. My trusty wagon hasn't been out since December 21st! That definitely not typical California weather. We have two days before the next round of wet weather so it was definitely time for my wagon to get a bit of exercise. I stopped by a local church that was built in the 1950s and took a few pictures. First, the bell tower:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-wMDX8xJ/0/X2/Biquette%20under%20Santa%20Maria%20bell%20tower%20-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-wMDX8xJ/A)
Here is a second view where Biquette is a bit more visible:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-LLxQ54F/0/XL/Biquette%20next%20to%20church%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-LLxQ54F/A)
Finally one last view against the trees to the West:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-zxDVdJb/0/XL/Biquette%20port%20side%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette--fall-winter-2017/i-zxDVdJb/A)
Just a quick reminder that no matter how nasty winter can get (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/freezing.gif), spring is never too far away! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/sunny_happy.png)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. If I get a little time during the rains I'll try try to digitally age one of these photos.
P.P.S. (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . Did you know that big-block Buick engines also make for excellent space heaters? When I put Biquette back in the garage the temperature was 61?. A few hours later it was 67? !! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_grin.gif)
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My dearest and most frigid, Edouard .
Sell me the Bisquette fro $5.
I will keep her nice and toasty in sunny Florida, where today, we had a most unfortunate low of 72 degrees and mostly sunny sky.
It is a tremendous hardship, but, in order to be somewhat a decent human being, I could not stand to let another day go without the great inconvenience to myself and much sacrifice to allow you to rid yourself of such a burden.
Your (invisible) friend, in the far southern clime of sunny Florida.
(and the ability to stuff that wagon in my garage, even if I have to knock the Master Bath wall out....)
Michael
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Dear Michael and mid-60s Buick "wouldn't you really rather have a longroof" types,
My dearest and most frigid, Edouard .
Sell me the Bisquette fro $5.
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . Awe shucks, I couldn't sell her to somebody who can't even spell her name correctly! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
I will keep her nice and toasty in sunny Florida, where today, we had a most unfortunate low of 72 degrees and mostly sunny sky.
Well, the normal highs for January in Northern California aren't quite that high, but they are substantially higher than this month has been thus far. The mean high temperature thus far this month has been 51?. The normal mean high is 57?. So no global warming visible in this part of the USofA!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
As reported elsewhere (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=3334.msg23097#msg23097), the engine rebuilt by TA-Performance for my trusty wagon has developed a ticking sound in the valve train. She went to the shop where they fixed a minor oil leak but then asked me to get in touch with Mike Tomaszewski for his opinion since it was his engine. I finally got hold of him this morning and he felt that most likely the cause was all the rain we've been getting in California. His guess was that the engine had sat too long and oil had drained out of the lifters. I hadn't gotten the engine hot enough to really get the oil flowing, so his guess was a stout freeway run would solve the problem.
So I picked her up at the shop. I then proceeded to Orinda Auto Detail and dropped off the hood ornament (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=2709.msg21979#msg21979) that I had been promising to have Opticoated for way too long. I then stomped on the throttle and gave her a few miles on the freeway. On my way back I stopped by a spot where I knew there were some beautiful blooming trees and took some more pictures (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=3329.msg23104#msg23104). Finally I came home.
It sure seemed to me that the ticking sound was still there. So I decided to take a video with my smart phone to capture the sound. This is the video I captured:
https://youtu.be/EQZx-LznrT4 (https://youtu.be/EQZx-LznrT4)
Just one small problem. The electric fans kicked in almost as soon as I started the video. I can't hear the tick on the soundtrack. The other "inconvenient truth" is that the engine stalls a few seconds after I start recording!
I tried starting the engine after allowing the engine to cool for 1/2 hour. She did start but only ran for a few seconds before stalling again. I had to wait for another 45 minutes with a fan blowing air under the engine before I could get her started and could finally get her into the garage.
I sent this video to the crew at Orinda Motors and it definitely got their attention. We'll try next week to see if we can get some instruments on the ignition and fuel before such a failure. I think I have a better handle on how to reproduce it, but is a tricky problem to demonstrate.
I was hoping to solve the tick in the valve train problem first, but this is another fine example of the old murphyism: "inside of every big problem is as even bigger problem struggling to get out!!" :BangHead:
Just another day of taking car of a "properly seasoned" Buick!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I can hear the tick. It sounds a little "stronger" than a lifter, but trying to diagnose a problem with a video/audio and not much else, "guesses" are going to be all over the place.
Compression testing, verifying proper valve travel would go a good way to rule out a bad cam lobe, collapsed or failed lifter bent valve or other valve components.
Someone with good stethascope skills can be invaluable in sourcing a tic.
Sadly my old ears abused by too many years in the company of the Sound of Freedom, have left me with a pair of dog whistles screaming in both.
Hope you find a minor and low cost remedy to the problem.
And hope the Bescuit is returned to her best health, soon. :sad4:
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Edouard,
What type of fuel pump do you have?
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Dear Michael, Kevin, and mid-60s Buick troubleshooters,
I can hear the tick. It sounds a little "stronger" than a lifter, but trying to diagnose a problem with a video/audio and not much else, "guesses" are going to be all over the place.
Compression testing, verifying proper valve travel would go a good way to rule out a bad cam lobe, collapsed or failed lifter bent valve or other valve components.
Greg at Orinda Motors also thought it was more serious than a lifter goofing off. It certainly didn't help that the cooling fans kicked in at the start of the video. Without that the sound is much easier to hear.
I hope it isn't the cam because this is a hydraulic roller camshaft. It should well protected. It does seem like it is time to explore the valve train and see.
Someone with good stethascope skills can be invaluable in sourcing a tic.
Well last year I bought a Lisle 52750 Stethoscope kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015DLMOO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015DLMOO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
However, when I tried to use it on this noise I couldn't hear a thing. I don't know if I hadn't assembled it correctly or was attempting to listen in the wrong place.
What type of fuel pump do you have?
I have the Spectra Premium gas tank with the built-in electric fuel pump model: GM37EFI
http://ecat.spectrapremium.com/products/GM37EFI (http://ecat.spectrapremium.com/products/GM37EFI)
It fits the 1965 El Camino and the GM wagons of this period used the same tank (with the exception of the Sportwagon and there is a tweak.)
So the fuel pump is far away from the engine and shouldn't be effected by engine heat. On the other hand, I suspect there is something fuel related. When I got Biquette started after 1/2 hour, she started, then the RPM porpoised almost to stalling before it stabilized for about 10 seconds or so. I've seen this problem before and we replaced the fuel pressure regulator in hopes of curing the problem. However, this behavior has been happening since the new electronic fuel injection system was installed. I can't be certain but it "smells" fuel related rather than ignition.
Thanks guys for your feedback! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard, I asked about the fuel pump because my LS powered 65 Special has the same or similar fuel tank with the same fuel pump. When my pump failed after only 2000 miles that is exactly how it acted. You should have a test port somewhere on your fuel rail to check fuel pressure. You may be able to get a loaner test gauge from an auto parts store.
Mine would start, then run for about 30-45 seconds before stalling; my injectors need 50-60 PSI to operate.
When I tested mine I could watch the pressure began to drop from 55 psi until the engine stalled at about 20 PSI. Just a thought, inexpensive to check. You just need to know what your systems operating pressure should be.
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Dear Kevin and mid-60s Buick EFI fans,
Edouard, I asked about the fuel pump because my LS powered 65 Special has the same or similar fuel tank with the same fuel pump. When my pump failed after only 2000 miles that is exactly how it acted. You should have a test port somewhere on your fuel rail to check fuel pressure. You may be able to get a loaner test gauge from an auto parts store.
Mine would start, then run for about 30-45 seconds before stalling; my injectors need 50-60 PSI to operate.
When I tested mine I could watch the pressure began to drop from 55 psi until the engine stalled at about 20 PSI. Just a thought, inexpensive to check. You just need to know what your systems operating pressure should be.
Thanks for the suggestion. There is a sensor that allows me to monitor the fuel pressure as part of all the other fuel injection parameters. The FAST system only requires 43 psi and last time I checked, the pump was providing that. I was observing brief drops in pressure, but the pump wasn't failing steadily.
Still, there is something clearly fishy in this system and your experience might well be relevant. I was a bit concerned about buying an "off the rack" fuel tank and fuel pump combo. I'm not sure I'll take this on myself or allow the gang at Orinda Motors to troubleshoot this, but next week one way or the other I'll get back to this one.
Today I had to get back to yard work and remove a large branch that had broken during all our California storms. Always something!! :BangHead:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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You might want to monitor the fuel pressure from the moment the key is turned on in in in until the engine stalls.
When my pump failed it was not a sudden death. It would start run for a few seconds then stall.
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Dear Kevin and mid-60s Buick troubleshooters,
You might want to monitor the fuel pressure from the moment the key is turned on in in in until the engine stalls.
When my pump failed it was not a sudden death. It would start run for a few seconds then stall.
I will look into the pump's performance. The engine has about 1000 miles since the TA-Performance build and I think I got about 1000 miles on the previous build. So that would put the pump into about the 2000 miles range where your pump failed. The only strange thing is that allowing the car to cool gets everything running again. However, perhaps the pump is also cooling off and is now able to generate the 43 PSI needed to run this EFI system.
So it is definitely a suspect!
Thanks for the observation!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
This morning I got my trusty wagon on the road, determined to log what I now suspected was a low fuel pressure condition when the engine was warm. Well, I had my laptop ready, my smart-phone was poised capture the engine stumbling. Alas the hot start was perfectly normal even if I had driven the car about the same distance on the freeway as the previous failure.
Alas, the valve-train ticking sound returned. Worse still, it wasn't present when the engine was cold, but developed after I got on the freeway. That would rule out startup oiling issues. This time I was able to get a decent video where you can hear it clearly:
https://youtu.be/UD_v0duJuOQ?t=10s (https://youtu.be/UD_v0duJuOQ?t=10s)
That link starts the video 10 seconds into the recording because before that the radiator fans were going. Since I had the video on You-Tube, I sent it to Mike Tomaszewski at TA-Performance. I then gave him a call to get his impressions. The sound was clear to him, but that didn't lead on any diagnosis.
So at this point, the only thing to do is pull off the valve cover and see what might be going on beneath. Biquette will head over to Orinda Motors tomorrow afternoon so that they can take a look and report back.
Anybody who thinks that owning a classic car doesn't involve a lot of care-giving - clearly has never actually owned a classic car! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
Oh well, . . . . Edouard
P.S. The failure to catch the low fuel pressure condition increases my suspicions that it is the gas tank fuel pump. Something has to be overheating because otherwise allowing the car to cool off shouldn't allow the car to start again. This morning was considerably cooler than the previous drive. That wouldn't have a significant effect on the engine bay, but it could be significant for an overheating fuel pump. So stay tuned - that's the next problem to troubleshoot.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
I brought my unhappy wagon over to Orinda Motors so that they could pull the valve covers off and see if there was anything that could be causing the ticking sound on the video. Greg pulled the covers and the roller rockers and found some odd scoring on the rocker bearings. Here is a photo with an example:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-66GH7Th/0/XL/i-66GH7Th-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Photos-of-valve-train-damage/n-pKH8BF/i-66GH7Th/A)
You can clearly see that the bearing on the right has some scoring that the bearing on the left doesn't have. The other thing Greg spotted is that there is scoring on the tops of valves. Here is a photo where you can make out scoring on every valve top in view:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tJ2kmHm/0/XL/i-tJ2kmHm-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Photos-of-valve-train-damage/n-pKH8BF/i-tJ2kmHm/A)
Every valve top has this scoring pattern on both sides of the engine. Greg has been working with Mike Tomaszewski to try to understand what is causing this. However, the project is halted temporarily because Orinda Motors needs a special tool to access these valves. It is on order and will arrive next week.
In the meantime I'm feeling just a bit nervous!! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/nervous_smiley.gif)
Oh well, . . . . . Edouard
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Edouard,
I understand your nervousness. It's never fun to think about failures and repairs to an engine, especially one of this design and cailiber. :crybaby2:
A few comments from the pictures. I wonder about the materials and hardness of the valve tips. Virtually all intake valves are made from hardenable steel alloys. Most exhaust valve materials are not hardenable and many have hardenable material welded to their stems or tips to provide the wear resistance of hardened steel. Ask Orinda if there is obvious wear in the scuffed area on the tips of the valves. If so, since this is a well maintained and low mileage engine, I'd suspect substandard valve tip hardness.
It's obvious that the valves are not rotating at all during operation. If they were, the tips of the valves would be pretty uniformly shiny. This wear pattern is the same for all valves and I'm wondering if the apparent grooves in the valve tips are sort of being captured by the rocker arm roller bearings and held in the same position all the time. Either that or you have simply not applied enough foot pressure to the accelerator pedal to get the RPMs high enough to begin autorotation of the valves. :dontknow:
A certain amount of valve rotation is good to clean combustion deposits from valve and cylinder head seats and to prevent valve stem wear. This doesn't look normal to me. It will be interesting to see when the valves are disassembled from the heads what the condition of the valve stems and seats are.
Also, a couple of the valve tips have wear that doesn't extend all the way across the tip. That's not terrible (and probably not uncommon), but it does create higher stresses on those tips due to less that full contact with the roller rocker arm.
Sorry for the length and detail. Years ago I was a valvetrain engineer, so when I see stuff like this it brings out the old engineer in me.
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Edouard ,
I agree with Chuck . Something does,t look right there .
Its hard to tell by the photos what is or isn,t happening but there is definately no valve rotation happening . Its hard to tell by just looking at the pictures but it almost looks like there are scuff marks on some of the valve keepers to . and maybe its just the light or glare off something .
Do you know any specifics on what brand of springs , valves , rocker arms were used ? Theres a lot of things going on when it comes to valve train , spring pressure , rocker arm geometry , hydraulic or mechanical lifters , valve lash ? Just things to think about .
One thing I use on ALL my race engines is a bottle of Zinc additive , and not just for break-in I put it in every oil change . Now that has nothing to do with the valves not rotating but inside the roller on the end of the rocker there are lots of little needle bearings .
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As I recall, this is a hydraulic roller cam with stainless valves and higher then stock spring pressure in order to maintain valve control. My guess would be preload issues or a lifter issue. Then I would look into a valve guide issue if not not either of those.
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Dear Chuck, John, Good Dr., and mid-60s Buick trouble-shooters,
I understand your nervousness. It's never fun to think about failures and repairs to an engine, especially one of this design and cailiber. :crybaby2:
*Sniff*, yes indeed!
It's obvious that the valves are not rotating at all during operation.
. . . .
Either that or you have simply not applied enough foot pressure to the accelerator pedal to get the RPMs high enough to begin autorotation of the valves. :dontknow:
It is possible that the engine hasn't been run hard enough for this to happen. The new electronic fuel injection system has never worked quite right. As a result, I've been reluctant to get the engine very hot, fearing that would cause it to stall. Also, I'm worried about the intake air temperature. On two occasions, it has been logged at over 40? above the ambient air temperature. I'm concerned about the potential for premature detonation with intake air being so warm. Another problem I was trying to solve.
Sorry for the length and detail. Years ago I was a valvetrain engineer, so when I see stuff like this it brings out the old engineer in me.
Quite the opposite, thanks for your insights. I might help uncover the problem!
Do you know any specifics on what brand of springs , valves , rocker arms were used ? Theres a lot of things going on when it comes to valve train , spring pressure , rocker arm geometry , hydraulic or mechanical lifters , valve lash ? Just things to think about .
I don't know these things but this engine was rebuilt by Mike Tomaszewski at TA-Performance. So Mike knows the components because either he manufactures them or sells them to Buick folks like us. He will know what to expect for these components.
One thing I use on ALL my race engines is a bottle of Zinc additive , and not just for break-in I put it in every oil change . Now that has nothing to do with the valves not rotating but inside the roller on the end of the rocker there are lots of little needle bearings .
I agree on this one. The engine has had Joe Gibbs HR1 oil with extra Zinc and I was going to switch to Brad Penn semi-synthetic once the engine was broken in.
As I recall, this is a hydraulic roller cam with stainless valves and higher then stock spring pressure in order to maintain valve control. My guess would be preload issues or a lifter issue. Then I would look into a valve guide issue if not not either of those.
Mike has asked for the heads to be further disassembled to see if these sorts of problems are occurring. So your intuitions are on the mark.
Thanks guys for your insights and support! :icon_thumright: We'll just have to wait and see.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear fans of certain "Billy-goat" wagon,
I spoke to Mike Tomaszewski this afternoon to give him an explanation for why the additional checks he asked for have not been done yet. He doesn't think the valve train damage is consistent with the engine not having been broken-in properly. However, he has absolutely no clue yet why the valve-train is displaying the wear it has. We'll just have to wait for Orinda Motors to obtain the tool to work on the valves and see what is uncovered.
Cheers, Edouard
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Edouard ,
Not that this will fix your problem if there is one , but you mentioned ( break in ) . Thats another thing I,ve gotten into doing automaticlly ( if possible ) and that is breaking my engines in on a engine dyno .
For what it costs I think its well worth the time and money . The guy that does my machine work charges 300.00 a day . You can usually get a lot of tuning done in a few hours .
And who knows , like Chuck said maybe it just needs some more RPM,s . A dyno session may have eliminated some of the questions were having . They usually run the engine thru the rpm range the engine will normally see . 1000 to 4000 rpm or whatever your comfortable with .
PLUS theres the satisfaction of standing there WATCHING your engine come to life for the first time in a controlled envirnment .
I,ll never forget my first dirt track engine hitting 8000 rpm on the dyno :icon_biggrin: :headbang:
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Dear John and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Not that this will fix your problem if there is one , but you mentioned ( break in ) . Thats another thing I,ve gotten into doing automaticlly ( if possible ) and that is breaking my engines in on a engine dyno .
Sorry I didn't explain myself too clearly on this one. There isn't a dynamometer in Scottsdale, Arizona where TA-Performance is located. Instead Mike Tomaszewski built for himself an engine test-stand using parts from an old Buick. So the engine was broken in before it was shipped to California. What I meant by break-in was the varied sort of driving to help components like the piston rings seat during the few 1000s of miles.
I wish TA-Performance could get access to a dynamometer. There is something neat about knowing exactly the peak horsepower and torque your engine is capable of. It is something of bragging rights.
Cheers, Edouard
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Any updates on the ticking issue?
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Dear Kevin and mid-60s Buick subscribers to my trusty wagon's continuing "meller-drama," . . . .
Any updates on the ticking issue?
As it turns out just this afternoon there was a finally some progress. Mike Tomaszewski had asked Greg and the guys at Orinda Motors to check the amount of play in the valve that appeared to be loose. Unfortunately, Orinda Motors didn't have a tool to release the valve spring on a Buick engine. They ordered one and . . . . . it got lost in the mail! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif) A second one arrived today and Greg was able to confirm that there is too much play in that one valve. That was enough for Mike to conclude that the heads need to be sent back to TA-Performance so that he can find out what's going on.
Mike asked that Greg check the camshaft to make sure it didn't get damaged. Assuming the camshaft is fine, the heads will be headed to Scottdale, AZ to find out what is out of whack with them.
Stay tuned! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/tune_in_TV_emoticon.gif)
Cheers, Edouard
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Thanks for the update Edouard. Can you tell us more about "there is too much play in that one valve"? If I interpret correctly, Orinda took the spring retainers and valve locks off, releasing the spring and found what sounds like valve guide wear in at least one valve guide. I assume these are aluminum heads with pressed in valve guides. Do you know what the valve guide material is? If brass or bronze, I'm not surprised considering the lack of valve rotation.
Sorry for the technical questions. There goes the engineer again. :icon_scratch:
Cheers!
Chuck
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Wow, I am learning a lot here. Thanks of the education.
kicking Dust.
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Dear Chuck, Barb, and mid-60s Buick engine caregivers,
Thanks for the update Edouard. Can you tell us more about "there is too much play in that one valve"? If I interpret correctly, Orinda took the spring retainers and valve locks off, releasing the spring and found what sounds like valve guide wear in at least one valve guide. I assume these are aluminum heads with pressed in valve guides. Do you know what the valve guide material is? If brass or bronze, I'm not surprised considering the lack of valve rotation.
Yes the spring retainer was removed and the valve was kept from dropping into the combustion chamber by compressed air. Greg then used a meter to measure the amount of movement and it exceeded the standards for those heads.
These heads are TA-Performance Stage-2 aluminum heads. I don't know what is the valve guide material, but they certainly could be brass or bronze.
That's all I know at the moment.
Cheers, Edouard
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I'm just glad there wasn't extensive damage. Good luck!
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I definitely feel your pain. It sucks tearing apart a fresh clean motor. Wish ya luck.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Dear Jim, Dan, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks for your support! :icon_thumright:
My poor wagon has been extremely unlucky these past few years. I just hope things fill finally turn around!
Cheers, Edouard
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Maybe a bad spell, but no one could love her as you do.
And I am sure the biskit will be chewing up the roads soon.
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Dear Jim, Dan, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks for your support! :icon_thumright:
My poor wagon has been extremely unlucky these past few years. I just hope things fill finally turn around!
Cheers, Edouard
She will turn around and be better then ever. She is a girl who wants to be spoiled with new shiny things.[emoji12] Best wishes.
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
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Dear Michael, Barb, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks once more for your words of encouragement. At the moment I've just got to wait and see how this repair unfolds. I promise to keep everybody informed of how this repair evolves.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers when things get tough,
I haven't updated this situation in a while because - it wasn't at all clear what was going on. Mike Tomaszewski had asked Greg at Orinda Motors to pull the intake manifold so that the camshaft and lifters could be inspected. Once more there was some scoring on the lifters and camshaft. It wasn't awful but definitely disturbing. It is extremely hard to photograph, but here is the best photo I got of the lifter damage:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ntj7T9P/0/XL/i-Ntj7T9P-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Photos-of-camshaft-and-lifter-damage/n-3Knxq2/i-Ntj7T9P/A)
The damage is mostly cosmetic, but this is hardened steel and this engine has only 2000 miles on it. Greg's concern is that if these components have this much damage, the softer metal of the bearings should be more significantly damaged.
For a while, it appeared that the oil filter had collected a ton of metal debris. However, on a second inspection the amount of debris seemed small considering the damage and the filter was keeping that debris out of the engine.
I spoke with Mike Tomaszewski this afternoon and he told me to pack the engine up once more and send it back to TA-Performance so that he can look the engine over and determine what is going on. Unless something else is discovered that suggests the engine is really dead, sending it back to TA-Performance seems like the right thing to do.
So there's the update. Time for me to get the garage ready for my wagon to return and sit once more.
Such are da' conditions that prevail . . . . . .
Edouard
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How sad. I hope they correct the challenge. Best wishes, for your trusty wagon.
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
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Fingers crossed that it is a not so costly repair and that you caught this before the engine shelled out.
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Edouard ,
:sad1: If I had a lifter that looked like that in my engine I would definately be taking it all the way apart . Thats a little more than cosmetic to me .
Hopefully they get it figured out for you soon with minimal cost to you . I,d be concerned about how the lifter bore looks also .
Good luck with it .
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Edouard ,
:sad1: If I had a lifter that looked like that in my engine I would definately be taking it all the way apart . Thats a little more than cosmetic to me .
Hopefully they get it figured out for you soon with minimal cost to you . I,d be concerned about how the lifter bore looks also .
Good luck with it .
I agree with John. Lots of stuff going on in there. Sending it to TA for disassembly and assessment is definitely the right move :icon_thumright:
Hoping for a reasonable resolution, Eduouard!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Dear Barb, Michael, John, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
:sad1: If I had a lifter that looked like that in my engine I would definately be taking it all the way apart . Thats a little more than cosmetic to me .
Hopefully they get it figured out for you soon with minimal cost to you . I,d be concerned about how the lifter bore looks also .
Good luck with it .
John you are definitely resonating with the crew at Orinda Motors. To score metal like this takes something really nasty and if the lifter has been damaged like this, what about the bearing, pistons, cylinder walls, etc? Here are two pictures of the metallic debris that was in the oil filter:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-MHwNsVS/0/XL/i-MHwNsVS-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Photos-of-camshaft-and-lifter-damage/n-3Knxq2/i-MHwNsVS/A)
Here is what a magnet picked up in the oil:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VG9WZwT/0/XL/i-VG9WZwT-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Photos-of-camshaft-and-lifter-damage/n-3Knxq2/i-VG9WZwT/A)
All this debris was captured by the filter, but it had to have been circulating in the engine until it reached the filter. The oil was changed in late October and there isn't 100 miles on the new oil. Something looks really wrong here. I'm going to go back and take some more pictures and make some additional checks. Alas, I do think the damage is more extensive than these pictures can convey.
Stay tuned, . . . . .
Cheers, Edouard
-
Oh my, this is starting to worry the heck out of me. I hope is not more then what they suspect.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
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Dear Barb and mid-60s Buick owners of patients with serious "issuez,"
Oh my, this is starting to worry the heck out of me. I hope is not more then what they suspect.
I went over to take some photos of the motor oil that was pulled out of Biquette's engine. Here is one photo:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kRkh9Jw/0/XL/i-kRkh9Jw-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Photos-of-camshaft-and-lifter-damage/n-3Knxq2/i-kRkh9Jw/A)
Here is another photo showing the depth of debris:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-X4Qg99t/0/XL/i-X4Qg99t-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Photos-of-camshaft-and-lifter-damage/n-3Knxq2/i-X4Qg99t/A)
This oil was top of the line Joe Gibbs HR-1 oil that was changed at the end of October. With all the rains in California, I haven't put 100 miles on this engine since the oil change. The cause will have to wait for TA-Performance to break the engine down and see what they fine. However, this just doesn't look good.
Oh well, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Orinda Motors was finally able to pull my trusty wagon's engine out so that it can be sent to TA-Performance. Since It was out, I could take a few photos:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-4dKHJd9/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20-%20port%20rear-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-4dKHJd9/A)
Here is the driver's side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-3F5NjDp/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20-%20port-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-3F5NjDp/A)
I really like the way the Buick and TA-Performance logos pop out of the nailhead green valve covers:
Here is the front:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-X4Xvx3q/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-X4Xvx3q/A)
Finally here is the passenger side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-XR5VqM8/0/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20-%20starboard-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-XR5VqM8/A)
With that done, it was time to have Biquette transported home. Orinda Motors classic car division has become an extremely busy place and they needed the stall space. So I had her transported home. Here is Biquette waiting to be loaded on the truck:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-q97VrPf/0/XL/Biquette%20waiting%20to%20be%20loaded-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-q97VrPf/A)
Without an engine the front is riding way too high. Here is a photo of the flatbed truck pulling her up in front of the Orinda Classic Car Center sign:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-fCs3xHb/0/XL/Orinda%20Classic%20Car%20Center-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-fCs3xHb/A)
Our "junior Buick," Coquette is in the foreground. At home Biquette came off of the truck:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-XpJRWF2/0/XL/Biquette%20descending%20ramp-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-XpJRWF2/A)
Finally with a little human muscle power she was pushed into her spot in the garage:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-TBqkh92/0/XL/Biquette%20back%20in%20her%20spot%20in%20the%20garage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-TBqkh92/A)
One of the priests suggested that you take on a particularly difficult task on Good Friday. Well, I think I found exactly such a thing. Now for the wait until I find out what went wrong . . . . .
That's how one Buick spent today . . . . .
Edouard
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That is a great looking motor, can't wait until you inform us she's mighty again!
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Edouard,
Will keep the Biskit in best thoughts and hope to see a good report soon.
She is indeed a beauty and it's always difficult when family is ill.
Michael
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Dear Jim, Michael, and members of the mid-60s Buick brotherhood and sisterhood,
Thanks for your support everybody! It's a tough place to be but Biquette and I will do our best to get through it!
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
This morning my trusty wagon's engine was ready for its trip to Arizona. It was safely secured inside a wooden crate:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-7gZ3cjr/0/XL/Engine%20strapped%20down%20in%20crate-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-7gZ3cjr/A)
The crate was labeled and ready for the truck to pick it up:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-2hZS9sM/0/XL/Engine%20shipping%20crate-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquette-transported-home-from-Orinda-Motors/i-2hZS9sM/A)
Next stop: Scottsdale, Arizona and TA-Performance!
Cheers, Edouard
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Doigts crois?s! :sad4:
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I hope that thing doesn't get put in that same storage building they used in "Raiders of the Lost Ark". It would be nice to see it back together and on the road.
-
I'm hoping after repair it gets miss directed in shipping and winds up on my door step. I think it would look very nice in a red convertible.
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Dear Dan, Kevin, and mid-60s Buick fans of more!
I'm hoping after repair it gets miss directed in shipping and winds up on my door step.
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . . . Well, I kinda had a similar thought only on the departure. After all, if the engine got lost in shipping - the shipper's insurance would have to pay to build me a completely new engine. I thought about putting a sign on the box: "steal this engine - please!" but I thought that might be a little too obvious! :laughing7:
I think it would look very nice in a red convertible.
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . . .For shame!! Don't you think that a green engine would clash terribly with a red exterior? . . . . :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi, buddy how is your girl now a days? I do not log in enough lately. Is she back yet?
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
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Dear Barb and mid-60s Buick owners of cars that are members of the family,
Hi, buddy how is your girl now a days? I do not log in enough lately. Is she back yet?
Well, no the engine hasn't come back from TA-Performance, but the news is thus far encouraging. I spoke with Mike Tomaszewski a week ago Friday and thus far he hasn't need any extreme damage that the metal shards and scoring would have suggested. He went ahead and had the head casting impregnated with epoxy. In fact he had the process done twice! That should absolutely positively eliminate any leaks from those castings. Nonetheless, there is something really strange going on with those castings. They passed the pressure tests back in 2014 and passed them again before the imprecation process. I can't understand how oil could seep in places that compressed air couldn't get through. Oh well, so much for standard physics! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/scratch_head.gif)
Mike hadn't had a chance to dismantle the lower part of the engine. However, there wasn't any reason to expect a problem there. So the plan is to go through everything and if nothing else wrong is found, redo the valve job and upgrade, at least, the lifters. Mike's hypothesis is that one of the lifters got stuck and that was the source of the ticking sound. So if all this happens, and the engine test run successfully, then it could be headed back to my trusty wagon in the not too distant future!
Since I was resigned to perhaps waiting for years, (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/sad.gif) this is definitely good news!! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/yahoo.gif)
Thanks for asking! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Great news. Glad to know that things are moving along smoothly. [emoji3]
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of da' rascally wagon,
I called Mike Tomaszewski at TA-performance Friday afternoon to get the latest news on Biquette's engine. He was in a quandary that I quickly settled. One of the old head castings is still leaking. He has had that casting impregnated 3 times in Arizona and 2 times in California and the leak has literally gotten worse. There is now a water and oil leak. Both castings had failed the porosity test originally and it seems clear that there were some voids in this casting that were broken open by the attempt to force resin into the pores under pressure. Under the circumstances, it was obvious to me it was time to give up on that casting.
There is one more wrinkle in this project though. These castings were of the previous production run and Mike has changed the design of the stage-2 heads still further. None of the earlier castings were available, so the only option is to replace both cylinder heads with the latest design. Mike was hoping to get started on assembling and adjusting the new heads this week. The engine is otherwise ready. So the engine might be put back together before too long. There is even a chance that Biquette might manage after all to make her annual appearance at the Orinda Classic Car show which is on September 9th.
So things are looking up at last! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Best of luck getting Biquette up and running soon.
Loren
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally Buick station wagon,
I have some news from TA-Performance regarding the engine for my trusty wagon. I spoke with Mike Tomaszewski and the engine is back together and on the test stand. Mike chose some very nice head castings and switched to the more reliable lifters so he hoped that would be the end of the leaks and valve train noise. The leaks are indeed gone, but alas, Mike thinks he is hearing a slight amount of valve train noise. He wanted to investigate the matter further to make sure whatever was causing the noise was harmless.
In the meantime, I decided do something to upgrade the appearance of some of the parts that had remained here. During the previous rebuild I had carefully repainted the pulleys, brackets, and other parts that were waiting for the engine's return. Well, when the engine came out once more my paint job didn't look exactly stellar. For example, here is the A/C compressor and Alternator bracket:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-PQ5Kj4r/0/75f6140c/XL/A-C%20compressor%20%26%20alternator%20bracket%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-PQ5Kj4r/A)
That's a bit discouraging for carefully painting using a recommended brand of engine bay paint. So I decided to take things up an notch and have these parts powder-coated. Here is the same part after having been powder-coated:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-WDFKQHc/0/e9654595/XL/Power-coated%20A-C%20compressor%20%26%20alternator%20bracket%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-WDFKQHc/A)
A friend of mine recommended a local outfit about 1/2 an hour's drive away. Okay, I did go with high-gloss black instead of low-gloss GM engine bay black. However, I would assume you can have your Nailhead engine parts powder-coated to a very close if not exact match to GM engine bay color of 1965. You certainly cannot beat the durability. Here is the water pump pulley after just one year of minimal use:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-fgpcXG2/0/a73aecfa/XL/Water%20pump%20pulley%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-fgpcXG2/A)
Here is how it turned out after powder-coating:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-ZnztMTh/0/f2ecc530/XL/Power-coated%20Water%20pump%20pulley%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components/i-ZnztMTh/A)
If you want to see all the before and after photos, you can seem them in this online gallery:
https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Power-coating-Biquettes-engine-components)
There is even an online slide show if you want to view the before and after images in sequence:
https://canebas.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=wQhTjM&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=3&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=2&clickable=1 (https://canebas.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=wQhTjM&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&speed=3&transition=fade&transitionSpeed=2&clickable=1)
The slide show will just run automatically. However, if you want to control the speed just click on the image and it will allow you to do that as well.
The whole collection of parts cost me a little over $150 to powder-coat, so it won't break the bank. Whether or not you want the shine, any part that you have powder-coated will certainly stand up to the wear and tear far better than regular paint.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Nice Edouard!
That will make keeping your Biskit clean, easier. :laughing7:
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Looks great!
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They look really terrific Edouard and should hold up well. The only thought I have is , with such a smooth surface for the belt area, is there a possibility of slippage. :dontknow:
Loren
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One of my Dodges used to throw the belt at high RPM?s (7,000+) and I added the aluminum deep groove pulleys. That worked great. No problems with lower RPM?s though with the powdercoated pulleys.
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Dear Michael, Jim, Loren, and mid-60s Buick fans of smooooth! . . . . . . :sunny:
They look really terrific Edouard and should hold up well. The only thought I have is , with such a smooth surface for the belt area, is there a possibility of slippage. :dontknow:
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . Not to worry! Before I did this I ask Greg at Orinda Motors and he thought it was a great idea . . . . So if the pulleys slip, I know who to blame! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
One of my Dodges used to throw the belt at high RPM?s (7,000+) and I added the aluminum deep groove pulleys. That worked great. No problems with lower RPM?s though with the powdercoated pulleys.
I had a hard time getting much beyond 4000 RPM so hopefully I have nothing to worry about! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally billy-goat station wagon, . . . . .
Actually it has been over a month since a rather large and heavy crate arrived at Orinda Classic Car Center. Alas they have been so desperately swamped with work that the crate was shunted in a corner while they tried to catch up. Finally today they were close to catching up and had enough time to open the crate and allow what was inside to peek out:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-nDjdNtK/0/8236c304/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20at%20Orinda%20Motors%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-nDjdNtK/A)
Here is the driver's side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-cHBpg5h/0/f373841d/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20at%20Orinda%20Motors%20-%20port%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-cHBpg5h/A)
Here is the passenger side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-SQ3JrWV/0/a091cda7/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20at%20Orinda%20Motors%20-%20starboard%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-SQ3JrWV/A)
Finally here is the back:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-Rqv6N6j/0/38e518c8/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20at%20Orinda%20Motors%20-%20back-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-engine-returns-to-Orinda-Classic-Car-Center/i-Rqv6N6j/A)
They were still really busy and a Lincoln needs to be towed home before Biquette can come in. However, the plan is to have her transported this upcoming Tuesday. Some of the suspension and steering upgrades have already arrived from UMI. In the meantime, I've got to corral all those parts which have piled all over the house and get them ready to be put back together!
All of a sudden a very exciting time! . . . :hello2:
Thanks for your support!! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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:headbang:
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Great! Lets see the assertive wagon back together! :occasion14:
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Great looking engine!
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Hope you get it back on the road soon and that all the issues are behind you.
Dan
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Hope you get it back on the road soon and that all the issues are behind you.
Dan
X2
Loren
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Dear Michael, Ted, Jim, Dan, Loren, and mid-60s Buick brethren in the struggle to care for these classic cars,
Great looking engine!
Thanks! Credit has to go Mike Tomaszewski for deciding to do the valve covers in Nailhead green and then machining away the lettering. Mike has done this for a long time on the later engines in Buick red. The contrast between the red and clear aluminum is more extreme. However, it turns out that the effect is just unique in Nailhead green if a bit more subtle.
This goes all the way back to when we had Biquette's engine rebuilt for the first time in 1979. My Dad was very disappointed to find that the engine was painted Chevy Blue instead. It has taken me this long to right that wrong!
Hope you get it back on the road soon and that all the issues are behind you.
Amen Brother!! :angel4:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Very nice, Edouard! I hope Biquette gets put back together and on the road soon!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Hope you get it back on the road soon and that all the issues are behind you.
Dan
X3!
Glad to see you're on the home stretch and will soon be driving Biquette again!
-
Dear mid-60s Buick owners who are fans of a certain rascally billy-goat station wagon,
It is going to be a race to get ready to have Biquette transported on Tuesday. Today I made last preparations to the engine bay. Everything was secured for the trip back home, but I had remove some of the restraints so I could free some of the brackets I had powder-coated. Instead of wire, I used a bungle coil to secure the air conditioner compressor:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-XgnKcK8/0/94f23ad4/XL/A-C%20compressor%20secured-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-XgnKcK8/A)
Like my Dad, I use plenty of cloth rags. The price is right and after all those washes the fabric is very soft. I had a more complex problem with the steering box:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-vK43SRW/0/af480b60/XL/Bottles%20to%20catch%20power%20steering%20fluid-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-vK43SRW/A)
The car came with the power steering pump still connected to the steering box but once more I needed to get some brackets. I hope the two liter bottles will stay there and catch any power steering fluid that is pushed out by the steering box.
Never a dull moment!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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bungle coils are yer friend! :laughing7:
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Nice work, Eduoard! Safe travels for Biquette - how far is she travelling?
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Edouard sorry to hear about the troubles with the castings, etc. Though I bet you are alive with excitement to have Biquette's power plant resting in the home position!
It sure looks good!
-
Dear Chuck, Iain, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Nice work, Eduoard! Safe travels for Biquette - how far is she travelling?
Lucky for me the shop is literally in the same town I live in. She only needs to go a little over 3 miles and only on surface streets. It is about as safe as transporting a classic can get!
Edouard sorry to hear about the troubles with the castings, etc. Though I bet you are alive with excitement to have Biquette's power plant resting in the home position!
Thanks! It has certainly been a long struggle!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Just a suggestion--go to the parts store and buy a section of brake line with the correct size inverted flare fitting that will screw into the pressure connection hole in the steering box. You can then cut the line and bend it such that the return line hose will slide over the end of the line so you can clamp it. Then when you turn the wheel during transport, the fluid just circulates from outlet back to inlet instead of purging it into the bottles. This is how I have done it in the past when having to transport vehicles without an engine.
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Dear Brian and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Just a suggestion--go to the parts store and buy a section of brake line with the correct size inverted flare fitting that will screw into the pressure connection hole in the steering box. You can then cut the line and bend it such that the return line hose will slide over the end of the line so you can clamp it. Then when you turn the wheel during transport, the fluid just circulates from outlet back to inlet instead of purging it into the bottles. This is how I have done it in the past when having to transport vehicles without an engine.
That is a good idea, but I'm on a treadmill from now until my wagon gets to Orinda Motors. I'll try to remember that scheme for next time, I just hope it won't ever happen again!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally billy-goat station wagon, . . . . .
Today was the day! Early in the morning I pushed Biquette out of the garage so that she could get nice and clean. She even got a bit of a bubble bath in the process:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-2DF2gJs/0/bd98aad2/XL/Biquette%27s%20bubble%20bath%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-2DF2gJs/A)
Then it was up on the flatbed transport truck:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-xkCtwTL/0/538204f4/XL/Biquette%20loaded%20on%20truck-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-xkCtwTL/A)
We lucked out! It was the same driver that brought her to Orinda Motors the previous time! The trip was uneventful and after a few miles, she was unloaded at the Orinda Classic Car Center (the division of Orinda Motors now devoted specifically to classics.)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-T2vXbvH/0/95c57b48/XL/Biquette%20unloaded%20from%20truck%20-%20back-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-T2vXbvH/A)
Finally she was parked right next to her engine so that they could bond once more!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-Wr6tZX6/0/4d5c6a32/XL/Biquette%20parked%20next%20to%20her%20engine-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-Wr6tZX6/A)
Better still, Biquette isn't the only mid-60s Buick A-body in the shop. Also getting worked on was this Skylark:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-CzT2dGV/0/3d770503/XL/1964%20Skylark%20convertible%20-%20starboard%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-return-to-Orinda-Motors-2018/i-CzT2dGV/A)
Alas it has a Chevy small-block and is messed up in other ways, but you have to straighten out owners like this - gently!! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_grin.gif)
Mission accomplished! :icon_salut:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Nice progress....keep us posted!
Chuck
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Thanks for the updates!
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Yes, thanks for the update looking forward to more.
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Good news! Won't be long now!
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who stroll down memory lane from time to time,
We are having a very unusual start to the Memorial day weekend with a little rain falling today. That reminded me of another adventure with my trusty wagon involving the weather. In the mid-1980s, I attended 2 Riverside Telescope Makers Expos (http://rtmcastronomyexpo.org/). It is held every Memorial day weekend at Camp Oakes near Big Bear Lake in Southern California. It is over 450 miles from my home and about an 8 hour drive. One year Biquette got the call to make the drive and so I picked up the two friends going along with me as early as they could break from work - sometime in the afternoon. It is a very crowded affair and getting a good camp site was important to be comfortable, so people line up in front of the entrance before the campground opens. We arrived around 3 in the morning utterly exhausted. In order to get some sleep, we tossed a tarp on the ground, put our sleeping bags on top of that, and quickly fell asleep. When we woke up it was daylight and there was a dusting of snow on us and of course Biquette! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Snow_playing.gif) It was only the second time my wagon experienced snow in the 50 years we have owned her since 1968.
Fortunately, that year the storm blew through quickly and we had a nice clear weather the remainder of the weekend. The previous year we weren't so lucky. We had snow and rain and extremely cold temperatures under cloudy skies for most of that weekend. Little point to having a telescope under those conditions!
The moral of the story is that even in California you can't count on the weather for the Memorial day weekend! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally billy-goat station wagon, . . . . .
Greg and the gang at Orinda Classic Car has been working bring my trusty wagon back to life. First they installed some nice and shiny steering and suspension upgrades. The suspension parts came from UMI:
http://www.umiperformance.com/ (http://www.umiperformance.com/)
These include some tubular front controller arms:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-6mnHgSg/0/862e2127/XL/Port%20front%20suspension%20from%20side-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-6mnHgSg/A)
As you all recommended, here is the 1-1/4" front anti-sway bar:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-9wZ8qpM/0/f3e45234/XL/New%20front%20anti-sway%20bar-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-9wZ8qpM/A)
The silly folks at UMI Performance, put their product sticker - upside down! I'll have to ask them for another sticker.
Also as you recommended, on the rear Biquette received the stronger boxed controller arms:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-Wf5DHZw/0/d15b761a/XL/Port%20rear%20suspension%20from%20front.-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-Wf5DHZw/A)
Another recommendation satisfied, she also has gotten a rear anti-sway bar:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-RNkHZjt/0/67bd2acf/XL/Rear%20anti-sway%20bar-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-RNkHZjt/A)
All this should improve handling without making ride harsher. Hopefully it will help cope with the many potholes to be found these days in California. This afternoon, I brought in another load of parts and Greg had ready gotten the engine in:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-qH93KCr/0/a3af4644/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20partially%20installed%20-%20port-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-qH93KCr/A)
Silly me, I forgot to take any photos of the new steering box. However, you can see the variable ratio steering box just below the coolant recovery tank on the right side.
As usual, Greg had a horrible time squeezing the engines and the long-tube headers in. Here is a view of the passenger side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-LjGbkv8/0/3beeeb96/XL/Biquette%27s%20engine%20partially%20installed%20-%20starboard-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-LjGbkv8/A)
There is still plenty of work to do, but definitely things are coming along!
Thanks for your support! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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She's really looking good, Edouard! The new and improved Biquette will have an entirely different character than before. I'm imagining the big smile on your face when you get to experience that for the first time. Hope you've got some long and winding roads to drive to put her through her paces!
Great progress, keep it up!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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She's a handsome goat! :glasses9:
You will like the UMI package.
I did all of mine on my 64 Convertible, and it is so nice to drive.
No more rolling and yawing in the curves. It is flat as a pancake.
Curves I used to take at 35 tops, I can do at 60-65. It is a very big difference.
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Dear Chuck, Michael and mid-60s Buick owners who like to lean into those curves!
Thanks! I'm hoping that indeed the suspension upgrades will make Biquette much more enjoyable to drive. I also hope it will help with some of the "ocean waves" to be found on our freeways these days. Alas some stretches were built on fill and or over creeks. Now with the "feast or famine" rainfall, these areas are settling faster than Caltrans can repair them. As a result, your car will literally rise and fall kind of like a ship over waves. Deferred maintenance has made driving into "quite an experience" these days and that's no compliment!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Sah-weeet! Jealous. Looks awesome Edouard.
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally billy-goat station wagon, . . . . .
The good news is that Greg and the gang at Orinda Motors got the engine in my trusty wagon running! Not only that, it sounded like it was running well.
Greg then turned the engine off to make a few adjustments and . . . . . . When he tried to start the engine again - Nuthin' . . . . Greg quickly checked the fuel pressure gauge which also read - Nuthin'. A further check, yes the fuel pump was properly energized. Alas, sitting twice for periods of a year or more without gas appears to have killed something in electric fuel pump in the gas tank. All this happened on Thursday and a new fuel pump wasn't expected until early next week. However, when I stopped by the shop yesterday, Greg was busily dismantling the tank! The pump had arrived via next day air!
So I left Greg to amuse himself with that project but I did manage to take this quick photo of the new steering and suspension components with the engine installed:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-qkWg62s/0/f2c18d30/XL/Port%20front%20suspension%20and%20headers-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Suspension-upgrades-and-engine-installation-2018/i-qkWg62s/A)
Those freshly coated headers do look nice next to the new suspension parts and steering box! :sunny:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally billy-goat station wagon, . . . . .
Yesterday I got the call I was waiting for. Orinda Classic Car had gotten the engine installed, checked everything over and Biquette was ready to come home! I rushed over and Biquette spent her first night in the garage with her engine since April 2017. She was low on gas, so I thought I would run over and fill her up. While I was there I took this photo in front of the Flying-A sign:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-mNDwFVK/0/b3182017/XL/Biquette%20and%20flying%20A%20sign-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-mNDwFVK/A)
It should be a decent candidate for an attempt at digital aging. I then ran over to Orinda Classic Car for a quick photo shoot. I parked next to their Ford Model-A truck:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-JmjqCtv/0/52a36168/XL/Biquette%20and%20Ford%20truck%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-JmjqCtv/A)
Here is the view from the back:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-T5x9MH6/0/6ecf23f4/XL/Biquette%20and%20Ford%20truck%20-%20back-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-T5x9MH6/A)
I had hoped to ask the gang over there to move the 1964 Skylark convertible for a quick photo shoot, but they were too busy for that. Still I took this quick photo:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-4Tv7dJ6/0/3438f391/XL/Biquette%20and%201964%20Skylark-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-4Tv7dJ6/A)
It is the last week of school around here and so the traffic is unusually heavy. So I decided that was enough activity for today and started to take Biquette home. The engine is running much better than before. However, the throttle linkage was stiffer than before and harder to work. Just to make sure all was well, I decided to accelerate a bit faster to make sure the engine was running fine. Unfortunately, at this point the accelerator linkage got stuck in that open position!! It was enough to rev the engine over 2000 RPM - not the sort of situation you want on city streets! I cut the ignition and managed to drift over out of the traffic. Jerking the linkage was enough to get it back into the idle position and I hoped the problem was a temporary one. Alas, not so. This time I had the throttle stuck around 1500 RPM. I was less than a mile from Orinda Classic Car at that point so I managed to limp back here and left Biquette for Greg and the gang to figure out what's up.
Never a dull moment when you own a classic car! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek-sign.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Oh bugger! That happens to me sometimes too, and I've lubricated everything I can see but to no avail. It usually happens just like when you said, you mash the pedal abruptly and it stays all by itself.
But hey! She's working and you even had here home! I bet that felt so good. i once had Ruthy on jackstands in my parents drive for over 6 months and it was agonizing.
Congrats! She looks grrreat! 👍 :cheers2:
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Sorry to hear the news Edouard. Sounds like you're on the right track to getting all the bugs worked out. Keep the faith!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Edouard, Your flattop wagon looks great, and so does that gray 65 Skylark Convertible in the background of photo #4...
Tony
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Sorry to hear of 5he accelerator issues, hope it?s resloved quickly. Thanks for the 64 pic, looks great with the Keystones on it.
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Certainly hope they can find the throttle issue quickly. Probably nothing major.
Nice '31 model A PU they have. Looks to be a pretty '65 convert and the tail of a mid/late T-bird. Always liked the first Thunderbirds. Couldn't imagine fitting into one though. LOL
Loren
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Dear Iain, Chuck, Tony, Jim, Loren, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks everybody! :hello2:
Never a dull moment with these cars!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally billy-goat station wagon, . . . . .
It took me a while to recognize the horror of the situation. As soon as I bought Biquette home I took care of "da' important stuff!" (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_grin.gif) You know, put the dash clock to the correct time, got the stereo balanced between the front and rear speakers, stuff like that! :laughing7:
Greg is a very nice guy, but he is a Chevy guy. So no surprise he didn't put the air cleaner with the Buick decals correctly facing the engine. Well now that certainly won't do will it! :nono: So I innocently turned the air cleaner 90?. Of course the top refused to move, the whole air cleaner assembly instead turned . . . . .
Fast forward to this morning - what do you know. Part of the throttle was rubbing against the air cleaner, Greg very nicely removed the tab in question when . . . . I now realized all that was necessary was to keep the bottom of the air cleaner in the correct orientation to provide the necessary clearance. (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
With the tab removed no more accelerator sticking and Biquette was able to come home once more! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/bouncey.gif) She had been left outside enough that the birds had done some bombing practice on her hood, so I cleaned that off before putting her away. I even managed to get this photo next to a neighbor who still had some California Poppies growing:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-VZSKsWr/0/e2999ebd/XL/Biquette%2C%20CA%20poppies%2C%20and%20plum%20trees-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-VZSKsWr/A)
So she didn't completely miss out on the Spring flowers!
To end this chapter of a very long soap opera, Biquette is back on her charger in the garage and will spend the weekend as "snug as a bug in a rug!" (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif)
Thanks for your support! . . . :thumbsup:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard,
Simple fixes are the best fixes. Congratulations on solving the problem !
Dan
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Happy Home Coming Biquette !
Loren
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That's great news, Edouard! Enjoy the thrill of taking Biquette on her favorite outings. And for your next soap-opera, we here would all appreciate and episode where the greatest drama is how well she runs, how well she handles and how well she puts a continuous smile on your face. We love happy endings!
:cheers2: to you and Biquette. Enjoy!
Chuck
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Dear Dan, Loren, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick fans of a certain rascally wagon,
Thanks! It's been a long time coming, but things do appear to be finally coming together. John Vanek who is the manager of Orinda Classic Car remarked that the engine is much quieter than before and to my amazement he is absolutely correct. The new cylinder heads and valve-train hardware is working much more smoothly than before.
And for your next soap-opera, we here would all appreciate and episode where the greatest drama is how well she runs, how well she handles and how well she puts a continuous smile on your face. We love happy endings!
High in my priority list is waking up my laptop and taking a look at the engine performance as seen by the Electronic Fuel Injection software. Mike Tomaszewski did such a great job matching the engine's old specifications that it is running wonderfully on the old tuning parameters. However, I might have been too stingy on some of the cold start settings. I'm hoping to take some new videos that can be compared against the ones I took in 2016, so that the difference in noise can be made obvious. I'll also try to take some video while driving the car. That's the best way to show the "smiles" on my face!
All this is going to have to wait a bit though. We are expecting a nasty heat wave and that's not classic car weather.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard this is all great news. That must be a blast to have the EFI.
Good luck and looking forward to the videos.
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Great news, looking forward to the videos!
-
...
All this is going to have to wait a bit though. We are expecting a nasty heat wave and that's not classic car weather.
...
Yes.
A hot goat does not launch well...
(https://i.imgur.com/MrVssPg.gif)
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Dear Iain, Jim, Michael, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks guys. I'll try to make those videos as soon as the weather cooperates and I have some free time.
That must be a blast to have the EFI.
Actually EFI doesn't give you any more power than a carburetor. What you get is control. Here is a graph that is generated by the software that came with FAST Sportman that is in my wagon:
(http://www.canebas.org/misc/Capto_images/Cold%20start%20log%202016-06-08.png)
It is part of this thread:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2719.msg17500.html#msg17500 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2719.msg17500.html#msg17500)
As you can see, Electronic Fuel Injection allows you to control many more parameters of the engine's performance than the control screws of a carburetor and the available adjustments of a mechanical ignition system. By fine tuning the available parameters, you can get the engine to run more smoothly or save more gas.
However, if you plan to use EFI, you can use a more aggressive cam than you might have otherwise chosen. The Stage-1 cam in my wagon's engine, would be idling rougher than I would have preferred using a carburetor. With the EFI you can get additional power and still have a pleasant driving experience.
A hot goat does not launch well...
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . . Uh, let's not get carried away with that analogy! . . . :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who's cars are members of the family,
After the mid-week heat-wave, temperatures are finally cooling down enough for classic cars to venture out once more. I ran over to Orinda Classic Car to make my sales pinch for a 3.08:1 rear end ratio and, as feared, ran into a concerted attempt to increase the ratio and therefore the noise level. We shall see. After that visit, I ran over to our local supermarket for some basic provisions:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-9hP3nqf/0/444e00a8/XL/Biquette%27s%20first%20load%20of%20groceries%20of%202018-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-9hP3nqf/A)
So my trusty wagon is getting back into her normal activities. Back home at last! :love4:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Good to see things back to normal!
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Dear Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers who occasionally get tripped up by high-tech . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/computer_sock_it_to_me.gif)
Good to see things back to normal!
Even better! . . . :hello2: I managed to connect my laptop to the ECU of the electronic fuel injection and make a backup copy of the fuel injection settings. This might not seem important, but I wanted to do this since . . . . . . April 2017! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek-sign.gif) Had these settings been lost, I would have had to get the engine tuned professionally again! Fortunately, the ECU didn't get zapped somewhere along the way and finally I have a backup copy! When it comes to anything related to computers . . . . it seems you can never have enough backup copies!! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who's cars are members of the family,
After the mid-week heat-wave, temperatures are finally cooling down enough for classic cars to venture out once more. I ran over to Orinda Classic Car to make my sales pinch for a 3.08:1 rear end ratio and, as feared, ran into a concerted attempt to increase the ratio and therefore the noise level. We shall see. After that visit, I ran over to our local supermarket for some basic provisions:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-9hP3nqf/0/444e00a8/XL/Biquette%27s%20first%20load%20of%20groceries%20of%202018-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-9hP3nqf/A)
So my trusty wagon is getting back into her normal activities. Back home at last! :love4:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
I like it ! Looking good Edouard.
Loren
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who like when their cars are appreciated! :hello2:
I got as far as to connect my laptop to the ECU in Biquette and collected log data of a cold start along with a video. Alas, I ran out of time to really look at either. However once I got my wagon all warmed up, I went off to errands at the local drug store and supermarket. Lots of electric cars in California these days, but even so, a fellow working in a yard noticed Biquette's exhaust and gave her a thumbs up and a Harley Davidson type at the supermarket also gave her a thumbs up! :thumbsup: There was even a late 60s Camaro on the road that I waved to. Definitely classic car season in California! :sunny:
Take tuned for further developments! :icon_biggrin:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with Airstream fantasies,
I was trying to identify a vintage Airstream when I came across this photo that at least stunned me:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__bdq7VnRBcY/SSdm136Z8ZI/AAAAAAAAD1U/JxBOMwc5nDE/s400/68FrontWindowGuard.jpg)
It is a photo from a blog posting on an unrelated topic:
http://vintagetrailersupply.blogspot.com/2008/11/1960s-airstream-front-window-guard.html (http://vintagetrailersupply.blogspot.com/2008/11/1960s-airstream-front-window-guard.html)
Still, that looks like at least a 25 foot Airstream and it sure looks to me like it is being towed by a 1964 Buick Sportswagon. If so, the 1964-66 mid-sized Buick wagons were even more brawny than I imagined!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with Airstream fantasies,
I was trying to identify a vintage Airstream when I came across this photo that at least stunned me:
([url]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__bdq7VnRBcY/SSdm136Z8ZI/AAAAAAAAD1U/JxBOMwc5nDE/s400/68FrontWindowGuard.jpg[/url])
It is a photo from a blog posting on an unrelated topic:
[url]http://vintagetrailersupply.blogspot.com/2008/11/1960s-airstream-front-window-guard.html[/url] ([url]http://vintagetrailersupply.blogspot.com/2008/11/1960s-airstream-front-window-guard.html[/url])
Still, that looks like at least a 25 foot Airstream and it sure looks to me like it is being towed by a 1964 Buick Sportswagon. If so, the 1964-66 mid-sized Buick wagons were even more brawny than I imagined!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
By the dual axels , it appears to be a '67 Overlander . If I recall correctly, it would be 26 feet long from the rear bumper to the hitch. We have a '69 Overlander International, it is 27 feet long.
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick owners with Airstream fantasies,
By the dual axels , it appears to be a '67 Overlander . If I recall correctly, it would be 26 feet long from the rear bumper to the hitch. We have a '69 Overlander International, it is 27 feet long.
Thanks to the Airstream document archive:
https://www.airstream.com/service/document-archive/ (https://www.airstream.com/service/document-archive/)
It appears to me that Airstream's 26 foot model didn't change much from 1964 to 67. The arrangement of the door and windows appear to be the same, so it would be hard to date such a trailer from such a small image. There is a good reason to suspect that this would some sort of a promotion from 1964. That was the first year of the raised roof section for the Oldsmobile and Buick wagons. I've collected this Buick press photo:
(http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/Images/64%20Buick%20Wagon%20press%20picture.jpg)
and this article from the period:
(http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/Images/64%20Buick%20Wagon%20newspaper%20snippet.jpg)
Airstream would have wanted their trailers featured with such innovative styling and given the upscale nature of Airstream, Buick was the better choice for the tow vehicle. According to the specifications of the 1964 26 foot Overlander:
https://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/archive/d3613db3f4f7c69f.pdf (https://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/archive/d3613db3f4f7c69f.pdf)
It was within the tow capacity of the 1964 Sportwagon since the 1965 was rated to tow 5000 pounds.
Unfortunately, I haven't found the image anywhere else to confirm the hunch this is some sort of promotion from 1964.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who are also a fan of da' trusty billy-goat wagon,
As reported earlier, back on New Year's Eve 2013, some unfriendly character put two dings into the driver's side door of Biquette:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Paint-chipped-on-Biquettes/i-bgD6pTk/0/1394753f/X2/IMG_3371-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Paint-chipped-on-Biquettes/i-bgD6pTk/A)
She spent last week at the body shop recommended by a classic car collector friend of mine. I took some quick pictures yesterday of the results. Here is from the front:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-NrQXSGq/0/4bfd4469/XL/Biquette%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-NrQXSGq/A)
Here is a view from the back:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-cBR4Lbk/0/46bd8eb4/XL/Biquette%20-%20port%20rear-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-cBR4Lbk/A)
Here is the only view where I think you can notice the repair:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-NZJxwQ6/0/1364f2f6/XL/Biquette%20port%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-NZJxwQ6/A)
If you look carefully, I think you can notice an area that is slightly lighter in color. It could be in part because this area is obviously not waxed while the rest of the car is waxed. However, I suppose that's as good as a area repaint can get without an exact match for the paint formula. Alas the body shop that repainted my wagon in 2012 went out of business and took their formula for seafoam green with them.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who are also a fan of da' trusty billy-goat wagon,
I forgot! I also had the body shop replace the tailgate top molding. Here is Biquette's old molding with all the dings we put into it over all the years of hard service:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-4nwkNZD/0/f087a917/XL/Old%20tailgate%20top%20moulding-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-4nwkNZD/A)
Here is the replacement which was almost new:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-MN9BWC7/0/5dee7507/XL/New%20tailgate%20top%20%20moulding-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Dings-in-Biquettes-driver-side-door-repainted/i-MN9BWC7/A)
I bought it from none other than Brian (197064buickspec (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=1046)) a few years back. Thanks Brian! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Looks good !!
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with a taste for Americana,
With a suitable Sylvester the cat voice . . . . . . "Sufferin' succotash! My wagon had to go out to fetch s-s-s-seed!"
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-fVhHQJs/0/e193842b/XL/80%20pounds%20of%20bird%20seed-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Summer-2018/i-fVhHQJs/A)
In fact 80 pounds of bird seed!
My wagon may be 53 years ago and part of the family for over 50, but she still has to earn her keep around here! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Nice!!
-
Edouard is blessed to have such a rich and original history with the "Biskit", and so fortunate to have recovered her after her "kid" napping.
We are blessed for his most eloquent storytelling and sharing this history and journey with us.
Life, it is grand, no?
:glasses9:
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Dear Iain, Michael, and mid-60s Buick owners who's cars are members of the family,
Thanks guys! :angel4:
I'm just glad to have her home and working once more. It has been my car since basically I could drive and I just missed her.
Nonetheless, the upgrades are definitely appreciated. I do enjoy her Bluetooth stereo and on the way back I even needed the Vintage Air A/C. I don't know how I lived with this car without air conditioning! :BangHead:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard , good to hear that the wagon is back on the road and you are enjoying driving it with its updated systems. And i'm sure that it's hauled more than grass seed during its lifetime. Did you have a boat and or a trailer that the wagon pulled during its life ?
My Family 4 door Special did not pull anything, but my Grandfather hauled bushels of tomatoes from the farms on Long Island every September. And went to the Horse Stables at Belmont Racetrack every November and loaded the trunk with burlap bags full of "Fresh" horse manure for his vegetable garden at home. Just when we thought the stink was gone it was November again !! A Buick's or any car that's been in the family for a very long time hold great many memories. Some good, some bad, and some very stinky...... :laughing1:
Tony
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick owners who's cars are members of the family,
Hi Edouard , good to hear that the wagon is back on the road and you are enjoying driving it with its updated systems. And i'm sure that it's hauled more than grass seed during its lifetime. Did you have a boat and or a trailer that the wagon pulled during its life ?
In the voice of that most rascally rabbit Bugs Bunny . . . . . "Nah, could be!"
(http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/Images/Biquette%20and%20La%20Belle%20Poulette-2.jpg)
She also pulled a modest sailboat:
(http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/Images/Biquette%20and%20Vent%20Vert%208-29-75.jpg)
The last boat she pulled was a Hobie 16 catamaran, but I've never found any pictures of her doing that.
My Family 4 door Special did not pull anything, but my Grandfather hauled bushels of tomatoes from the farms on Long Island every September. And went to the Horse Stables at Belmont Racetrack every November and loaded the trunk with burlap bags full of "Fresh" horse manure for his vegetable garden at home. Just when we thought the stink was gone it was November again !! A Buick's or any car that's been in the family for a very long time hold great many memories. Some good, some bad, and some very stinky...... :laughing1:
Phew! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/skunk-emoticion.gif)
I don't remember anything quite that bad, but there was some loads of chicken manure that . . . . . left an impression!
Any family car is going to have a full life! . . . .
Thanks for sharing your memories of your special Special! . . . :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Great photo of the small speedboat, I know you had fun with that !! Did you go skiing or fishing ? My Mothers 66 Buick Skylark & Dads 65 Le Sabre were our Tow cars when I purchased my first boat in 1976. It was a 1959 16 foot Cruiser,s Inc. lap streak speedboat, that i painstakingly restored from what looked like a pile of broken barn boards. Great memories of the boat and towing with the Buick's on the east end of Long Island..
Tony
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My Mothers 66 Buick Skylark & Dads 65 Le Sabre were our Tow cars when I purchased my first boat in 1976. It was a 1959 16 foot Cruiser,s Inc. lap streak speedboat, that i painstakingly restored from what looked like a pile of broken barn boards. Great memories of the boat and towing with the Buick's on the east end of Long Island..
Good for you! That must have been a great experience for honing your restoration skills!
Great photo of the small speedboat, I know you had fun with that !! Did you go skiing or fishing ?
Well, . . . . . The "plan" was to use it for water-skiing. Alas, the purchase went very badly from the start. Mom managed to accidentally lock us out of Biquette! We needed to call a locksmith to get back into the car! The folks selling the boat were so nice in our distress that we felt obligated to buy it even if it wasn't exactly the best boat for us. After we bought it, Dad discovered it had a crack running along the keel from almost the bow to the stern! Dad tried to come up with a scheme to repair it, but this was looking like mission impossible. So ultimately, we never used the boat much. I did make my debut at water-skiing with it, but it was extremely brief!
As it turned out, my Dad was more of a sailor and we turned to sailboats after that. It turns out that how Biquette ended up today has everything to do with a very unusual Friday afternoon expedition my Dad got the family to make to look at some cabin sailboats when I was probably 16 or so. But I'll save that story for another day!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who like to drive their cars,
I needed to make a quick grocery run and so da' trusty wagon got da' call. The supermarket is only 3 miles away so just a quick run. However, as I approached the mall I spotted a - dinosaur - coming straight for me! Alright, alright, so it was a mid-60s Ford Mustang, but these days any 1960s cars meeting on a divided road is a rare event! I toot tooted and tried to get the attention of the woman driving the convertible. I don't know if I succeeded. Nonetheless, it is October even in California. Soon spotting another classic car actually on the road will be a very rare event!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. Sorry Michael, I did have the hood open for a while, but I was so busy this afternoon that I never got back to looking at the Vintage Air plumbing. I'll try to look tomorrow afternoon to see if I could use one of your Billet heater hose separators/clamps (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4161.0.html).
-
The good thing is the TBGW had some fresh air and running loos time.
The heater hose separators can wait. :glasses9:
BTW. I did not know the Sportwagons came with Stewardesses!
(http://www.wootmonkey.com/upload/2018/10/03/20181003202500-bd65f0d8.png)
"Coffee, Tea or A&W...?" :laughing7:
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Dear Michael and owners of mid-60 Buicks who are cautious about "high maintenance" propositions, . . . . . .
BTW. I did not know the Sportwagons came with Stewardesses!
. . . .
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . Well, this was always an aftermarket item. You couldn't have one installed by the dealer - never mind at the factory. They tended to come in two varieties. One kind stipulated hourly operating costs that after a while would become very expensive. The alternative also involved potentially serious costs, but they tended to be far more difficult to keep track of. More seriously it was a well known hazard that this second type was known to harbor inclinations to become SWMBO!! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek-sign.gif)
It is well accepted fact that even the most fussy mid-60s Buick has relatively low maintenance compared to the typical SWMBO . . . . . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who don't get any respect from them modern performance vehicles owners,
Our region has been overrun by a "Yuppie" type of affluent parents drawn by an overrated reputation of our local schools. As a result, there are a lot of European performance cars and SUVs. The vehicle of choice for this type of "soccer mom" is the Euro-performance SUV. Of course this is something a sort of sore-point for a station wagon of the 1960s. After all, a station wagon was a perfectly acceptable family vehicle back then - what's wrong with a wagon now?
Of course it helps to be a wagon with a few performance enhancements of her own - doesn't it! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/car_3gears.gif)
I've taken to the habit of accelerating a bit fast from a stop light simply to impress those around me what Biquette can do. The demonstration does impress! I've noticed after a demonstration like this, drivers behind me give Biquette some extra distance. That suits me just fine since after all she is 53 year old. Yesterday, I had a Volvo SUV tailgating me until we reached a stop-light. When the light turned green, just a little extra gas and I lost my tailgater in a hurry. Even after Biquette had reached the speed limit, the woman in the SUV gave us plenty of distance.
Shortly after that, I had a similar scenario with a BMW SUV. This time the road widened to two lanes and the woman attempted to pass to the left. Just for fun I decided to open up the throttle just a bit and Biquette easily stayed ahead. At the next light, the BMW SUV once more approached the stop very timidly!
That'll lurn d'em Yuppie women and their "off-the-rack" performance SUVs! Station wagons are not extinct and at least one isn't going to be pushed around by a soccer mom could be 1/2 Biquette's age!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Billy-goats can be ornery, aggressive and quick to dominate when challenged.
Those unfamiliar with them are often quick to back down when confronted with a particularly pesky critter.
:glasses9:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who are always careful to keep your car healthy,
Well, it happened again. My trusty wagon developed another case of da' dreaded green pox!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Autumn-2018/i-PW8H45S/0/c53304d6/XL/Biquette%27s%20%22green%20pox%22%20bumper%20condition-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Autumn-2018/i-PW8H45S/A)
It is Autumn and I started to pick the fruit off of our Granny Smith apple tree. After washing I need a place for the fruit to dry and obviously inside! So I pile it in front of Biquette:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Autumn-2018/i-QHc6Rd9/0/121f472f/XL/Apples%20reflected%20in%20bumper-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Autumn-2018/i-QHc6Rd9/A)
You've gotta admit, that's one shiny bumper to serve as such a good mirror! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who are also a fan of a certain rascally wagon,
There was one last upgrade needed to get Biquette "finished" at least as far as the drive train was concerned. Biquette had lost her OEM axle in 2010 and it has been replaced by one from a 1964 Pontiac Tempest from a junkyard. Obviously, that axle wasn't going to take the torque of a Buick big-block for much longer, so something had to be done. There are a number of options when it comes to crate axles. There is of course the Chevy 10 bolt and 12 bolt. However, Greg at Orinda Classic Car is a big fan of the Ford 9" crate axle. Such adoration seems like folly since how are you going to fit a Ford axle on to a GM vehicle. Step in Currie Enterprises and their Ford 9" crate axle for 1964-72 GM applications:
https://www.currieenterprises.com/64-72-a-body-crate-rearends (https://www.currieenterprises.com/64-72-a-body-crate-rearends)
At first, I wasn't very enthusiastic about this suggestion. After all, a Ford axle on a very proud Buick? I also was displeased that there were only two rear and ratio options on the small side: 3.00:1 or 3.20:1. Since the tires would be bigger, basically I had no choice to go with 3.20:1 which was increasing the engine RPM by 12%.
Still, I did some research and I had to agree with Greg that the Ford 9" had the best reputation. In addition, this poor car has plenty of Chevy parts. Why should I stick Chevy for an axle? So I was eventually convinced.
One downside to the Currie product is that you'd better not be in a hurry to get one. It takes about 3 months to have one fabricated. However, eventually one such axle found it way to Orinda Classic Car:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pkVDgjv/0/X2/i-pkVDgjv-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-new-Ford-9-axle/i-pkVDgjv/A)
As you can see, these axles come with your choice of brakes so Biquette has become the first car in the family with 4-wheel disc brakes.
It wasn't too much of a problem to install the axle as can be seen here:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-c4Mhzc9/0/XL/i-c4Mhzc9-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-new-Ford-9-axle/i-c4Mhzc9/A)
The new axle fit nicely with all the previous suspension upgrades. However, those brakes . . . . . .
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-LSVCgFn/0/XL/i-LSVCgFn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-new-Ford-9-axle/i-LSVCgFn/A)
Nice and shiny all right. Alas, they required more fluid than the existing master brake cylinder could deliver. So a larger master brake cylinder and a different design of proportioning valve was required. Also, there was a problem getting transmission gears to match the speedometer to the new tires and rear end ratio. However, eventually this was all straightened out. Today, Biquette was finally able to come home on her beautiful new Diamond-back white wall tires. For comparison, here is a photo taken a few weeks back with her 14" rim and old tires:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pJgPj8X/0/XL/i-pJgPj8X-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-new-Ford-9-axle/i-pJgPj8X/A)
There was a beautiful sunshine, but you can see now "ordinary" those old tires were. Alas today was a cloudy day, but here is the comparison photo:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6XC3kDP/0/XL/i-6XC3kDP-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-new-Ford-9-axle/i-6XC3kDP/A)
You can see how much larger the new tires are. The white-walls are also larger and nicer looking (at least in my opinion.) Here is another angle:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xQRZZ3K/0/XL/i-xQRZZ3K-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Biquettes-new-Ford-9-axle/i-xQRZZ3K/A)
Better still, Biquette's beauty most definitely isn't only skin deep! She is performing much better on just about any parameter you can imagine. With the 3.20:1 rear end ratio, she is accelerating better. However to my amazement, nonetheless she is actually quieter! Moving the engine RPM up seems to put it in a better "sweet spot." She is actually easier to control and the transmission is shifting much more smoothly than at the 2.78:1 rear end ratio. The brakes are performing very well. I had the misfortune of getting stuck in some 1-way traffic caused by some communication cable upgrades. The car sat for 10-15 minutes without a sweat. I'm definitely very pleased! We have some of those digital speed limit signs that report your speed. I checked the speedometer against those and it does look spot on. So at last I can know what my speed is and can finally start tracking gas mileage.
As always there are still a few details to be settled, but at least Biquette is in large measure "finished" at least as far a the drive-train is concerned!
Thanks for your support! :thumbsup:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Yeah. You keep this sort of "modifications" going, I suspect we will see this billy goat wagon with it's front paws in the air clawing and pawing toward the far end of the 1320 in the rutting spring season, seeking a 12 second time...
:laughing7:
(...with a camper in trail.)
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who like their cars to be spick and span,
As someone who is constantly struggling to keep up all the things I need to do, it should be no surprise that I didn't manage to give my trusty wagon her fall wash and wax until this past Monday. It is certainly the latest I've finished up with the cars. I use a foaming sprayer as a pretreatment. Somehow it reminds of me of how a dog looks utterly miserable when washed. Here is Biquette from the front:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-B7ZVgCw/0/d81db250/XL/Biquette%20covered%20in%20soap%20foam%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-B7ZVgCw/A)
Here is the foam rolling off the tailgate:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-fVxTRnd/0/c8a22426/XL/Biquette%20covered%20in%20soap%20foam%20-%20back-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-fVxTRnd/A)
It was cloudy on Monday and the weather was bad until today when the sun finally came out. At last I was able to photograph the fruits of my labors:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-BvWtMrK/0/bc907499/XL/Biquette%20in%20Moraga%20-%20starboard%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-BvWtMrK/A)
Here is the passenger side of the tailgate:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-B5HP2Jr/0/29ad5478/XL/Biquette%20-%20starboard%20rear-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-B5HP2Jr/A)
Here is the driver's side front:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-f9cNNTk/0/90d224b6/XL/Biquette%20-%20port%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-f9cNNTk/A)
Finally the driver's side view of the tailgate:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-QTm6tQm/0/57637b33/XL/Biquette%20-%20port%20rear-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-QTm6tQm/A)
However late it was, Biquette did turn out very nicely! :angel4:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. If anybody is curious about the techniques and products I'm using I'll be glad to share, but I certainly don't want to bore the community with any nitpicking details.
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She looks very nice, Edouard. I'm going to hold that thought until about May here in Michigan.... :BangHead:
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who's cars are members of the family,
It has been unusually cold here in Northern California and the birds responded with their usual enthusiasm. They devoured even more bird seed! So my trusty wagon got the call to fetch some more:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Autumn-2018/i-SX9RrQd/0/aefc4f10/XL/Biquette%20bringing%20home%20bird%20seed-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Autumn-2018/i-SX9RrQd/A)
At least the sun came out to make for a decent picture.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Is that bird seed on the roof ? or is it something on the other side of the Buick.... hard to tell.. Its great that you get to drive your Buick this time of year. Last year we had a warm fall so i drove my Buick's till the second week in December, but not this year ! All my Buick's are in hibernation until March or April whenever the Spring rains wash off all the rock salt from the city streets. That's life in the rust belt Big City... Snow showers again tomorrow :sad1:
Tony
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-Edouard ,
Good to see the rascally billy-goat wagon thinking of the small feathered Special Skylarks and such fast flying friends....
May you and yours have a Merry Christmas!
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Dear Tony, Michael, and mid-60s Buick lovers, :love4:
Is that bird seed on the roof ? or is it something on the other side of the Buick.... hard to tell..
Actually that is a pallet of bird seed stacked on a terrace behind my trusty wagon. This store gets pallets of seed on Wednesdays. I don't know how much seed these folks sell a week but it is a lot!
Its great that you get to drive your Buick this time of year. Last year we had a warm fall so i drove my Buick's till the second week in December, but not this year ! All my Buick's are in hibernation until March or April whenever the Spring rains wash off all the rock salt from the city streets. That's life in the rust belt Big City... Snow showers again tomorrow :sad1:
Sorry to hear that the bad weather closed in on you so quickly. Let's hope for an early spring!
Good to see the rascally billy-goat wagon thinking of the small feathered Special Skylarks and such fast flying friends....
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . Funny . . . I thought Skylarks were like Specials and they fueled up on gasoline - not bird seed! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who keep their cars inside when the weather is unfriendly,
The weather is supposed to turn wet starting tonight and rain on and off through most of next week. Yesterday looked like the last chance for my trusty wagon to run a simple grocery errand before heading inside to wait for the weather to improve. We have been socked in with low clouds and fog. It is unusual cold and dreary for coastal California. I wasn't planning on taking a picture, but the background presented itself so I took my best shot:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Winter-2018-19/i-WvzG7WQ/0/22353287/XL/Biquette%20in%20front%20of%20a%20tree%20without%20leaves-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Winter-2018-19/i-WvzG7WQ/A)
All I had was my iPhone, but I managed to line up the tree very nicely behind Biquette. The effect is very much the feel of wintertime in California. With the Winter Solstice happening tomorrow it is a timely photo before even a California Buick needs to hibernate for a little bit.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Times can be tough for 1965 rascally wagons. Biquette is different, but very few people have any idea of how old she actually is. She can attract some puzzling stares, but most people ignore her. The muscle car crowd can get excited when they hear her exhaust, but these are also very rare these days.
Still sometimes I can drive into a random spot and get all sorts of people excited. Today, I made our monthly run to get bird seed and somehow all sorts of people noticed Biquette! It was a nice sunny day, so the chrome and shiny paint here especially at their best. Still, I was just lucky. A fellow who was also buying seed nonetheless was clearly a car guy and very impressed! Other people couldn't help noticing as well and complimented how nice Biquette looked.
So when the weather permits, definitely get your pride and joy out on the road! There are people out there who will appreciate your car! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owner who enjoy the exploits of a certain rascally wagon, . . . . .
California has been unusually wet this winter, sufficiently so that we have had some flooding on local rivers. That has made it difficult for a certain 1965 Buick Special wagon to get out for some exercise. Today we are between a series of storms so it was now or never. I just made a quick grocery run, but that was good enough to take a picture of Biquette with some bare wintery trees:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Winter-2018-19/i-nXskP3S/0/1f11dded/X2/Biquette%20and%20bare%20trees%20at%20Moraga%20Ranch-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Winter-2018-19/i-nXskP3S/A)
It isn't the frozen tundra that some of you are suffering in, but after all this is California. Hopefully, the photo is a change of scene and a reminder that all classic Buicks will eventually get out from hibernation and enjoy some fresh air!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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As usual Eduard, Biquette is looking mighty fine. No matter the season.
Loren
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
I filled up my wagon last Monday and realized to my horror that I had only covered 100 miles in the past 3 months. So yesterday I decided to get on the freeway to put some miles on the car. I had barely gotten on when I realized that the coolant temperature gauge was reading an unusual 220? F. I watched it a bit and it wasn't going down. At this point I suspected that the electrical radiator fans had stopped working and I made a run for home. Just as I started to pull onto the driveway one of the hoses blew off from the boiling coolant. I stopped the engine immediately and rolled onto the driveway:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-TGgd73G/0/20110401/XL/Trail%20of%20cooling%20on%20road-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-TGgd73G/A)
Here is the hose that gave way:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-3m6gtX3/0/4ee89e11/XL/Hose%20that%20gave%20way-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-3m6gtX3/A)
I called Orinda Classic Car to confirm that they could take Biquette and then called Hagerty's roadside assistance. Eventually Biquette found her way to Orinda Classic Car:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-gjWppJN/0/f9eedb20/XL/Flatbed%20truck%20unloading%20Biquette%20at%20Orinda%20Classic%20Car-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-gjWppJN/A)
On Monday I hope they will be able to figure out why the electric fans stopped working.
Just another "fun episode" in owning a classic car! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. Still, Biquette did manage to come home. This car has never left me stranded by the side of the road. Quite an achievement for a 53+ year old car!
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Hagerty's towed your car from your driveway? That's service!
Electric fans don't do much at highway speeds. I suspect you may have had a stuck or faulty thermostat.
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Hope it?s nothing serious. Good to see cars out!
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Yikes Edouard. Kitty litter for you!
And what about the radiator cap?
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Dear Walt, Jim, Iain, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's towed your car from your driveway? That's service!
Well Hagerty's Driver's club insists that either they will get your car operational again or they will tow the car to the repair facility of your choice. As to the "service," let me state it as "I was anything but impressed."
Electric fans don't do much at highway speeds. I suspect you may have had a stuck or faulty thermostat.
I'll certainly report on the diagnosis.
Hope it?s nothing serious. Good to see cars out!
Uh, that was the plan!
Yikes Edouard. Kitty litter for you!
And what about the radiator cap?
It didn't occur to me to check the radiator cap. It "appeared" Biquette would be quickly towed to Orinda Motors, so I tried to indeed clean up as fast as I could. The engine bay didn't end up as awful as I feared considering the shower of coolant it was exposed to. I still have some residue to clean on the driveway. That's one of the projects for today.
I'll keep everybody posted as details develop!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
Greg and da' gang at Orinda Classic Car were on the case and they quickly confirmed my initial hypothesis. It turned out the electric fans weren't working. The reason is somewhat odd. The fuse protecting the fans got displaced and warped. As a result, the fuse wasn't making good contact and couldn't supply sufficient current. I checked the situation out this afternoon. Unfortunately that fuse is jammed in between the battery and the inner fender on the lip of the outer fender sheet metal as it bends around. The electric fans weren't the original plan. I was hoping to go with a mechanical fan, but the original shroud had to be trimmed so much that it lost all rigidity, so the electric fans became plan-B and the electrical had to be back-fitted at the last minute. I tried to take photo, but there just wasn't enough space.
The plan is to replace this fuse holder with a beefier one that shouldn't be vulnerable to wrapping. Of course it is on order and won't show up for at least a day. However, if you are a classic car that has to be laid up somewhere, at least at Orinda Classic Car there is plenty of "mature cars" to keep you company!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-NbjDM9G/0/485c724a/M/Biquette%20surrounded%20by%20classic%20cars-M.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquettes-cooling-system-boils-over/i-NbjDM9G/A)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Glad to hear a solution in imminent. I like the 64 GTO too.
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Have you considered a self-resetting circuit breaker instead of a fuse?
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Dear Jim, Brian, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Glad to hear a solution in imminent. I like the 64 GTO too.
I should be able to bring her home soon. However, then I need to carefully clean everything!
Have you considered a self-resetting circuit breaker instead of a fuse?
I see your point and I'll think about it. Still, while some sort of a safety device is necessary, the expectation is that you'll never need it except in some sort of a catastrophic situation. Certainly in a serious front end collision a fuse might be safer.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Any word on a remedy, Edouard?
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Dear Iain and 65GS.com fans of a certain certain rascally wagon,
Any word on a remedy, Edouard?
Sorry, yes I have been remiss in keeping everybody up to date. The plot has definitely taken a few more twists. The fans was reconnected to the power and I brought Biquette home on Wednesday the 20th. The next day I had about an hour and hoped to clean the engine bay from all the remaining coolant residue. I got all my tools ready - tried to start Biquette - NOTHING! :icon_scratch: She just kept cranking and cranking. I tried several times and went as far to hook up my laptop and log the failed start. The electronic fuel injection system didn't report any faults - just my luck! :BangHead:
We've had a lot of rain this past week so I really couldn't do much of anything. Finally I managed to locate the diagnostic info for the FAST E6 ignition box and found that there is an LED status light. This past Wednesday I had 20 minutes and I checked to see if the E6 box was dead. However, the LED give the "OK" signal after the startup check. So I decided to try starting the car - what did I have to lose? The engine roared back to life!
Now this wasn't the good thing it would appear to be. I wasn't expecting the engine to work. The garage door was closed and a big-block does produce copious exhaust. I shut the engine down and dropped the matter until I could scare up some more free time. Today I managed to give myself about 1/2 hour and looked over the electrical in the location of the E6 box. I did find two broken wires. However, one had a label that indicated it was part of the headlight upgrade project I haven't gotten very far on. Those wires shouldn't be live. Just in case, I wrapped them carefully in electrical tape. Some of the wire looms were loose, so I cleaned that up. I also cleaned up the area around the radiator of whatever coolant residue might have remained.
After finishing all that, I once more tried to start the engine and - success! However, that doesn't explain why the engine didn't work on the 21st. Tomorrow I thought I would drive Biquette over to Orinda Motors and ask them if they see something. In this crafty scheme is my worry that the engine might not start after being warmed up. So I if go to Orinda Motors and then the engine fails - at least I save myself another tow! If the engine continues to run properly I'll cautiously put Biquette back into service. I still have to finish cleaning up the engine bay, so I have some work to do!
As usual . . . . . da' plot thickens! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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When you deal with all things electrical, keep these things in mind.
The body/frame/chassis is the ground.
Over time, many areas that serve as ground path can deteriorate, create a high resistance and all sorts of intermittent and troublesome electrical issues. Add to that, the "new" electronics that are incorporated to 50+ years technology in the manner of EFI, ignition, electric cooling fans, lighting and other sundry items, and the variables increase (as do the points of failure).
So, back to basics. Good and proper grounds are your best friend. Second, is using relays wherever possible/practical.
And with all things, "change one thing at a time and thourlly test".
Last, but not least. Document, document, document.
While you mat think your memory is a faultless checkpoint, you will be surprised at the most simple, obvious thing you overlook because you based your work on your memory, rather than your notes...
But, the upside is that you will never forget the thing you missed, when it laughs in your face.
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Dear Michael and mid-60s Buick electricians,
Thanks for the advice, I still haven't had a chance to get back to this project.
Add to that, the "new" electronics that are incorporated to 50+ years technology in the manner of EFI, ignition, electric cooling fans, lighting and other sundry items, and the variables increase (as do the points of failure).
There is one additional twist to the plot. All the electronics of the electronic fuel injection is wired directly to the battery bypassing the traditional vehicle ground. The reason is that these electronics are sensitive to any sort of radio frequency interference. Effectively the manufacturers direct you to use the battery as a "quench" for any interference that might be generated by other devices on the car. So the *hope* is that problems with that electronics can only be loose wires. I didn't see anything loose yesterday. I'll look again today.
Thanks again,
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. It just started to rain so on second thought, I think I put off this troubleshooting exercise until we get some drier weather.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
We have had an usually wet Spring until this past week. When the weather cleared I brought Biquette over to Orinda Classic Car Center to have them double-check the EFI wiring. They didn't see anything out of place either so I have to blame the starting problems of March 21st on gremlins! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/gremlin_emoticon.png)
With all obstacles finally out of my way, I was able to clean up the engine bay as best I could of the remaining coolant residue. It was no engine detailing, but it was nice to have clean engine once more:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-2019/i-Zrs7J8t/0/a8110cfc/XL/Engine%20bay%20after%20basic%20cleaning-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-2019/i-Zrs7J8t/A)
Not as exciting as all the work the rest of you are doing, but at least Biquette can go back to her domestic chores. Now I need to find the time to give all cars in the motor-pool their Spring wash and wax.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Bill asked how I managed to cut the steel part of the dash to make room for the outer A/C vents. It was quite an ordeal. Since it was involved, I'll write it up here. I bought some OEM vents on eBay. I then spent a very long period of time trying to come up with paper templates that would follow the contours of the vents. I then used the templates to figure out where on the dash they would have to fit in order to be flush. These are 3 dimensional shapes and I was counting on the fact that the paper would fit "flat" on a curved surface. I was off on the passenger side by about 1/2". That had to be repaired by welding. On the driver's side I was able to make the hole close enough to target.
Here is the template taped onto the dash ready for the cutting to begin:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-CKpxWPM/0/3ef3cd49/X2/Driver%27s%20side%20template-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-CKpxWPM/A)
I started by drilling a few holes and then switched to a Dremel tool that appears to be no longer produced - the Trio:
https://www.dremel.com/en_US/dremel-press-releases/-/asset_publisher/rSeHpKK9sJI4/content/new-dremel-trio-makes-do-it-yourself-projects-easy-and-efficient (https://www.dremel.com/en_US/dremel-press-releases/-/asset_publisher/rSeHpKK9sJI4/content/new-dremel-trio-makes-do-it-yourself-projects-easy-and-efficient)
I worked my way toward the edge of the template like this:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-DsTtkLH/0/7cfcccb2/X2/Starting%20to%20open%20up%20hole-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-DsTtkLH/A)
Finally, I got close enough that I would start test fitting the vent housing to see how I was doing:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-hWfHHV6/0/875444e1/X2/Hole%20with%20template-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-hWfHHV6/A)
Here is en example of test fitting the vent:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-kVLvmNH/0/2f3e412c/X2/A-C%20Vent%20test%20fitted-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-kVLvmNH/A)
Finally, the vent fit snugly as it was supposed to:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-n6mCvXG/0/ade7be9c/X2/A-C%20Vent%20test%20fitted%20%281%29-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-n6mCvXG/A)
Here is the resulting finished hole:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-ChtPxhh/0/153f18ec/X2/Final%20appearance%20of%20hole-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Cutting-drivers-side-outer-AC-vent-hole/i-ChtPxhh/A)
I have the templates still on my computer if anybody is bold enough to try this conversion. I think I could fix up the passenger side template to get close to the ball-park. Still, the process does require a lot of careful test fitting.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Lots of test fitting for sure! And the vents fit better before the ducts were installed behind them. Very stiff and influence the seating of the ball vent housing. Touch up required!!
A great weekend to all. Snow or not!!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Nice job Ed, but now my feelings are hurt :dontknow: Ive always like that wagon, and over the course of the last few years, I never realized it was repowered with a 430. Hmmm. So now I get to pick on you haha. What did you do for YOUR radiator, especially since its a BBB AND air conditioning? I am gonna be replacing my lower Core Support frame with a unit from a '65 4 row radiator. Well thats what it looks like. The pads are about one row wider looking than the top plate I got from Chuck.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and Ive never hit a stumbling block like this. I really kinda know what to do, but like a ship in a narrow channel, I am constrained by my draft. The draft in this case being my budget. I cant afford any mistakes, financially. As it stands right now in MU mode, the unit I need is gonna be about a 26"W x 18"T 4 row cross flow. The new CS lower facilitates the BBB plumbing (big hoses) much better than the V6 positioning. I am going to make a bracket to keep the upper hose out of the fan. Speaking of which, what fan did you choose for this? Right now I am down to the OEM 4 blade V6 fan and "maybe" a modified shroud.
Pointers? Suggestions?? I sat in front and scrutinized the affair for an hour today and can visualize whats what and how to do it now. I just dont wanna bite the bullet without some confirmation. Bill
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Dear Chuck, Bill, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Lots of test fitting for sure! And the vents fit better before the ducts were installed behind them. Very stiff and influence the seating of the ball vent housing. Touch up required!!
Biquette has an aftermarket Vintage Air A/C system, so the ducting wasn't as stiff as it was back in the day. However, if you were going to try to retrofit the original Buick system into a car that didn't come with A/C - that indeed would make it that much more challenging.
Nice job Ed, but now my feelings are hurt :dontknow: Ive always like that wagon, and over the course of the last few years, I never realized it was repowered with a 430.
Actually, there is quite a tale to Biquette's engine. It is 445 cid stroker on a 430 block. It produces over 530 foot•pounds of torque and around 500 horsepower. My dream is to pull a vintage travel trailer of decent size. This whole scheme got started when I learned that Arthur Throckmorton had managed to tow his 1968 GS using a 1965 Buick Special wagon to the 2005 Grand Nationals. The consist was over 10,000 pounds and the round trip was over 3000 miles! Here is a photo galley with the whole story:
https://gmcguy.shutterfly.com/pictures/622 (https://gmcguy.shutterfly.com/pictures/622)
Once I learned about this I thought - "maybe my wagon can pull a vintage trailer after all!" If you take the time to go through the photos, you'll learn that Author had a horrible time with overheating. So my choice in radiator was with extreme heavy-duty service in mind!
Hmmm. So now I get to pick on you haha. What did you do for YOUR radiator, especially since its a BBB AND air conditioning? I am gonna be replacing my lower Core Support frame with a unit from a '65 4 row radiator. Well thats what it looks like. The pads are about one row wider looking than the top plate I got from Chuck.
Biquette has the TA-Performance aluminum radiator designed for the 1964-67 Buicks (TA 2055B). However, it only fits the 1965 and later cross-flow spaces. That radiator is probably overkill for your application anyway, but if Biquette is going to be lugging a trailer on route 66 - it isn't a luxury!
Necessity is the mother of invention, and Ive never hit a stumbling block like this. I really kinda know what to do, but like a ship in a narrow channel, I am constrained by my draft. The draft in this case being my budget. I cant afford any mistakes, financially. As it stands right now in MU mode, the unit I need is gonna be about a 26"W x 18"T 4 row cross flow. The new CS lower facilitates the BBB plumbing (big hoses) much better than the V6 positioning. I am going to make a bracket to keep the upper hose out of the fan. Speaking of which, what fan did you choose for this? Right now I am down to the OEM 4 blade V6 fan and "maybe" a modified shroud.
Pointers? Suggestions?? I sat in front and scrutinized the affair for an hour today and can visualize whats what and how to do it now. I just dont wanna bite the bullet without some confirmation. Bill
Walt has already given you a lot of helpful advice on your own build thread. However, you might also touch base with Michael. He offered to give you a hand on this problem and he also has a 64 A-body and he managed to get a cross-flow radiator into it. Here is his posting on your thread:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4251.msg31983.html#msg31983 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4251.msg31983.html#msg31983)
A great weekend to all. Snow or not!!
No snow here and no heat wave either. Last week was brutal for April, but we are back to normal temperatures. I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
Last week I couldn't find any time to get Biquette on the road. This week was looking almost as bad, so I decided to give her a quick outing to pick up some groceries at the local supermarket just a few miles away. On my way I had to deposit a check and that's where Biquette picked up her first compliment. The guy owns a 1969 Chevelle Super Sport so of course he "got da' concept."
It was the other compliment that kind of floored me. Biquette was stopped at a streetlight next to a local school. There was a "granny-type" woman walking a child home from grade school. She got very excited by Biquette! Definitely not the sort of person who usually recognizes a classic car from the 1960s!
So definitely get your classic Buick on the road! The compliments are out there - sometimes in the most unexpected places! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Great to see all ages love great cars! My mom really loves vintage cars.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
My trusty wagon got filled up a little early since the gas sending unit isn't working correctly. Behind me a fellow pulled up who was immediately excited to see Biquette. It turned out this father was a mechanic and had bought a 1962 Buick Wildcat secondhand. He didn't know it at first but it had the 425 Nailhead with the dual carburetors. He drove it for a while before selling it to a relative. Eventually the engine was swapped into another car ending up doing over 200,000 miles! So another example of Buick quality over the years.
Alas, after this Buick the man made a turn. He didn't go to the dark-side, or even the darker-side, . . . . he went to the darkest side! Mopar! . . . . Oh da' shame!
:dontknow:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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It could have been much worse! :icon_biggrin:
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Edouard, here are some longroofs for you. A small sampling form last year?s Power Tour. Variety galore, one of the cool things about this event!
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/wagons-crew-cabs-huge-gallery-long-roofs-hot-rod-power-tour-2018/ (https://www.hotrod.com/articles/wagons-crew-cabs-huge-gallery-long-roofs-hot-rod-power-tour-2018/)
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It could have been much worse! :icon_biggrin:
Amen Brother!!! :thumbsup:
Chuck
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Dear Jim, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Edouard, here are some longroofs for you. A small sampling form last year?s Power Tour. Variety galore, one of the cool things about this event!
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/wagons-crew-cabs-huge-gallery-long-roofs-hot-rod-power-tour-2018/ (https://www.hotrod.com/articles/wagons-crew-cabs-huge-gallery-long-roofs-hot-rod-power-tour-2018/)
Thanks for sharing! :sunny: Even a Buick Sportwagon in the collection! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
The trouble with a station wagon is that they are much less common than other body styles and without working access to cargo area - what's the point to having a wagon?
Biquette's tailgate has given us trouble over the years. My Dad and I tried to maintain it as best we could but we didn't really understand what we were doing. One problem that has cropped up at least 30 years ago was electric tailgate lock switch had become loose. Turning the key to the left would raise the window, but turning the key to the right wasn't reliable for lowering the window. With a little wiggling, the switch would engage and lower the window, but clearly this part was getting "weary."
I had never seen a replacement in all those years - until recently on eBay! I double-checked. It appeared to be the correct part and . . . . . . I absolutely couldn't find it anywhere else! So I pulled da' trigger!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-9H99pWD/0/bc4dfaf7/XL/NOS%20Electric%20tailgate%20switch%20-%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-9H99pWD/A)
Here is two more pictures:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-6rx2VFb/0/1e2a1ee9/XL/NOS%20electric%20tailgate%20switch%20-%20bottom-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-6rx2VFb/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-Jx4psHv/0/55cf517c/XL/NOS%20electric%20tailgate%20switch%20-%20top-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-Jx4psHv/A)
As it turns out, later on I did find a station wagon parts supplier with a 1970s version of this switch that would fit, but didn't have the correct key and he wanted $70 more for it! So I'm very pleased! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/bouncey.gif)
Does anybody know if this sort of lock can have the tumblers adjusted to work with Biquette's original keys? I don't see the same sort of release mechanism like there was for the ignition lock. Still, I can't help but imagine that back in the day dealers would repair rear-end damage to a wagon by replacing this electric lock without having to change all the other locks of the car.
Thanks for your support! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I believe that could be done but they have to remove the bezel on the front of the lock and
it usually gets destroyed and has to be replaced and not sure if most lock companies or if any would have
the correct bezel and the die and or press to put it back on!? :icon_scratch:
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Edouard,
Have you tried putting the key in and turning while looking to see if any "release" pin/point presents?
(http://www.wootmonkey.com/upload/2019/06/29/20190629092453-f5c7f6c9.png)
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Dear Jon, Michael, and mid-60s Buick tinkerers,
I believe that could be done but they have to remove the bezel on the front of the lock and
it usually gets destroyed and has to be replaced and not sure if most lock companies or if any would have
the correct bezel and the die and or press to put it back on!? :icon_scratch:
If there is any risk of destroying the switch, I'll obviously give up and simply carry an extra key. I would only try this if there is a reasonably safe way to do it.
Have you tried putting the key in and turning while looking to see if any "release" pin/point presents?
Well, . . . . . no. That is until a few minutes ago . . . . When I do that look what is revealed! :hello2:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-TBC8qkj/0/d31b182b/XL/Revealing%20tailgate%20lock%20adjustment%20mechanism-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Replacing-electric-tailgate-switch/i-TBC8qkj/A)
By Joe I think you've got it! I'll bring the mechanism over to our local locksmith after the holidays and see what they think. Since they've been in business since 1947, this should be right up their alley.
Thanks guys!! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/thanks_sign.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. Ya' know, it isn't easy to keep a switch mechanism twisted while trying to take a picture! . . . :laughing7:
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
The Orinda Classic Car show is having a special exhibition on station wagons this year. Take a wild guess as to who was immediately drafted for that exhibit! Like all events like this, tickling the press is part of the process to get the word out. An Orinda paper decided to run a story on the wagon exhibit and once more the suggestion went out that Biquette be part of that.
Ever since Biquette has been in car shows, I have had posters telling her story with our family. At the same time I made the poster, I converted the word processing file into a simple web page. However, i was always bit nervous to share this website with the general public. It really represents the story of my life and Biquette's.
I did share the website with the reporter writing up the story on the wagon exhibit and she enthusiastically wanted to include the website link as part of the story. So finally I'm stuck, I'm going to have to clean up this website and make it presentable to the public. Before I do the work of "making it pretty," I need to decide what parts I prefer not to include after all. I've gone over it a few times and I don't see anything really of concern, but I would appreciate a second-opinion. Could you guys go over this website and see what you think:
http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/ (http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/)
Please let me know what you recommend I remove to keep my privacy and that of the family.
Thanks for your support!! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I found it interesting Edouard. Does the story continue to modern day configuration though?
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Very interesting and enjoyable story. I think it would be a good idea to remove the VIN number from the picture it is shown in.
Loren
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Dear Jim, Loren, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
I found it interesting Edouard. Does the story continue to modern day configuration though?
Well, . . . . . it will when I finally get around to finishing up the write-up! What's there stopped in 2013. I'm starting to write up the rest of the story right now.
Very interesting and enjoyable story. I think it would be a good idea to remove the VIN number from the picture it is shown in.
Thanks Loren! That's exactly what I was hoping some extra set of eyes might spot. I'll obscure the VIN number on the registration. I sure wish I could renew the registration once more at $3!! . . . . :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
I thought I had until the first to get my revised website for Biquette completed. Alas, the story broke sooner than I expected. It is online so everyone can read it for themselves:
https://theorindanews.com/2019/07/28/a-station-wagon-named-biquette-to-join-ranks-at-classic-car-show/ (https://theorindanews.com/2019/07/28/a-station-wagon-named-biquette-to-join-ranks-at-classic-car-show/)
I managed to get my revised site installed Tuesday afternoon and have barely gone though it to hunt for typos. Here is the new site:
http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/ (http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/)
I sure would appreciate if folks could look around and see if there are more typos that need to be squashed before too many more visitors find the website.
Thanks for your support! :thumbsup:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear owners of well-performing mid-60s Buicks,
I had a nice outing on Wednesday with Biquette to pick up groceries. Biquette got a nice compliment from a Comcast technician. I exchanged waves with a 40s Plymouth and classic Volkswagon beetle convertible. Definitely classic car season in California! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif)
On my way home a very curious sports car pulled up behind me at a stop light. It was low and had a line of LED daytime running lights. It looked a little menacing, so Biquette and I decided to teach it some manners. I gave Biquette a little extra gas and vroom! Biquette was up to 35 mph in a hurry, leaving this "sports car" far behind. I had to make a right turn at the next light and the fellow returned the favor - gunning his engine. At that point I saw it was some sort of an Acura but I didn't know what.
I didn't have time to look it up until now. WOW! It was an Acura NSX! Here is the Wikipedia article on the car:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NSX (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NSX)
Clearly the fellow wasn't paying attention and after all, I was ahead of him, he wasn't going to pass me. Still, it speaks volumes about why we love the good old-fashioned American muscle car. Biquette's engine had hardly gotten started when she reached 35 mph. As this fellow passed me at the next block, his engine was well past 3000 RPM. The NSX engine has to work a lot harder to demonstrate its muscle than any of our cars.
We might have to catch our victims asleep at the switch, but once in while, mature American muscle does teach those young whipper-snappers a thing or two! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard,
Just finished looking at your website. She looks fantastic & what a great story! Everything looks very well organized. Congratulations!
Jim
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Better be careful if you continue this type of behavior Edouard! One of those bird seed bags will crash against the tailgate and you will have a real mess to clean up.
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Dear Jim, Good Dr., and mid-60s Buick caregivers!
Just finished looking at your website. She looks fantastic & what a great story! Everything looks very well organized. Congratulations!
Thanks! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif) I have found a few errors of various sorts and I'm sure there are plenty more to clean up but it is presentable. I'm pleased at how it turned out considering how much deadline pressure I was facing.
Better be careful if you continue this type of behavior Edouard! One of those bird seed bags will crash against the tailgate and you will have a real mess to clean up.
Ya' know, . . . . you just might have a point there! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Better be careful if you continue this type of behavior Edouard! One of those bird seed bags will crash against the tailgate and you will have a real mess to clean up.
It will be fine. All those road runners would be chasing the goat anyway...
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
Biquette got the call to pick up some items at our local CVS. On the way, I stopped by Orinda Motors to drop of some issues of Hemmings Motor News I had accumulated. While I was there I couldn't resist taking some quick photos. Here is Biquette "hanging out" with the Orinda Motor's station wagon:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-hbBChPt/0/2022736f/L/Biquette%20and%20Orinda%20Motors%20wagon-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-hbBChPt/A)
It was Biquette's lucky day, she even got to visit with a 1968 Buick Electra!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-XGNKQP3/0/a4c924a2/L/Biquette%20and%20a%201968%20Buick%20Electra-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-XGNKQP3/A)
However, I had plenty of things to do so the visit was brief and we then went on to the routine activities for any family wagon!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I really like that Chevelle Wagon! Too darn much $$$ tho... Bill
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Dear Bill and 65GS.com faithful,
I really like that Chevelle Wagon! Too darn much $$$ tho... Bill
That wagon has something of an interesting story to it. Like most repair shops in the San Francisco bay area, Orinda Motors offered a complimentary shuttle service. When they decided to go into the classic car business they decide to use their shuttle service as an advertising tool for the classic car division. So they bought that wagon and restored it along with turning it into a "super-sport" clone.
However, that was before the advent of services like Uber and Lyft. Those services provide perfectly acceptable shuttle service for Orinda Motors customers without taking the time of a company employee. So instead of having the Orinda Motors classic wagon driving all over the region advertising their services, it mostly sits at the shop. It was a clever advertising scheme that fell victim to changing times.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
The Orinda Classic Car show is this upcoming Saturday. Today Biquette got to be washed for the event:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-Rpp7q3Z/0/441567e6/L/Biquette%20get%27s%20washed%20for%20Orinda%20Car%20show-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-Rpp7q3Z/A)
No, she doesn't seem to like being washed, but she does seem to be happy once she is clean!
I refilled her with gas before washing and crossed paths with two classics: a Porsche 356 and a mid-70s GM. Alas I didn't get a good look at it. Still not bad for a 4 mile trip! Biquette also picked up a few smiles along the way. Definitely the height of classic car season here in California!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Did a foam truck explode on Biquette? If it's not clean now it never will be ! Lol
I have also been teaching my niece and nephew the finer points of washing Buicks! I started them on Rendie! My niece did very good she was meticulously! My nephew had more of the fling the suds on method! They both got some shiny new quarters for their banks and my nephew decided he should drive too!
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Dear Jon and mid-60s Buick owners who like their cars "nice and clean!"
Did a foam truck explode on Biquette? If it's not clean now it never will be ! Lol
That's the result of the Griot's Garage foaming sprayer. Here is a thread about it:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2972.msg19711.html#msg19711 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2972.msg19711.html#msg19711)
I'm not sure how much good it does, but I try to use it before I start cleaning with micro-fiber. Any abrasives you remove with the foam won't damage the paint on the second pass.
I have also been teaching my niece and nephew the finer points of washing Buicks! I started them on Rendie! My niece did very good she was meticulously! My nephew had more of the fling the suds on method! They both got some shiny new quarters for their banks and my nephew decided he should drive too!
Cute! Thanks for sharing! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners,
Yesterday was the first chance I've had to get Biquette out since the Orinda Classic Car show. Since it was cloudy and dreary that day, I decided to take some "make-up" photos in the bright sunshine. Before the show I switched to an even glossier tire dressing and I was curious to see the difference in photographs. Here is a photo taken one year ago with the usual "high-endurance" tire dressing I use mainly for protection:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-5F6tLFv/0/f24d02c6/XL/Biquette%20-%20starboard%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Autumn-2018-wash-and-wax/i-5F6tLFv/A)
Here is a photo of Biquette taken yesterday at about the same angle:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-q8mbZgW/0/4affa710/XL/Biquette%20at%20nursery%20-%20starboard%20front-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-q8mbZgW/A)
I don't know how to properly apply this new product. When I applied it just before the show I made a mess on the concrete of the garage, but it might be worth learning how to use it. It does seem to bring shine up another notch. Here is the side view:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-HpgrP25/0/07f231de/XL/Biquette%20at%20nursery%20-%20starboard-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-HpgrP25/A)
For completeness, here is the tailgate:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-bnbFMxj/0/f28b088a/XL/Biquette%20at%20nursery%20-%20port%20rear-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Summer-2019/i-bnbFMxj/A)
I guess I'll have to figure out how to use this stuff after all! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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This is a test of posting a photo from an iPhone using only the Dropbox application.
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Second test of uploading a image from an iPhone.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who have to cope with whatever is thrown at them,
The weather is definitely looking more like winter for some of you but here in California it is a demonic continuation of summer. I'm sure you have heard of the electrical power shutoffs in Northern California. We lost power late in the evening on Saturday and didn't get it back until Monday afternoon. However, things could have been worse. Another internal combustion powered device came to the rescue:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2019/i-g6g6dMd/0/2ae3f1c4/XL/New%20generator%20in%20front%20of%20Biquette-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2019/i-g6g6dMd/A)
We were able to keep the refrigerator, upright freezer, and a few other small things powered during the day. That was enough to prevent losing any food. Alas, we have an all-electric kitchen. Cooking outside on a propane stove in chilly winds was hardly a culinary adventure!
At the moment, we are not being threatened with any other power outages. However, da' trusty wagon may not be getting out soon. They have started repaving a nearby street and now there are large trucks and lots of dust on our street. Definitely not a good Autumn around here for classic car driving - at least for the moment.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear owners of mid-60s Buicks who have to earn their keep.
S-S-S-S-Sufferin' Succotash! Out of seed again!??? :angry1:
I purchase large quantities of seed infrequently to save time. Today was the day to restock and my trusty wagon got the call:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2019/i-mPmSdVN/0/aad6cb6e/L/80%20pounds%20of%20bird%20seed-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2019/i-mPmSdVN/A)
80 pounds of bird seed lasts 6-8 weeks and is definitely wagon work.
Amazingly, a couple who had their SUV parked next to Biquette were fascinated. It turns out the woman's mother had a wagon like Biquette. So Biquette got her dose of compliments for the outing. I hadn't planned on it, but I used my phone to take this photo:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2019/i-xLWWqC8/0/0b2cca2b/L/Biquette%20in%20front%20of%20seed%20store-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2019/i-xLWWqC8/A)
Biquette wasn't by herself either. On the way home I was able to exchange waves with 1960s Thunderbird and Mustang. California is in a drought and our electrical utility is going to cut off our power on Wednesday through Thursday at least. Still, when the weather is nice, and there isn't any other impending calamity, our classics can manage to get a bit of exercise! :sunny:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear fans of a certain rascally wagon,
Gosh darn it! Da' dreaded "green poxes" have returned! . . . . :laughing7:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Winter-2020/i-zLcxfFz/0/3ab43931/L/Biquette%20%22green%20pox%22%202020-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Winter-2020/i-zLcxfFz/A)
I must admit my embarrassment, but I didn't have a chance to harvest the apples off of our Granny Smith tree until this past Sunday. At that point, all I was trying to do was lighten the load on the tree. I assumed by then that all of the apples were rotten. However to my amazement, most the apples were still good.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Winter-2020/i-6txvcr9/0/878706da/L/Granny%20Smith%20apple%20harvest%202020-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Winter-2020/i-6txvcr9/A)
Those apples are certainly good enough for making apple sauce. We have a number of storms blowing through this week, so not the sort of weather to get a classic out for some exercise. However, it might dry out next week.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard, The weather is changing here too, this past Saturday the temperature here in NYC hit 67 ! The parks were full of adults & children running around in tee shirts and shorts (very strange) And by the end of the week it's going back down to the 20s. Most of our major snowstorms occur around the 19th to the end of the month. so the worst is yet to come.
My fruit tree has not produced any fruit in three years so I will give it one more season, if not I will dig out the stump and plant a money tree !! :laughing7: I could always go out in the yard and pick some ripe dollar bills and then use the dollars to buy the fruit of my choice or Buick Parts whatever I need the most of.. But those Granny Smiths look good, enjoy the sauce or the pie (my favorite) if you make one... :thumbsup: And keep the Buick away from the road construction, That black tar is nasty....
Tony :wave:
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hi Edouard, The weather is changing here too, this past Saturday the temperature here in NYC hit 67 ! The parks were full of adults & children running around in tee shirts and shorts (very strange) And by the end of the week it's going back down to the 20s. Most of our major snowstorms occur around the 19th to the end of the month. so the worst is yet to come.
The weather has been very weird here in Northern California as well. It has been unusually cold and what rain we have gotten has been only from weak storms. So oddly enough, you need your rain gear frequently but we continue to fall behind on total rainfall. Definitely peculiar.
My fruit tree has not produced any fruit in three years so I will give it one more season, if not I will dig out the stump and plant a money tree !! :laughing7:
Hey, if you find a nursery that sells hardy money trees let me know! I'm sure I could find a spot in the yard for a tree like that! :laughing7:
And keep the Buick away from the road construction, That black tar is nasty....
I'll do my best, but amazingly, the road contractors are continuing to work even in the rainy conditions. Always a new obstacle here in California I suppose.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear fans of a certain rascally station wagon,
My local classic car enthusiast friend insists that the first of the year and Superbowl Sunday are excellent times to get your classic out for some exercise. So this year, I decided to try to find some quieter traffic and visit a recently restored railroad depot. Sadly the traffic was much heavier than I expected. However, Biquette and I made it to our destination which had once been a popular steakhouse. Here is an online article describing the renovation:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/10/24/walnut-creek-depot-poised-to-go-from-steaks-to-retail-shops/ (https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/10/24/walnut-creek-depot-poised-to-go-from-steaks-to-retail-shops/)
As hoped, the nice and shiny building made a great backdrop for my trusty wagon:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-8FWNnWM/0/4dc67f59/L/Biquette%20at%20Walnut%20Creek%20train%20station%20-%20starboard%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-8FWNnWM/A)
As always, click on the image for a larger version. I tried very hard to avoid including anything in the photos that would give away that they were taken in 2020. Here is a view of Biquette parked on the street:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-fcV6n2R/0/097164f3/L/Biquette%20at%20Walnut%20Creek%20train%20station%20-%20port%20wide-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-fcV6n2R/A)
Of course there were modern parking meters, handicap parking, and other obstacles to avoid. Here is a wide view of the other side of the building:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-dh548D9/0/cb13eb92/L/Biquette%20at%20Walnut%20Creek%20train%20station%20-%20front%20port%20wide-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-dh548D9/A)
Here is a close up at that location:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-mrmZfgZ/0/fb9b8a9e/L/Biquette%20at%20Walnut%20Creek%20train%20station%20-%20port%20%281%29-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-mrmZfgZ/A)
Yes, you can see a blooming tree in the background, California is definitely staring at a drought. Biquette wasn't the only classic taking advantage of the mild dry weather. I saw a Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar both from the 1960s.
Hopefully, I'll find some time to digitally age at least 1 or 2 of these images so they look like they were taken in the 1960s.
Enjoy!!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who enjoy strolling down memory lane,
So what's the point of taking a photo of your classic Buick in front of a classic building unless you do something with it?!? Fortunately, digital aging can be done piecemeal when you have a bit of spare time. So here is the first photo aged into a slide and black and white. For comparison here is the original:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-8FWNnWM/0/4dc67f59/L/Biquette%20at%20Walnut%20Creek%20train%20station%20-%20starboard%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-8FWNnWM/A)
Here is my attempt at a black and white photo from the 1960s:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-Vv2Ltqp/0/c9690a96/L/Biquette%20at%20Walnut%20Creek%20train%20station%20-%20starboard%20front%20-%20BW-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-Vv2Ltqp/A)
I used exactly the same "recipe" as I used on this posting:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,3265.msg22470.html#msg22470 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,3265.msg22470.html#msg22470)
Here is a digitally aged equivalent of a color slide from the 1960s:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-J462j4N/0/b51dd406/L/Biquette%20at%20Walnut%20Creek%20train%20station%20-%20starboard%20front%20-%20slide-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-at-the-Walnut-Creek-train-station/i-J462j4N/A)
For this one I made one change. I decided to go into the color adjustments and further reduce the brightness of greens. Looking at the slides I have of Biquette from the 1960s and 70s, the paint definitely looks more grey than green. So I decided that slides degraded in the greens after all those years. Without the adjustment, the car looks too "modern" to be from the 1960s to my eyes at least.
Stay tune for at least one more image when I can scare up the time!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Ive noticed that too Ed. Seems as though the "fix" portion of the process kept developing after all these years. Were your slides ASA 100 ? Bill
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Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick owners who like to photograph their pride and joy,
Ive noticed that too Ed. Seems as though the "fix" portion of the process kept developing after all these years. Were your slides ASA 100 ? Bill
That's a good question that I cannot possibly answer! The earliest pictures of Biquette were taken by my parents long before I was old enough to have a camera! I'm not sure, but I think my parents were using Kodachrome 64. It was a common slide film for everyday use.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome)
I'm not sure, but I might have been the first to use Ektachrome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ektachrome). I got interested in astronomy in 1973 and soon tried to find ways to take pictures. 64 ASA was definitely not suited for nighttime photography. Eventually I started looking into other brands of slide film and turned to print film which had an even higher ASA than any slide film.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I did quite a few time lapse photographs with Ektachrome slide film. Ya know where you see the tail light streaks behind the cars? Like 1 minute exposures. One day JUST FOR YOU, Ill dig out the slide from 1969 when I was at the top of the Eiffel Tower at midnite! The same from ground level on the Champs Elysees.
The Champs-Elys?es. For glory and grandeur, this is the most famous avenue in the world. If the monuments and symmetrical landscaping don't convince you, remember that Champs-Elys?es means "Elysian Fields" which indicates that someone thought this street was heaven on earth.
RE: The Champs-Elys?es. For glory and grandeur, this is the most famous avenue in the world. If the monuments and symmetrical landscaping don't convince you, remember that Champs-Elys?es means "Elysian Fields" which indicates that someone thought this street was heaven on earth.
Poor storage i.e. moisture and mildew caused a lot of my slides to actually bleed color and become Jimi Hendrix-like posters LOL. They used to be sooo crisp and clear too; what a bummer. This pic is not mine but you get the idea, right? Bill
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Dear Bill and 65GS.com types who stroll down memory lane,
I did quite a few time lapse photographs with Ektachrome slide film. Ya know where you see the tail light streaks behind the cars? Like 1 minute exposures. One day JUST FOR YOU, Ill dig out the slide from 1969 when I was at the top of the Eiffel Tower at midnite! The same from ground level on the Champs Elysees.
The Champs-Elys?es. For glory and grandeur, this is the most famous avenue in the world. If the monuments and symmetrical landscaping don't convince you, remember that Champs-Elys?es means "Elysian Fields" which indicates that someone thought this street was heaven on earth.
RE: The Champs-Elys?es. For glory and grandeur, this is the most famous avenue in the world. If the monuments and symmetrical landscaping don't convince you, remember that Champs-Elys?es means "Elysian Fields" which indicates that someone thought this street was heaven on earth.
Thanks for sharing the neat picture! I did visit France a number of times as a kid and worked one summer at INRIA in Sophia Antipolis. I never have spent much time in Paris though. So I never took it in the famous monuments there.
Poor storage i.e. moisture and mildew caused a lot of my slides to actually bleed color and become Jimi Hendrix-like posters LOL. They used to be sooo crisp and clear too; what a bummer.
Indeed the world and technology has changed so much. I put so much effort into trying to take photographs of dim astronomical objects and later undersea life. In the end I didn't have very much to show for all that effort. I do have a ton of slides stored as carefully as time permitted. Alas, as you say, the colors are quietly fading away as if heartbroken by my lack of interest in them.
Such are the web of relations human being spin in our current state of being. It does feel like unfinished business that will need to be resolved in some sort of cosmic way.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who have displacement and aren't afraid to use it!
Our town has a freeway off-ramp which of course cannot be allowed to back up onto the freeway. To avoid this, there is a section of 4 lane surface street which acts as a buffer before people have to merge into 2 lanes. In a traffic engineer's nightmare, It was necessary to put a stoplight just before the very short merge section. When that light turns red, it is a perfect invitation for a very short street race.
Alas, the plot is further thickened by inattentive drivers. Since we have a lot of egotists in German performance cars, the prudent strategy is to allow the those vehicles their brief thrill and pull in behind them. But what do you do when the driver next do you isn't paying good attention? Yesterday my trusty wagon was going home when I found myself lined up against a Mercedes at this very light. When it turned green I started accelerating modestly, but the other driver didn't race ahead, instead it was hanging almost next to me! With a split second to decide, it was time to escape this dangerous situation. I gave Biquette a bit more gas and vroom! The Mercedes was eating Biquette's dust!
Once more, Biquette's sudden acceleration and loud exhaust made quite an impression on this driver. Because all of a sudden, this car followed Biquette at a very respectful distance! I suppose I successfully got this women to pay much more attention to driving!
Sometimes our mature Buicks need to teach those young whippersnappers some manner! . . . . :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Keep up the good work! I still wish you could take Biquette on a Power Tour some time!
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Dear mid-60s caregivers who like to stroll down memory lane,
Since we are supposed to be mostly at home, I decided to pull out some old photo albums to see if I could find some additional photos of our trusty wagon. The first album I found included this photo taken according to the caption between December 1977 and January 1978:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Early-pictures-of-Biquette/i-qqdhmDV/0/294f19b8/L/Biquette%20and%20family%20shopping%20for%20catamarans-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Early-pictures-of-Biquette/i-qqdhmDV/A)
On the right is Mom, Dad, and my sister are standing next to what I believe to be a Hobbie 18 catamaran. You can see the back of Biquette on the left. The dark patch on the right side of the bumper is a bumper sticker that read "I'd rather be sailing." Eventually Biquette would get catamaran towing duties. We bought an second-hand Hobbie 16 that we were bold enough to sail in San Francisco bay!
A bit of nostalgic distraction to make our present circumstances a bit more tolerable!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Quite a while back, I took my trusty wagon to pick up some groceries only to have a woman jump on me admiring Biquette. Oddly, she suggested that Biquette would look great pulling a vintage Airstream trailer. That started a conversation in which she excitedly mentioned that she had just bought a 1965 Airstream Globetrotter. The trailer was in Arizona and was going to be transported to our location.
Fast forward to last week and I noticed at the end of the very same parking lot the unmistakable outline of a vintage Airstream. When I look a closer look, the trailer was indeed a Globetrotter with an Arizona plate - it had to be that trailer. Sadly, it seems to have been left at the end of a utility road and for the moment abandoned there. Yesterday, we needed more groceries so that was an excuse for Biquette to finally get out. I had to wait in line 45 minutes to pay for items I had accumulated in only 15 minutes. As a result, I was late. Still, I couldn't resist a quick photo shoot:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-a-1965-Airstream-Globetrotter/i-T4hFrt2/0/1e580076/L/Biquette%20and%20a%201965%20Airstream%20globetrotter%20-%20port%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-a-1965-Airstream-Globetrotter/i-T4hFrt2/A)
Here is a link to the Airstream document archives that corresponds to this trailer:
https://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1965-travel-trailer-20-globe-trotter-200.pdf (https://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1965-travel-trailer-20-globe-trotter-200.pdf)
Since I was late I was a bit sloppy in aligning Biquette as you can see in this photo:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-a-1965-Airstream-Globetrotter/i-3tFGzD6/0/f81afd7a/L/Biquette%20and%20a%201965%20Airstream%20globetrotter%20-%20port%20rear-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-and-a-1965-Airstream-Globetrotter/i-3tFGzD6/A)
Since we are supposed to "shelter in place" until at least May 3rd, perhaps I'll get another chance to take some better photos, preferably with the sun illuminating at a more favorable angle. Still, it isn't often that you can park next to anything that was also manufactured in 1965. So I hope this is something of a pick-me-up during some rather difficult times.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Biquette and that Airstream go perfectly together, Edouard! Great photos!
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Yeah, you need to go get that trailer!
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It?s almost as if they brought it for you!
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Edouard, Sheltering in place in an Airstream would be going first class. They really look good together. A marriage made in "American Made Heaven" :thumbsup:
Tony
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Dear Sean, Jim, Good Dr., Tony, and mid-60s Buick owners with a certain taste for making road trips in style!
Yeah, you need to go get that trailer!
Well, I can hardly do that. That trailer is already spoken for! Unless the woman who bought it is forced to back out of the deal, she will be the "lucky" :BangHead: person who will be trying to restore it!
I am definitely keeping an eye on the vintage trailer scene, but I'll be cautious before jumping in and buying one. Biquette definitely ended up being restored mostly out of my ignorance and I dearly paid for it. Vintage trailer restorations are evolving quite rapidly, and there is a new trend that is something like "resto-mods" for classic cars. The idea is to provide as many of the modern conveniences of today's RVs while preserving the period appearance and feel. So for the moment I'm continuing to learn more about my potential choices while indeed looking if there is a trailer for sale out there that I absolutely cannot resist.
Thanks again guys! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who try to use them prudently,
For multiple reasons, I wanted to take Biquette to make our weekly shopping run to our local independent supermarket. Last week, I carefully staked out the area and found a very quiet spot to park her where nobody should have been near.
Alas, the best made plans of mice and men . . . . . :BangHead: It appears that the grocery supply chains have been once more overstretched and that triggered another round of customer hoarding. The parking lot and store was much busier than last week. I had to wait 10 minutes before I could even enter the store and it was a madhouse. After checking out, and of course, sanitizing my hands, I took this photo with my iPhone:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-Summer-2020/i-dNq4F2N/0/6604d0cf/L/Biquette%20getting%20groceries%20amid%20COVID-19%20restrictions-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-Summer-2020/i-dNq4F2N/A)
65GS.com keeps images on the small side, so click on the image for a larger view. If you look carefully, you'll see the people lined up to enter the store. There is a man just above the windshield of the pickup truck on the left wearing a mask. The line continues to the right until it turns the corner beyond the corner of the building. It is definitely a photo of the times, but I won't take Biquette out to this location again until people calm down some more!
I hope everyone is remaining healthy, calm, and composed during these truly extraordinary times,
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard and everyone trying to take your Buick out for a quick trip to the store or a spin down the highway to. a) put a few miles on after a long winter hibernation :icon_thumright:. or b) Four weeks in the house with the family is quite enough :sad1:. or c) All of the above. For me I choose C. Three weeks ago I took both Buick's out for a 40+ mile trip around the area highways so if things got worse I know that they had a good run at least once. Here in NYC Things went from bad to worse, and now we are really stuck at home with no end in sight. So I've been working on boxes of Buick parts that needed to be rebuilt/repaired and painted. As soon as we get some real warm weather I will complete a few more items on my GS restoration project so it will be ready for paint whenever this Covid-19 Virus subsides and people get back to work.
Anyone doing anything interesting around the House or in the Garage during this COVID 19 way of life ??
Tony :confused4:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Last couple outings with my trusty wagon I had noticed that the RPM has porpoising. When idling it could be as low as 700 RPM when the electronic fuel injection system is set to keep it at 800. It was unpleasant enough that I decided to sideline the car until I could look into the problem. I suspected something wrong with the EFI system. The manifold pressure sensor is known to be vulnerable to failure on the FAST Sportsman (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2719.0.html). I figured its time had come.
On Saturday, I woke up my 11 year old laptop to see if it still worked. This is the computer I use to adjust the EFI parameters. Fortunately, no problems getting it going after over a year of non-use. Yesterday was the day I set aside to look into this. Alas, all my efforts to troubleshoot the problem were for naught. First, I tried to get the FAST diagnostics to report which sensor was bad. Having failed that, I took a 5 minute log of the engine's operation. I hoped to see the porpoising RPM behavior. I could then look at the values of the other EFI parameters to see if one was also oscillating in the same way. That looked like a likely way to find the culprit. Alas, the engine really didn’t exhibit the RPM swings. After all this effort, it seemed like I was going nowhere fast, so I put Biquette back in the garage and decided to take a careful look at the log using my desktop computer.
I looked at everything. All the sensor values looked reasonable. The RPM was holding within tolerance. To my frustration, everything looked normal. I did casually note that even the voltage was 12 volts. I concluded that I would have to drive the car some distance before I would see the problem and only logging an extended drive would get me to the bottom of this.
I had other things to do, so this project returned to the back burner. About 2 hours after putting Biquette in the garage, I noticed something very strange: the battery was still being recharged. Normally the alternator is so beefy that the trickle charger reports a full battery after about a minute. Huh? I discharged battery? Oh No! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
All of sudden, I remembered that 12 volt reading that I had overlooked. Since I had gone to all the trouble of getting these data logs, I can show it that way. Here is the first minute of the engine running yesterday:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Biquette%20broken%20alternator/Biquette%20start%202020-04-26%20(scaled).png) (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Biquette%20broken%20alternator/Biquette%20start%202020-04-26.png)
The voltage starts out at 12.2 volts and drops down to 12 volts after the engine starts. You can click on the image for a higher resolution version.
In contrast, here is the previous log I had taken on October 12, 2018:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Biquette%20broken%20alternator/Biquette%20start%202018-10-12%20(scaled).png) (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Biquette%20broken%20alternator/Biquette%20start%202018-10-12.png)
As you would expect, once the engine is running, the voltage is a healthy 14.6!
The morale of this story is an old one: when troubleshooting keep an open mind and pay attention of all the symptoms before you!
Hopefully that's a quick smile before you undertake your next car related project!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard Thanks for the Automotive tech lesson. Now that brings up a question that I have been meaning to ask but it was never really important enough to give it a high priority... But I will as you OR anyone else out there that just might have the answer. Way back when (in the 1970's) when I was in my Automotive Shop class we had a large engine analyzer that we would hook up leads to all the 8 plug wires, alternator, coil, battery and whatever else and it would give a us a full picture of how the engine is running. Just like your graph and most of the cars are tested these days. So my question is. Is there test equipment out on the market today that could perform a complete engine diagnostic on our vintage non-computer controlled Buick's by using a laptop instead of equipment that was as big as a refrigerator. ? Because I just don't have the room for it. I do have several good Tach & Dwell meters along with Timing lights and whatever else needed. But this is 2020 there may be something better that's affordable and easy to use. :icon_scratch: I just don't know.. If there is such a thing please point me in the right direction. Since I now have plenty of time to look into it during lock down.
Tony :idea1:
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Thanks for that information Edouard . Nice write up.
Option B9, I was thinking the exact same thing about a month ago! Did a few minutes of research and then was sidetracked with something else. Hopefully someone else chimes in.
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OK Jim, So I'm not really thinking to much out of the box here, we are basically using the same testing instruments as they did back in the early 50s or maybe before then I just don't know!! But ever since the space race and the transistor things have gotten smaller and more sophisticated. I am not a tech savvy person at all but I hope there is some way we could hook up all of the components and get a true reading on a laptop, just like the new cars can. That would be awesome. And I hope someone out there has the answer so I can put my Tach & Dwell meters in a museum :laughing7:
Tony :idea1:
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I can identify with that Edouard!
Shortly after I got my red 66 back on the road after an engine rebuild, I pulled out onto the main road where it was missing so bad I had to pull over on the shoulder. It had a Mallory electronic ignition and figured that was the culprit. I unplugged it, installed the bypass and was on my way without further issue. The next day I went to start it up and the battery was dead.... and a light went off in my head.... low voltage + elec ignition = it won't want to run. Took a look around and noticed the plug at the voltage regulator was loose.... plugged it back in and all was good! Sometimes it's the simple things!
A cheap digital voltage monitor is avail from Amazon.... it plugs into your lighter socket. Easy to R&R, easy to read, and under 10 bucks! Here's just one avail:
https://www.amazon.com/Zeltauto-Cigarette-Lighter-Digital-Voltmeter/dp/B00VL9JZ0K/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=12v+plug+in+voltage+monitor&qid=1588037916&sr=8-5 (https://www.amazon.com/Zeltauto-Cigarette-Lighter-Digital-Voltmeter/dp/B00VL9JZ0K/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=12v+plug+in+voltage+monitor&qid=1588037916&sr=8-5)
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....Is there test equipment out on the market today that could perform a complete engine diagnostic on our vintage non-computer controlled Buick's by using a laptop instead of equipment that was as big as a refrigerator. ?
Tony :idea1:
Tony, a digital oscilloscope would likely perform most of those functions. It will take some tech knowledge to use it tho.
Take a look on Amazon.... they have more stuff than JC Whitney ever did! Maybe there's an automotive dedicated device.
Better yet, search 'automotive oscilloscope' on Google and YouTube.
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Thanks Walt , I will check out Amazon and see what they have, If anyone else can assist, Please do..I need all the help that I can get :help:
Tony :idea1:
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Dear Tony, Jim, Walt, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
....Is there test equipment out on the market today that could perform a complete engine diagnostic on our vintage non-computer controlled Buick's by using a laptop instead of equipment that was as big as a refrigerator. ?
Tony :idea1:
Perhaps there are hardware issues that make it difficult to make something inexpensive enough for the DIY market. However, some entrepreneur type should definitely look into it!
. . . . .
A cheap digital voltage monitor is avail from Amazon.... it plugs into your lighter socket. Easy to R&R, easy to read, and under 10 bucks!
. . . . .
Actually, Biquette already has a voltage gauge as part of the usual triplet of gauges. Alas, I'm near-sighted and need to wear glasses when driving. As a result, the gauges are in that awkward distance range where they are difficult to read and the voltage gauge is the most difficult to read. Something else I wish some far-sighted electronics type would develop is a way to have gauges and still have the idiot-lights come on when any of the gauges report a potentially serious issue. I would expect in most urban areas, driving a classic car has become a very intense activity with a lot of attention focused on the drivers around you. Having the generator light come on would have caught my attention immediately whereas watching that voltage gauge is another chore in an already very stressful driving experience.
Thanks guys! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Glad you dont Fly Ed! LOL... I seem to remember you considering that overhead mid cab speaker arch and a new headliner. Ya ever think about mounting the gages on the "A" pillar on the driver side?
If you are still using a voltage regulator, theres no reason why you cant have the idiot light on the dash work. The voltmeter just taps off anything keyed 12 volt. Not too sure about the light with a one wire alternator if thats what youre using. That may take some reverse engineering. Bill
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Edouard.
You may consider "range markings". We used these on most engine instruments (dem gauge thingys) in US of Air Force aircraft and even Aerospace Ground Equipment. (the stuff used to support ground maintenance and operations).
Find a local "Sign Shop" and ask for some red, yellow, and green vinyl. Use any round cup, cap, socket, etc, that will provide the closest arc to the gauge to which you want to provide markings.
Cut thin strips in an arc, then trim them to provide the "safe", "marginal" and "danger" zones of operation, then stick 'em on the gauge(s) and you should be able to see at a quick glance if the gauges are "in the green". No need to worry about complicated stuff like "numbers".
Another thing we did in "racy cars" (dragsters) was to orient the gages to all needles would be in the same "clock" position during proper operations. For example, turn all gauges in the mounts, so the needs all point near 12:00 position when normal operating, and, again, you can see with quick glance if you are "good" or not.
(http://www.wootmonkey.com/upload/2020/04/30/20200430231918-6e5737f3.png)
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Exactly why I prefer analog to digital. At a glance you can tell if youre "good" and with digital you hafta mentally process flickering numbers. Especially worse in a shifting condition with loads; pressure and EGT/FA ratios, manifold pressures etc. I built a set of digital tachs for my boat and they sucked. On glassy water they were "ok" but in a seaway they were all over the place. LED digital stuff is "cool" at night tho...
Did a bunch of tugboat engineering and the US Navy (retired tug boats) had a preference for placing the "good" ranges at the 12 o'clock position. That was OK for an hourly walkdown for logging in stuff. I guess when a ship is rolling at 45* and yer hanging on for dear life a check mark for good was OK, otherwise they logged numbers. ws
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Dear Michael, Bill, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, it isn't all that practical in the case of Biquette's gauges. Here is a picture of the triplet:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Misc-interior-photos/i-3WTj992/0/71ea8a26/L/Biquette%27s%20triplet%20of%20gauges-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Misc-interior-photos/i-3WTj992/A)
As you can see, the range where the electrical voltage is acceptable is really narrow. Between that and how nice these gauges look, it simply makes more sense to be disciplined and make the effort to read the values. I had the gang at Orinda Classic Car take a look to see if the alternator was indeed bad. On my way into the shop, I could easy see the voltage dropping to 12 volts on multiple occasions. However, as soon as they started running their checks, the problem vanished! I assume there must have been a loose connection that they tightened as part of their investigations. I brought her home Thursday afternoon and this time the voltage was within the acceptable ranges and there were no more EFI hiccups.
Biquette was built the first week of May 1965. If you look up a calendar of May 1965, that means she rolled off the assembly line between May 3rd and 7th. After the tough life this car has gone through, I decided she should spend her birthday at home, avoiding any outings for the period. It just seems prudent considering the reckless way too many people in the area are driving at the moment. Since Sunday is the 3rd, we'll have a special dinner and celebrate with a tiramisu we picked up from a local restaurant. It is the first time I've managed to actually celebrate her birthday - certainly long overdue! :occasion13:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who are constantly learning more about their vehicles,
Alas, my trusty wagon is still being dogged by some sort of electrical problem. I went back to my first hunch that the electronic fuel injection system was somehow to blame and so decided to log an extended drive to catch the system goofing off. I spotted a problem as soon as I started the engine:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Moraga%20run%202020-07-03/Voltage%20anomaly%202020-07-30%20(scaled).jpg) (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Moraga%20run%202020-07-03/Voltage%20anomaly%202020-07-30.png)
You can click on the image for a nice big graph. I poured over the remainder of the drive and the EFI system is working as it should. So I'm back to the hypothesis that the alternator has some sort of intermittent voltage regulation problem.
I was able to confirm something else that I has suspected for a long time. I also have a personal weather station and make graphs of the conditions. Here is the outside air temperature during the time of my drive:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Moraga%20run%202020-07-03/External%20temperature%202-3pm%202020-07-03.png)
It was an unusually cool day with the air temperatures not exceeding 74? F the entire drive.
However, Biquette's throttle body has a sensor measuring the temperature entering from the air filter. That shows something very different!
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Moraga%20run%202020-07-03/Air%20vs%20coolant%20temeprature%20Biquette%20run%202020-07-03%20(scaled).jpg) (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/65GS/Forum%20illustrations/Moraga%20run%202020-07-03/Air%20vs%20coolant%20temeprature%20Biquette%20run%202020-07-03.png)
As with the previous EFI graph, you can click on it to get a larger image. What you can see is as the drive continued the temperature at the throttle body climbed well above the ambient air temperature. This isn't a big surprise. Biquette has one of those open style air filter holders:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-2S24KX4/0/440796b3/L/Biquette%27s%20engine%20-%20front%20-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Jan-1-2016-outing/i-2S24KX4/A)
These are very popular, but they force the engine to pull air that has been already pulled past the radiator and over the heads. As a result, the air entering the engine was over 30? warmer than the ambient air. That's fine on a cool day like this, but imagine touring Route-66 with the air temperatures closer 100? F. Asking your engine to ingest air at 130? is definitely increasing the risk of premature detonation. Since I'm still hoping to haul a heavy vintage travel trailer with Biquette, I think I have no choice but to come up with some sort of cold air intake one of these days.
Alas, I don't have any easy way to replicate this run using a stock-style snorkel air cleaner. However, I would bet the air temperatures are significantly less than with these open-style air filter holders. So that is a pragmatic reason to stick with the factory air cleaner assembly.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard, It appears you could use a Cold Air Induction System. They make hats to fit your EFI. You would take a tube from the hat to a conical filter sealed to an air inlet through the fender. Below is how it works in my Ford. It is sealed to the SC inlet where yours would go to a hat.
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Dear Good Dr. and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
It appears you could use a Cold Air Induction System. They make hats to fit your EFI. You would take a tube from the hat to a conical filter sealed to an air inlet through the fender. Below is how it works in my Ford. It is sealed to the SC inlet where yours would go to a hat.
Indeed you have the concept down. Alas for mysterious reasons, Buick didn't exactly design the 1965 engine bay for a 1968 engine and worse, the FAST Sportsman throttle body is significantly taller than a standard carburetor. I have an air cleaner assembly with a 1" drop and a 2-1/2" instead of 3" filter element. Even so the nut is damaging the hood insulation. I can't find a "off the rack" cold air intake hat that would fit.
Unlucky for me, I'm resigned to the fact I bought the wrong EFI system. I don't know what happened, but FAST was unable to keep up with the competition and was eventually bought by Comp Cams. One of these days I hope to upgrade the EFI system to something that isn't so tall so I can add a cold air intake. For the moment I'll live with the limitations.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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This one (https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/spectre-lopro-single-plenum-98499/10043109-p?product_channel=local&store=1268&adtype=pla&product_channel=local&store_code=1268&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPlOMDqZSGxCYw9yAowQwOKf6U9JoyhAA9PxJ4to4TMtW60J_Nh3KH0aAqETEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) is only 2.4" taller then the TBI and has a recessed nut. It attaches to a standard to a 4" tube. Maybe it would work?
:dontknow:
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Hey Ed... you could probably make a flat top air cleaner cover and use a, ahem, dodge, 2 inch tall filter. I ended up with a quadrajet and the stock Buick air cleaner on mine with zero hood clearance issues. Bill
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Dear Good Dr., Bill, and mid-60s Buick owners who are fans of kewl :glasses9: and cool! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/freezing.gif)
This one (https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/spectre-lopro-single-plenum-98499/10043109-p?product_channel=local&store=1268&adtype=pla&product_channel=local&store_code=1268&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPlOMDqZSGxCYw9yAowQwOKf6U9JoyhAA9PxJ4to4TMtW60J_Nh3KH0aAqETEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) is only 2.4" taller then the TBI and has a recessed nut. It attaches to a standard to a 4" tube. Maybe it would work?
Hmm, that's a very interesting product! Strangely, I couldn't find it on the Spectre Performance website, but perhaps I was looking in the wrong place.
https://www.spectreperformance.com/ (https://www.spectreperformance.com/)
Honestly, I still have my heart set on this scheme that I mocked up on this posting:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4109.msg29431.html#msg29431 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4109.msg29431.html#msg29431)
However, Spectre has increased its product line quite a bit. Perhaps there is new hardware to cobble into my dream scheme. I'll definitely have to look into this!
Hey Ed... you could probably make a flat top air cleaner cover and use a, ahem, dodge, 2 inch tall filter. . . . .
Which 2" Dodge filter? There is a 14" by 2" filter for Dodge applications? The best I could find was the 14" by 2-1/2" filter that have on now that was some of 1980s GM applications. I would happily switch to a filter that is still shorter in the interim. Right now I'm still damaging the hood insulation!
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look into it!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. Okay I think I've found the original Plenum kit that Dr. Frankenbuick suggested on the Spectre website:
https://www.spectreperformance.com/98499-spectre-plenum-kit (https://www.spectreperformance.com/98499-spectre-plenum-kit)
Unfortunately, I think it is still too tall. I have a 1" drop on the base of my air cleaner. The filter element is 2-1/2" and the nut is digging a hole in the hood insulation. So the distance between the top of the throttle body and hood has to be about 1-1/2". So I'll have to keep researching.
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This Olds W31 kit would fix your engine compartment heat issue. You just need to make it fit.
I think it's the coolest air induction system ever installed in an 'A' body.
https://www.yearone.com/Product/1964-72-Cutlass-442/DN69?gclid=Cj0KCQjwupD4BRD4ARIsABJMmZ_Hosv5Bj9tc4BsNzY7LPz2GHaohDLbnqwvKGK5uTofiMu8ipFCSx0aAv62EALw_wcB#prettyPhoto (https://www.yearone.com/Product/1964-72-Cutlass-442/DN69?gclid=Cj0KCQjwupD4BRD4ARIsABJMmZ_Hosv5Bj9tc4BsNzY7LPz2GHaohDLbnqwvKGK5uTofiMu8ipFCSx0aAv62EALw_wcB#prettyPhoto)
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Dear Kevin and mid-60s Buick owners who want to be cool! :glasses9:
This Olds W31 kit would fix your engine compartment heat issue. You just need to make it fit.
I think it's the coolest air induction system ever installed in an 'A' body.
. . . .
Thanks for the suggestion. It certainly looks wonderful! Unfortunately, it doesn't provide dimensions since of course it is a replacement for a factory system. Given the tight space I have now, I doubt this could be squeezed in.
I'm definitely unhappy with Biquette's present electronic fuel injection system. It has some real annoyances and clutters up the engine bay. Back in 2015, it was state of the art, but not anymore. The latest generation of electronic fuel injection systems are smaller and require less peripheral sensors and devices. However, changing EFI system is a major pain in addition to the expense. I can't imagine doing this without having the new system tuned by a professional. That isn't the sort of thing to take on with COVID-19 running around. So I think I need to keep this project on the back burner for now.
Thanks for all the suggestions though! :thumbsup:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hey Ed... FWIW, dump all the BS and put a Quadrajet like God and GM intended that car to have. My 72 455 sits for 6 months over the winter, I give it 4-5 full turns to prime all the systems, and a pump on the fast pedal to set the choke. Probably less than a turn and its running on fast idle. I do trip it off immediately after its winter nap and it will stall, but thats the only time. The 18 MPGs could be 35, but Ill gladly pay the difference. All the BS about hood clearance and digital tuning etc etc leaves me feeling cold.
My other big issue is just like on my boat. I repowered it in 1990 with a pair of 454 Mercruisers with the "Thunderbolt ignition". Imagine breaking a cap or rotor 200 miles from home? I swapped that over to a G.M. HEI and lived happily ever after...So yer out diving in Lake Elsinore and get out with the dreaded click click click... Uh-Oh... Bill
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Hey Edouard - whenever you get ready to pull that trailer - rv parks are booming. Check out the latest, ocean view at Avila Beach. My favorite beach in the area. Then, I can come visit!
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I see you now have a hurricane named after you Edouard!
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Dear Bill, Iain, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hey Ed... FWIW, dump all the BS and put a Quadrajet like God and GM intended that car to have.
. . . . .
Yes, you are correct. These engines were designed for the Quadrajet and performed perfectly well with a carburetor. However, electronic fuel injection has advantages that you'll never appreciate until you can use a laptop and really fine tune all the parameters. Biquette's FAST Sportsman also has the FAST ignition components so you can dial in the timing with software. It is a lot easier to just listen to the engine and tweak it until it sounds the best.
A carburetor works fine, but cannot provide nearly as much precision in the fuel distribution. This engine has been professionally tuned with the goal of "mellow." As a result, this 445 cid big-block is noticeably quieter than a standard small block. The car is much easier to control as well. We don't have enough turning space in front of the garage and getting Biquette into her stall backward was nervous ordeal. Now I have all the control I need to get her tucked tightly into her corner without damaging anything.
You could probably make a flat top air cleaner cover and use a, ahem, dodge, 2 inch tall filter.
. . . . .
Hey, how about the model of that Dodge air filter!
Whenever you get ready to pull that trailer - rv parks are booming. Check out the latest, ocean view at Avila Beach. My favorite beach in the area. Then, I can come visit!
Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately I still have a few obstacles to resolve before I can pull that trailer!
I see you now have a hurricane named after you Edouard!
Well, it was only a tropical storm and it only lasted a day. There is an interest story behind how hurricanes get named. It is described here:
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml)
Actually, this is the third time there has been a topical disturbance named Edouard that I'm aware of. Since the names are reused every 7 years, there is a good chance my name will show up once a decade or so. The first time this happened was particularly fortuitous for me. In 1994, I was a lecturer at U.C. San Diego teaching (among others) a class on James Burke's Connections (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connections_(TV_series))BBC series. The first episode depicts a sort of doomsday scenario in which technology breaks down. The Sunday after my students saw that episode, the Northridge earthquake (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Northridge_earthquake) struck! With Burke's depiction of doomsday fresh in their minds my students were really shaken! Later that year, there was a hurricane Edouard (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL062014_Edouard.pdf)and it was a good sized storm. For good measure, I put a picture of it on my office door. Years later I ran into some of my students and that class still made quite an impression upon them!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who stroll down memory lane,
40 years ago today, we rented a large truck and moved all our large belongings from our first house of 12 years to this house. The family has resided here ever since. August 15th, 1980 left quite an impression upon all of us - never had the whole family ended up so exhausted after one day!
Before the big day, we were busy moving all the smaller items. Of course a station wagon was ideal for this service so Biquette had a busy summer even if her engine wasn't working right after the first rebuild. Here is a picture taken in mid-July of 1980 with Biquette on the driveway of our "new" house:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Early-pictures-of-Biquette/i-tHGSbwz/0/67d8c6a3/L/Biquette%20on%20Canebas%20driveway%207-18-1980-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Early-pictures-of-Biquette/i-tHGSbwz/A)
It was a busy summer after my first year of college, and to complicate matters, my Dad was frequently away on business trips. This would figure into a particular heroic bit of moving that Biquette was inadvertently forced into. My Dad had a particularly large and heavy desk. Here is a picture of it:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VjJbbsk/0/fc3303f8/L/i-VjJbbsk-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous-/Dads-desk/n-fJZNfD/i-VjJbbsk/A)
This desk should have waited for the rental truck, but for some reason it was decided that it should be moved beforehand. Dad was away on business, so it fell upon me and the rest of the family to move the desk. As soon as I tried, I could see that there was no way to get the desk to fit inside Biquette - it was too big for a mid-sized wagon:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Dashboard-before-and-after/i-stMvS5Z/0/39d6ef67/L/Biquette%27s%20cargo%20area%20%22before%22-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Dashboard-before-and-after/i-stMvS5Z/A)
Still, there was a huge problem. Biquette was the only car we had until 1978. The desk had come to our old house, somehow Biquette must have carried it. Finally, having found no other solution, I took a chance and lashed the desk to the tailgate. It was plenty rough, but the desk arrived safely and Biquette had once more come through.
When Dad returned from his business trip we found out how the desk had arrived to our old house. It turned out that a friend had helped us out with his pickup truck! So as it turned out, Biquette hadn't brought the desk in the first place. Nonetheless, she managed to move the desk to our new house! That was just one of her duties that summer as a beast of burden. She has continued to show how versatile station wagons can be and how rugged cars from the 1960s are.
It may seem like I am spoiling her a bit these days, but if so, it is in part out of some guilty feelings for what I put this car through!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard great story with great photos, Specially your fathers desk ! I have the same exact desk here in my corner of the basement along with some of my Buick Literature . Your Fathers desk is a teacher's desk that could date from the early 1930s thru the 1940s and was probably made by the Indiana desk co. Mine has the date of 1936 stamped under the center drawer. My desk came from an old local high school that was being renovated back in the mid 1980s. Desks were lined up at the curb waiting to be thrown in to the waiting dumpster. So I stopped and loaded one into my truck. I went back to get another one the next day and they were all gone, but the dumpster was empty ! so I'm sure the people in my neighborhood took the others.. I restored my desk and I've been using it ever since then.
Tony :thumbsup:
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers who collect more than Buicks, . . . .
Hi Edouard great story with great photos, Specially your fathers desk ! I have the same exact desk here in my corner of the basement along with some of my Buick Literature .
. . . . .
Thanks for sharing! :hello2:
Your Fathers desk is a teacher's desk that could date from the early 1930s thru the 1940s and was probably made by the Indiana desk co.
. . . .
I wouldn't be at all surprised if the desk came all the way from Indiana. I don't remember how my Dad picked it up, but at the time my parents were very savvy at the garage sale circuit. We still have a good number of things bought over 50 years ago at garage sales. My first taste of miniature trains were used Lionel sets purchased at garage sales. Of course Biquette has to carry all these things home as well!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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We also have one of those desks. I think my Dad picked it up at a yard sale about 30 years ago and refinished it, it is now in my Dad's old office at home (Dad passed a bit over 2 years ago). We were told it was an old military desk, and when you pull the center drawer out and look inside and underneath, it is signed by a bunch of the previous users. It's been a while since I've looked at it, so really don't know the dates on the signatures. Will have to pull the drawer out and look the next time I visit Mom.
Keith
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Old pictures are the best! I may need to borrow the wagon to move a Packard piano.
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Dear Keith, Jim, and mid-60s Buick owners who try to be practical,
We also have one of those desks.
. . . .
Well now! These desks were a popular item that ended up all over the country!
Old pictures are the best!
I still have some old picture to go through. Once the weather improved I was once more overwhelmed by the yard. Alas, California is headed into the heat wave and wild fire season. That may force me back into the house so I can continue the search.
I may need to borrow the wagon to move a Packard piano.
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . . . . Request denied!! . . . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek-sign.gif)
10 years ago I finally replaced our lawn mower and it was the last thing I hauled with Biquette before getting her interior restored. It is definitely time to have that lawn mower serviced and I'm definitely having a hard time convincing myself to carry that in Biquette no matter how carefully I clean and wrap it!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
My trusty wagon is back at Orinda Classic Car Center to get a few issues checked. The 1964 Buick Riviera is still there so I was able to capture this quick snapshot of a mid-60s Buick reunion:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-Summer-2020/i-kcR5fpc/0/d850e79f/L/Biquette%20and%201964%20Riviera%20-%20port%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-Summer-2020/i-kcR5fpc/A)
Outside of Buick-specific car shows, it is getting rare for a mid-60s Buick to meet another Buick of the same vintage.
Enjoy!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who live in "unusual" times, . . . . .
After a far amount of haggling, Biquette got a replacement Powermaster alternator because the old one had a clear voltage regulation issue. I decided to take a picture for documentation sake and noticed something of a surprise:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-Summer-2020/i-q5mFbkK/0/a36381ea/L/Biquette%27s%20new%20alternator-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Spring-Summer-2020/i-q5mFbkK/A)
Particularly if you click on the picture to a get a larger view, you'll see all sort light grey specks. They are especially clear on the glossy black of the radiator top plate. All that stuff is ash from the California wild fires. When I bought her home on Wednesday, I tried to remove as much ash as I could with garden blower - but obviously that didn't work very well! I'll just have to wait for the air quality to get back to normal before giving the car a thorough cleaning!
Definitely "interesting" times we find ourselves in!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
These days, businesses are under a lot of pressure to combat COVID-19. Sometimes they overdo it. That's what happened to my trusty wagon last week at Orinda Classic Car Center. In their zeal to clean up the interior after test driving the car, they knocked off the "B" cover from the stereo:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-vWmpL5K/0/3adc3d94/L/Biquette%27s%20stereo%20missing%20the%20%22B%22-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-vWmpL5K/A)
I did find the cover, but it damaged beyond reuse. So I had to repeat the procedure to make a new cover. The overall scheme is described in this thread:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,3906.msg27658.html#msg27658 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,3906.msg27658.html#msg27658)
I sure am glad I contributed this thread - I had forgotten some of the key details!
I had some spare examples of the lettering printed on overhead transparency film. So I cut myself a group of 3 and started by painting the background glossy white:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-pQ8MkRt/0/207843a3/L/Button%20covers%20with%20background%20white%20paint-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-pQ8MkRt/A)
I created this setup so I could easily mail these covers to anybody who wanted them. This group of 3 fits nicely in a #10 envelope.
Since there was some adhesion problems with the previous cover, I took the extra step of wet-sanding the white paint to make sure the surface was flat and uniform.
Phase 2 is painting the front of the buttons a clear gloss:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-C9Z5vmG/0/6dd2c5d6/L/Button%20covers%20after%20clear%20paint%20on%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-C9Z5vmG/A)
As noted in the thread, you need to cut out the buttons before this step. If you apply the clear gloss first, there is some risk of the paint chipping off.
Finally, I could glue the missing "B". As a further precaution, I bought myself a fresh bottle of CA glue. These glues have a relatively short shelf life.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-FxhrD4D/0/58653b7b/L/%22B%22%20cover%20glued%20on%20button-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-FxhrD4D/A)
The last step is to blacken the edges with a permanent marker:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-JhMsM6L/0/5b9dcc00/L/Edge%20of%20cover%20blackened%20with%20permanent%20marker-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Custom-Autosound-stereo/i-JhMsM6L/A)
Voila! That made my aftermarket stereo look a whole lot more like the original AM radio.
Of course this might seem like a lot of trouble, but modifying Biquette's sound system goes way back. The first attempt goes back all the way to around 1977. I was bold enough to solder a second set of leads to the original speaker - without removing the speaker mind you! Thanks to this "mod," I could connect my mono cassette recorder to the speaker. Why go to so much trouble? Well, having just gotten my driver's license, it became my job to pick up my Dad each night from the train station. Even then, the AM band had degenerated to news, talk, and sports radio. Like any teen of the period, I was desperate for something else!
Things sure have changed from the days when these cars were built!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick "longroof" fans,
It is a tradition at this house to wash and wax all the cars twice a year. Alas, between COVID and other complications finding time for this task is becoming difficult. I did manage to wash and wax the 2 "daily drivers." They will have to cope with the rains (if this drought ever ends.) Biquette isn't going to go out in the rain if I can avoid it, but at least I thought she deserved a wash and fresh application of tire dressing. After spending most of the morning doing that, I got her out of the road to finish drying off. While I was out, I stopped at the Moraga Barn and took 2 quick photos:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2020/i-GrctZHQ/0/660fab0a/L/Biquette%20at%20Moraga%20barn%20-%20port%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2020/i-GrctZHQ/A)
Here is the passenger side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2020/i-HNJLtXt/0/15e1936a/L/Biquette%20at%20Moraga%20barn%20-%20starboard%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2020/i-HNJLtXt/A)
Since California has imposed further COVID restrictions, Biquette probably won't get much service this month. At least when she does get out, she will look her best! :sunny:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edoardo, what size wheels and tires did you go with here?
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Dear Steve and mid-60s Buick owner who are concerned about where the rubber meets the road,
Edoardo, what size wheels and tires did you go with here?
The wheels are the Wheel Vintiques 15"x7" reproductions of the Buick Rally wheel:
https://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels/muscle/buick-rallye.html (https://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels/muscle/buick-rallye.html)
The tires are the Diamond Back III which is their reworking of the BFGoodrich Radial T/As:
https://dbtires.com/product/diamond-back-iii/ (https://dbtires.com/product/diamond-back-iii/)
The front tires are P205/65-R15 and the rear tires are P235/60-R15. I ordered the tires with 1" whitewalls.
I am certainly pleased with how the overall package turned out! :sunny:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard, Your wagon is looking great, Your choice of tire size was a good one. Last month my very good friend and Buick collector called me to see if I needed a set of 15 inch Buick rally wheels with good Firestone tires for my 65 GS project. I asked "how much" He said "FREE" The owner of the rims/tires was ordered by the WIFE to clean out the shed of car parts immediately so the Children can put the bikes in for the winter. So his loss was my gain. The rims/tires needed a good cleaning, but they look great on the GS. Tire size is 215 70 R15 for all 4 .
You mentioned Wheel Vintiques, I ordered a set of 4 14 inch rally wheels for my GS convertible back in July and due to the Covid-19 crisis production at the California factory is severely impacted. The factory now says delivery will be the first week in January 2021. I'm in no rush to get them, I just wanted to let everyone know that if you ordered rims (and other parts too) you will get them eventually. Covid-19 is effecting everything !!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE !
Tony :thumbsup:
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hi Edouard, Your wagon is looking great, Your choice of tire size was a good one. Last month my very good friend and Buick collector called me to see if I needed a set of 15 inch Buick rally wheels with good Firestone tires for my 65 GS project. I asked "how much" He said "FREE" The owner of the rims/tires was ordered by the WIFE to clean out the shed of car parts immediately so the Children can put the bikes in for the winter. So his loss was my gain. The rims/tires needed a good cleaning, but they look great on the GS. Tire size is 215 70 R15 for all 4 .
Indeed the fellow's loss at the hands of . . . . . SWMBO (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek-sign.gif) . . . . was most definitely your gain!
You mentioned Wheel Vintiques, I ordered a set of 4 14 inch rally wheels for my GS convertible back in July and due to the Covid-19 crisis production at the California factory is severely impacted. The factory now says delivery will be the first week in January 2021. I'm in no rush to get them, I just wanted to let everyone know that if you ordered rims (and other parts too) you will get them eventually. Covid-19 is effecting everything !!!
I don't know when you got your last update, but we are back in lock-down effective last Sunday. So there could be even more delays. Alas, Californians aren't known for sticking to their best behavior even in the face of COVID . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/confused_do_no.gif)
On the plus side, I noticed that Wheels Vintiques has expanded their line-up of 15" Buick rally wheels to provide additional back-spacing.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE !
Tony :thumbsup:
Thanks for the sentiments, but I have a feeling we'll need to focus on a faithful and thoughtful Christmas this year. COVID may not be the Grinch, but it sure will do in a pinch . . . .
Oh well, . . . . . Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with a soft spot for d'em "longroof" types,
Biquette made what will most likely be her last outing for this year. She played Santa's sleigh for the delivery of Christmas cards and a cookie basket to Orinda Motors. While she was there I took this quick photo of her parked next to the Orinda Motors station wagon:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2020/i-j3d36MC/0/b43cd169/XL/Biquette%20and%20OM%20wagon%20-%20Christmas%20delivery-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Autumn-2020/i-j3d36MC/A)
There is a smell of burning rubber that I finally spotted to be in the vicinity of the back of the exhaust header on the passenger side. It could be nothing more than an oil leak that I was already aware of. Still, between that and the insane traffic that is even worse thanks to COVID, I think she'll send the rest of the year safe in the garage. We'll see if it safe to come out after the first.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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That Joe Gibbon's Racin' erl has sulfur, and it will present a "burning rubber" smell, since that (sulfer) is a lot of what you smell when a Buick is roasting tires.
(http://www.wootmonkey.com/i.php?/upload/2020/12/19/20201219120134-b576f48f-sq.gif)
"Biquette roasting off her new back tires
WOT tipping from your toes..."
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Dear Michael, and mid-60s Buick owners who also "roast things . . . . "
That Joe Gibbon's Racin' erl has sulfur, and it will present a "burning rubber" smell
Hmm, that could be additional evidence that the time has come to torque down the head caskets . . . . .
Since that (sulfer) is a lot of what you smell when a Buick is roasting tires.
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . . There there! Biquette knows that I'm the chef in this household and that she should never roast her beautiful whitewall tires! . . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick "longroof" fans,
The National Weather Service is suggesting that January might be wetter than normal in our area, so yesterday I decided to get da' trusty wagon out for some exercise while the pavement was still dry. I drove over to a Catholic church in the neighboring town. There wasn't much sunshine, but the south side of the church presented an interesting backdrop:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Winter-2021/i-dD4VWFg/0/04012693/L/Biquette%2C%20statue%2C%20tree%20-%20close-up-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Winter-2021/i-dD4VWFg/A)
If you look carefully, you can see the lights of a Christmas tree in the window just above the hood ornament (click for a larger image (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-Winter-2021/i-dD4VWFg/A).)
One last bit of the holiday season before we return to the grind of January . . . .
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . If you guys are getting a bit tired of Biquette, look at it this way, she is just standing in until Loren can get started restoring his wagon in the spring!! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_grin_triangle.gif)
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So Ed.... where's the handicap tag on the mirror LOL??? Hope you and everyone else here has a profitable (Mentally and morally) new year. 2020 was such a crash and burn that it will go down in history! On a 1-10 scale I honestly have to give it a 2-3. No rhythm and a lousy beat to dance to. Still wrestling the Buick demons across the hall and they are relentless. I thought maybe after the 1st they would have tamed down but not yet. Almost ready to call in the BAD GUY from downstairs. Hmmm.
Only a few small car jobs this year including a few interior faux pas repairs, maybe a radio (!) with SIRIUS and pull the intake off the free the cross-over plugs in the heads; what an abortion that turned out to be!
Without getting all wrapped up with BLUE TEETH (I just had an all white set made haha) whats the latest and greatest AND most cost effective way to go SIRIUS with an original look and minimal "black boxes"? ws
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Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
So Ed.... where's the handicap tag on the mirror LOL???
. . . . .
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . Wasn't the horrible way in which I parked proof enough? . . . . . .(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
Only a few small car jobs this year including a few interior faux pas repairs, maybe a radio (!) with SIRIUS
. . .
Without getting all wrapped up with BLUE TEETH (I just had an all white set made haha) whats the latest and greatest AND most cost effective way to go SIRIUS with an original look and minimal "black boxes"?
Now that you mention it, trying to get a radio with Sirius isn't very easy or cheap. Retrosound has this model that would fit in your dash:
https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1964-67-buick-skylark-long-beach-radio (https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1964-67-buick-skylark-long-beach-radio)
However, that isn't exactly cheap and it still requires an add-on to pick up Sirius signals. Of course these radios are usually heavily discounted in places like eBay.
The only other thing I spotted with a quick web search is this hidden radio:
https://www.hitechclassics.com/products/classic-car-custom-secret-audio-srms-hidden-radio-ipod-satellite-radio (https://www.hitechclassics.com/products/classic-car-custom-secret-audio-srms-hidden-radio-ipod-satellite-radio)
That's a better price, but no bargain and this would involve a box you would need to hide somehow.
It might be easier to go with a portable Sirius radio. It is a hassle, but it is much easier on your wallet. Perhaps you could find a portable radio that you could manage to wire to the car's original speakers. Does BADLAD already have some sort of sound system? If not, perhaps you could look into a single system that you could use in either car.
That's a few thoughts anyway, . . . . .
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Since I have SiriusXM on my daily driver, and stream on my phone and home computer. Installed a custom auto sounds 740 in my Skylark. I use the Bluetooth option on the 740 and stream from my phone. Works great. When I shut off the car and restart later it just continues where I disconnected.
Also call SiriusXM when your bill is due and negotiate a lower renewal bill. I have be getting 40 to 50 % off for the last 5 years. Ask for customer retention and be friendly.
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Thanks guys.... another investment! Right now I have a flip phone and a burned out AM radio with a single front speaker LOL... I need a little CONSTERNATION on this one... ws
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Dear Jim, Bill, and mid-60s Buick audiophiles,
Since I have SiriusXM on my daily driver, and stream on my phone and home computer. Installed a custom auto sounds 740 in my Skylark. I use the Bluetooth option on the 740 and stream from my phone. Works great.
. . . .
Okay, I didn't know you could get Sirius to run on a smart phone. That's an interesting idea.
Thanks guys.... another investment! Right now I have a flip phone and a burned out AM radio with a single front speaker LOL... I need a little CONSTERNATION on this one... ws
Agreed you'll need to make some investments, but it might be still less expensive than trying to get some sort of direct Sirius solution for BADLASS. RetroSound has another stereo model with Bluetooth that is about 1/2 the price of the one I quoted above
https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1964-67-buick-skylark-hermosa-radio?rq=yr_1964~mk_buick~md_skylark&variant=35170441550 (https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1964-67-buick-skylark-hermosa-radio?rq=yr_1964~mk_buick~md_skylark&variant=35170441550)
I don't know what is the cheapest possible smart phone you can get, but I would hope you can grab some sort of an android model at a bargain price. Okay at this point you would have to hold your nose and install the Sirius app on the phone and connect it to the stereo. I would hope that isn't too painful and perhaps Jim can offer some pointers. Once you've done that, your music streaming would be good for the life of the phone.
Going this route could save you a few hundred bucks. Unfortunately, when it comes to services like Sirius, you just aren't going to have much luck looking for discontinued and used stuff.
Alas, those technology guys - can't easily live with them but it is getting increasingly difficult to live without them.
Oh well, . . . . . Edouard
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That one on amazon is actually 20.00 more with optional face plates etc,, but doesnt include an optional Sirius package (70.00 with a full rebate).
This is just an amazon page with yours and a ton of chinese 30.00 FM units (generic). I kinda hate to cut my dash up as its perfect (as in 100% nice AND correct) for a 1964. If I can find a "decent" replacement dash and hack it up for a radio, then mounting the gages there as well is a no brainer... DECISIONS! BTW, a lot of the chinaradios have 32G flash drive plugs but they are in the back; extension cord perhaps?? ws
Also was confused by a 1. 1.5, or 2 DIN mount; read on: Ahhh New York, New York ;-))
https://www.retromanufacturing.com/blogs/news/bigger-is-better-one-and-a-half-times-better (https://www.retromanufacturing.com/blogs/news/bigger-is-better-one-and-a-half-times-better)
https://www.amazon.com/Hermosa-Radio-Chrome-Bezel-HC-M2-01113-03-73/dp/B07TVF4HV5 (https://www.amazon.com/Hermosa-Radio-Chrome-Bezel-HC-M2-01113-03-73/dp/B07TVF4HV5)
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Fairly simple to connect. Yes you download the SiriusXM app on your phone. I set the app up as automatic sign in whenever I open the app.
Turn on the radio and go to Bluetooth mode, have your phone in Bluetooth settings, recognize the radio when it pops up. Open the app and pick your station. (I have several stations on my favorites)
Once it's set up, just turn on the radio, open the app and pick a channel. When I shut off the car the app pauses. After restarting my trusty sport coupe, just hit play on the phone and music is back!
The 740 also comes with a microphone you can plug in the back of the radio and do phone calls like in a modern car. You can also load your music on a thumb drive and plug in the 740,switch to the USB mode and listen to music. Here's the one I have... no dash cutting and I used original knobs. Also can listen to my playlists in my phone music app.
https://customautosoundmfg.com/product/custom-in-dash-radios/usa-740?&autoMake=buick&autoModel=all-buicks&autoModel=all-buicks&product=cam-buk-72-740
The picture is before the radio was centered.
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What I have done is use a portable Bluetooth speaker. I just set the speaker on the passenger floorboard. It is hooked to my phone through Bluetooth. Then I can listen to Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, or any other music streaming service from my phone. I don't like paying $15/month for Satellite radio when I can get it for free (with ads) from other services, or have it included with a service I'm already paying for (like Amazon Prime).
Here's one for less than $25. https://www.amazon.com/Enhanced-Splashproof-Portable-Bluetooth-Radiator/dp/B010OYASRG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=bluetooth+speaker&qid=1609801924&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVlNVVEJQS0FLTkNTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDY1NDEwT0MwMzNKR05LWEdJJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyOTIzNzIyRDBNSlAxV1FPMUM5JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== (https://www.amazon.com/Enhanced-Splashproof-Portable-Bluetooth-Radiator/dp/B010OYASRG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=bluetooth+speaker&qid=1609801924&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVlNVVEJQS0FLTkNTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDY1NDEwT0MwMzNKR05LWEdJJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyOTIzNzIyRDBNSlAxV1FPMUM5JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==)
Another benefit of this approach is that when you're not driving your old car, you can use the speaker out in the garage or the yard or ????
Keith
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Keith, that's cool too. I do that everyday at work. I'm using different trucks all the time, so I carry my JBL Bluetooth speaker in my gym bag and also use it in my garage. I also use the Amazon music app and my music playlists on my phone.
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Dear Jim, Keith, and mid-60s Buick audiophiles,
. . . .
The picture is before the radio was centered.
Thanks for sharing the photo of your Custom Autosound 740 installation. It certainly looks very nice and period correct. I've had a Custom Autosound stereo in Biquette since the mid-1990s. That company seems to have a better sense of what looks right in a classic vehicle.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners,
A collector car friend of mine decided that a great time to drive your classics is during the Superbowl. With everyone glued to their TV the roads are much more quiet. Since both our local NFL football teams have put profits before fan loyalty, it didn't take much to get me to follow his lead. This year, I decided to take some photos next to an old department store building that has long been closed. During the week, there are lots of cars parked in the area, but surely on Superbowl Sunday the area would be completely vacant - right?
Alas no - there were cars parked in exactly the position I had staked out fro my photos, so I had to come up with a Plan-B in a hurry. I started by taking this photo behind the building housing Orinda Motors:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-pzMmckH/0/ca4a1b68/L/Biquette%20behind%20Orinda%20Motors-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-pzMmckH/A)
The building dates from before the 1930s so it was a perfect backdrop for a digitally aged photo. For this example, I decided to make it into a faded slide:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-VcMNxdX/0/d53521c8/L/Biquette%20behind%20Orinda%20Motors%20%28slide%29-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-VcMNxdX/A)
In the end perhaps not the best choice because in part I only backdated the image to around the 1980s. I had a slide from the time as a reference, and fortunately, even 40 year old slides hold up a lot better than slides just 10 years older.
There is a country club golf course nearby and some houses that clearly are quite old. A stone wall separates a road from this location and that was my next photo venue:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-fC5K42c/0/5e6b6064/L/Biquette%20next%20Orinda%20Country%20Club-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-fC5K42c/A)
This photo I made into a backdated black and white image:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-78GxMjM/0/fe019717/L/Biquette%20next%20Orinda%20Country%20Club%20%28B-W%29-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-78GxMjM/A)
I think this recreation turned out a lot better than the first.
I took one more picture but decided the background wasn't suitable for digital aging:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-hzqhNbZ/0/05b9fed1/L/Biquette%20on%20street%20next%20to%20Orinda%20Motors-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquettes-Superbowl-outing-2021/i-hzqhNbZ/A)
That's all the time I had and I returned home to all the waiting chores.
For your viewing pleasure . . . . . . Enjoy! :sunny:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Very nice pictures...always enjoy your choice of locations. :thumbsup:
Super Bowl time is a perfect time for a drive for a classic car, but not here in Chicago and the surrounding area. The streets are covered with snow and rock salt, not to mention single digit temps.
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Dear Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers who's beauties are taking their long winter's nap.
Very nice pictures...always enjoy your choice of locations. :thumbsup:
Thank you! I do enjoy the challenge of coming up with something new. I just would have preferred not to have to come up with something new on such short notice!
Super Bowl time is a perfect time for a drive for a classic car, but not here in Chicago and the surrounding area. The streets are covered with snow and rock salt, not to mention single digit temps.
Indeed well understood. That's why I make an extra effort to post photos in the wintertime. It is a way to share the California sunshine with those parts of the country that could really use it! :sunny:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Very nice pictures...always enjoy your choice of locations. :thumbsup:
Super Bowl time is a perfect time for a drive for a classic car, but not here in Chicago and the surrounding area. The streets are covered with snow and rock salt, not to mention single digit temps.
Hey Jimbo... Its even worser up around the 45th! Bill from North of the Cheddar Curtain... ws
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Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick caregivers who flirt with the arctic circle! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Snow_playing.gif)
Hey Jimbo... Its even worser up around the 45th! Bill from North of the Cheddar Curtain... ws
Brrrrrr!!!! Just seeing those pictures make me feel chilled! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/freezing.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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What happened to global warming?? It?s been snowing since last night. Just finished up shoveling and salting for the last hour and a half. Ran out of places to put the snow.
When we retire in a few years, we?re outta here.
Bill, you left Chicago and went the wrong way. :hello:
Edouard, box up some warm sunshine and send it up to Bill and I. :sunny:
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We had to leave because of the DEMONGRAPHICS! They all followed us LOL... Right now its about +5 with a howling hawk outa the NW at 25-30 mph. The 'ol atom smasher has been running at just sub-critical for the last week. Spent the day out in the shop cutting aluminum plate for the boat job; thinking about summer. Im staying inside tomorrow, after the chores that is! Bill
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Dear Jim, Bill, and mid-60s Buick caregivers who complain about the weather, . . . .
What happened to global warming??
Beware! It is simply saving up all its heat to make you really sweaty and miserable next summer! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/sweaty.gif)
Edouard, box up some warm sunshine and send it up to Bill and I. :sunny:
Well, we aren't freezing cold like you guys, but it has been cloudy and cold by California standards. Unfortunately all of this appears to be due to La Nina. Not only are you guys getting the arctic treatment, but California headed for one of the worse drought years in history. (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/desert-smiley.gif)
We had to leave because of the DEMONGRAPHICS! They all followed us LOL...
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . . . . Ya' don't say! Ya' mean "you know who" had something to do with this! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/devil.gif)
The 'ol atom smasher has been running at just sub-critical for the last week. . . . . .
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . . . That's serious! Well, try to avoid getting things so cold that you end up with a Bose–Einstein condensate! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bose%E2%80%93Einstein_condensate) Fortunately, you have some margin. The temperatures would have to chill to -459.67 °F (273.15 °C) before you have anything to worry about! . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear fans of a certain rascally wagon,
According to the builders plate, Biquette was built the first week of May 1965. May 1965 started on the same day as this year: Saturday. As a result, just like 1965, Biquette's 56th birthday happened sometime between Monday and Friday of this week. Yesterday, I took her out for a quick drug store run and on the way back I took some pictures of the 56 year old wagon. First there is a close up of the front:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-spring-summer-2021/i-hjMsLKt/0/127bd9fa/L/Biquette%20at%2056%20-%20front%20view-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-spring-summer-2021/i-hjMsLKt/A)
I then took a second photo as much to show the background as anything else:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-spring-summer-2021/i-sFhpQRC/0/f96fc034/L/Biquette%20at%2056%20-%20port-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-spring-summer-2021/i-sFhpQRC/A)
As you can see, the ground is already bone-dry and we are under a red flag fire weather warning this week. We have not faced fire weather so early in my life-time. Biquette did get out for her 56 birthday, but she probably won't get a lot of outings this summer either if the weather continues to be so hot and hostile.
I hope everyone else has a more promising summer in store!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIQUETTE!!! Yer step daddy loves you! ws
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Happy Birthday Biquette!
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Happy Birthday Biquette. You truly look better with age! :thumbsup:
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Happy Birthday Biquette!
:occasion13:
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Dear Bill, Loren, Chuck, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers!
Thanks from me and Biquette! :hello2:
We'll double up Biquette's birthday and mother's day this year. Besides, Biquette doesn't go for desserts! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick "longroof" fans,
It is another hot dry summer here in California. That means wildfire threats and . . . . . . Public Safety Power Shutoffs (https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/outages/public-safety-power-shuttoff/learn-about-psps.page). I've started to think about how the family might cope with having get in the car in darkness when the electricity is cut off. Some 30 years ago we bought some solar powered landscape lights, but they are - to say the least - getting weary. Costco had an attractive sale on some solar landscape lights, but I wanted to give my local home improvement store a chance to get my business - so I hopped in my trusty wagon to see what they had.
Just my luck, they didn't have anything like what I was looking for. When I got home and tried to order the lights from Costco - they were sold out! So much for trying to give the local guys a break!
I wanted to take a picture of Biquette in front of the store, but I just couldn't get the lighting to work. So I took this photo once more in front of the Moraga barn (http://www.moragabarn.com/about-the-barn.html):
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-spring-summer-2021/i-TgHWrKz/0/48a49b93/L/Biquette%20at%20Moraga%20barn-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-spring-summer-2021/i-TgHWrKz/A)
Now all I need is some solar landscaping lights! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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To me the best part of owning these 65’s to me is driving them ! I consider it almost therapeutic! Lol My post car is not up and running right now and it is no fun! So drive and enjoy your 65 as much as you can! We are only here so long!
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Dear fans of a certain rascally wagon,
The autumnal equinox is the 22nd this year. In California it is the time that storms start passing to our north and east. In the south this creates the better known Santa Ana winds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana_winds). Around the San Francisco Bay Area there is an equivalent phenomena called Diablo winds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diablo_wind). This hot dry gusty winds make for extreme fire dangers and have prompted our electrical utility to cut off our power in what they call Public Safety Power Shutoffs (https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/outages/public-safety-power-shuttoff/learn-about-psps.page). The first expected Diablo wind event is forecast for Monday night to Tuesday, so it was time for me to make final preparations for potentially having our power cut off. In particular it was time to fill up my gasoline tanks for our portable generator. I decided to increase my storage capacity by purchasing another 2-1/2 gallon tank. My trusty wagon got the service call:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-fetches-gasoline-for-Public-Safety-Power-Shutoffs/i-qzGNHHz/0/ae60e091/L/Biquette%20in%20front%20of%20Outdoor%20Supply%20Hardware-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-fetches-gasoline-for-Public-Safety-Power-Shutoffs/i-qzGNHHz/A)
Outdoor Supply Hardware is a home improvement chain with historical roots going all the way back to the depression. Having all the gas cans I needed, I filled them up at a local station:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-fetches-gasoline-for-Public-Safety-Power-Shutoffs/i-nHFz8Wn/0/3428937d/L/3%20gas%20cans%20loaded%20in%20Biquette-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-fetches-gasoline-for-Public-Safety-Power-Shutoffs/i-nHFz8Wn/A)
I now have 10 gallons of fuel-stabilized gasoline. That should be enough to cope with as much as 5 days of no electricity. The tank on the right of the above photo is our original 2-1/2 gasoline tank. As you can see from this photo, it is quite old:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-fetches-gasoline-for-Public-Safety-Power-Shutoffs/i-2s4SWdF/0/c1a09ba5/L/Old%20and%20new%20gas%20can%20comparison-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-fetches-gasoline-for-Public-Safety-Power-Shutoffs/i-2s4SWdF/A)
My father wrote unleaded on the tank because at the time we had two lawn mowers - one of which ran on leaded gasoline. Since California banned the sale of leaded gas in the early 1990s, this can is somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 years old! My trusty wagon is in such good condition because at our house we literally try to take good care of just about everything!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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It is crazy what you guys have to put up with out there!
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And give me the old gas can any day. It's so frustrating to use the new ones that aim to protect us from ourselves. When I put gas in the Verde Howitzer from a couple of new 5 gallon cans, I had to take the nozzles off the new cans to pour into an old can so my wife and I could then use a tube and funnel to pour it into the gas filler. Things aren't nearly as versatile as they used to be. Biquette is a great example of "old world" versatility!
Thanks for sharing and be safe!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Dear Jim, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick owners to insist - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
It is crazy what you guys have to put up with out there!
Uh yeah, that's a good way to put it! :BangHead:
And give me the old gas can any day. It's so frustrating to use the new ones that aim to protect us from ourselves. When I put gas in the Verde Howitzer from a couple of new 5 gallon cans, I had to take the nozzles off the new cans to pour into an old can so my wife and I could then use a tube and funnel to pour it into the gas filler. Things aren't nearly as versatile as they used to be.
Alas, ditto! My new gas tanks have a silly child-proof feature that is actually quite dangerous. Because of the ratchet feature, it is difficult to make sure the cap is tight and if it isn't, you'll spill gasoline all over the place - this is an improvement!?!?!? :icon_scratch:
I thought about buying one of those nice NATO updates to the traditional Jerry can, but they are quite expensive. Since I had a 30 year old plastic tank already, I really won't need the extra durability of steel at least for this application. Thankfully, I do have that 30 year old 2-1/2 tank. So I'll transfer gas into that old, but well designed, tank and use that to refill my generator!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I have hit up some farm auctions and bought some nice old gas cans. The new ones are just bad.
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Hi Edouard, I have never heard of "Public Safety power shut offs" here in the north east the electric utilities companies ask the large retail companies (Costco, BJs, Home Depot ) and large manufacturing facilities to shut off some lighting and raise the AC thermostat to help conserve electricity on those above 90 degree steamy hot days. This summer we had over 30 of them. Global Warming for sure !
Then Two weeks ago on September 2nd, we had between 7 to 9 inches of rain in one night from hurricane Ida. The streets had become rivers and the storm drains & sewers could not handle the flow and houses were flooded and cars were floating around until they took in water then they all sank.
Luckily I live on a hill, so we were spared the flooding and vehicle loss. But all around us people lost everything ! You have no water on the west coast and here in NY tristate area we have too much and we still have Two months of the hurricane season.
My Convertible & Sedan were safe from the floods, and the Coupe is safe in the paint shop.
Your wagon looks great, like a fine wine getting better with age... My Father always said "If you take care of the car it will take care of you" Words to live by....
Tony :thumbsup:
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Dear Jim, Tony, and mid-60s Buick owners who wish things were as simple as they used to be.
Hi Edouard, I have never heard of "Public Safety power shut offs"
As far as I know Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a purely California phenomenon. It was the Camp fire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campfire) which burned down the town Paradise that caused the electricity utilities to ask for the option of cutting off the power. That fire was started by a high tension power line that fell into tinder dry forest and ignited the vegetation.
All 3 electrical utilities in California have been deferring maintenance, so their equipment is failing in winds that are minor compared to those New York experienced from Ida. They are libel for the damaged caused by fires caused by their equipment failures. So to avoid those billion dollar settlements, the electrical utilities instead cut the power and therefore don't start any fires. So far, no lawyers have managed to sue these utilities for the utter misery they cause to folks when the power is cut off.
Here in the north east the electric utilities companies ask the large retail companies (Costco, BJs, Home Depot ) and large manufacturing facilities to shut off some lighting and raise the AC thermostat to help conserve electricity on those above 90 degree steamy hot days. This summer we had over 30 of them. Global Warming for sure !
Actually we have that problem as well. Moreover when the electrical capacity gets too tight, once more the electrical utilities might cut off our power. These care called: Rotating Outages. Here is description from our electricity provider: Pacific Gas & Electric:
https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/outages/planning-and-preparedness/safety-and-preparedness/find-your-rotating-outage-block/find-your-rotating-outage-block.page (https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/outages/planning-and-preparedness/safety-and-preparedness/find-your-rotating-outage-block/find-your-rotating-outage-block.page)
Then Two weeks ago on September 2nd, we had between 7 to 9 inches of rain in one night from hurricane Ida. The streets had become rivers and the storm drains & sewers could not handle the flow and houses were flooded and cars were floating around until they took in water then they all sank.
Luckily I live on a hill, so we were spared the flooding and vehicle loss. But all around us people lost everything ! You have no water on the west coast and here in NY tristate area we have too much and we still have Two months of the hurricane season.
My Convertible & Sedan were safe from the floods, and the Coupe is safe in the paint shop.
I'm glad that you family (and vehicles) are safe. Unfortunately my best assessment of the climate change physics is that we are way beyond the tipping point. The only realistic option is some sort of climate engineering to bring temperatures down so we can do all that desperately difficult work of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Your wagon looks great, like a fine wine getting better with age... My Father always said "If you take care of the car it will take care of you" Words to live by....
Thanks Tony! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/smiley.gif) Biquette is, as she always has been, a member of the family. She has developed some idiosyncrasies with age, but we will live those as well. She has her spot in the garage that she first got back in 1980. This is her home too!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who enjoy the seasons,
We have lots of members on this board, even those down under who are headed toward spring right now. Those in more northerly latitudes have seen autumn come and gone. However, here in parched California autumn comes late and disappears quickly. I had some shopping to do and took my trusty wagon over to a strip mall that still has a nice selection of deciduous trees. I was able to catch a few photos which contrasted Biquette's seafoam green with the colors of autumn leaves. Here is the first one:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-Hxfgmjq/0/ccbbef72/L/Biquette%20under%20red%20autumn%20tree-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-Hxfgmjq/A)
As always, you can click on any image to get an enlargement.
I took a second one in a partially shady area with trees that turn yellow:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-2cH5Q4f/0/016bf6b7/L/Biquette%20in%20front%20of%20yellow%20autumn%20trees-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-2cH5Q4f/A)
I took this last one because this tree was very pretty if a bit small:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-VX3hDSq/0/5c560262/L/Biquette%20behind%20red%20autumn%20tree-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-VX3hDSq/A)
As you can see from the hillside in the background, while we have finally gotten some much needed rain, it will take a lot more to provide significant relief from the drought.
Rain is back in the forecast for next week, so these could be the only photos I'll get of Biquette with autumn foliage. So enjoy them while you can!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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You need to drive Biquette up to the UP of Michigan sometime for fall colors!
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Dear Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers with a taste for adventure, . . .
You need to drive Biquette up to the UP of Michigan sometime for fall colors!
Yes, I would very much like to hitch Biquette to a vintage travel trailer and explore all the wonderful scenic beauty this country has to offer. Alas, the world is going to have to settle down and stop being so crazy before I'll even consider the idea.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Much has changed since my Christmas card in which I described my current struggles with skin cancer tumors. The first week of January I met with a doctor (and professor) from the University of California, San Francisco's division of Facial Reconstructive Surgery. That's about as specialized as things get. Things didn't get off to a good start. One of the residence (doctor in training) spotted a large growth on the right side of my nose. Another Ear's Nose and Throat specialist had already uncovered this back in October, but it was concluded it must be removed at the same time as the very large basal cell cancer tumor on the left side of my nose. Doing so would involve scooping out some of the cartilage of my nose.
Until then, I had been told there would be 2 surgical procedures: a first operation to remove the tumors performed by a specialist in so-called Mohs surgery, then a second operation to reconstruct the nose. Having the problem before him, the reconstructive surgeon immediately proposed, not 1, but 3 reconstructive operations.
This Wednesday (January 26th) is Mohs surgeries to remove the tumors. They will remove the tumors, control the bleeding, and check that they have "clear edges" (confirm that every last been of cancerous tissue has been removed.) Once this has been achieved, they will bandage the region as best as they can, and send me home. The following morning, Thursday, the 27th will be the first of the 3 reconstructive surgeries. The reconstructive surgeon will make the skin graph from my forehead and repair the nose to first approximation. He will in the same operation remove the growth that is blocking the other nostril. That will leave damaged cartilage and effectively turn my nose into a blob of flesh without structure. However, that assembly will need 3 weeks to heal before the next step.
Sometime in late February, the surgeon will perform a second operation which will graph in some cartilage to repair the structure of my nose and give it a normal appearance. It will require another 3 weeks to heal from that. Finally, in mid-March sometime, he needs to perform one more operation to complete the restoration of the nose, which in part, involves completing the separation of the skin graph from the forehead. This is definitely a long-haul of medical procedures.
Based on my previous surgeries, I'm expecting to be in really difficult straights for a while. I finally have some instructions for the operation, and as expected, my face will suffer from a lot of swelling. Removing the tumor over my right eye resulted in sufficient swelling that I had difficulty seeing. Since this procedure will involve both my nose and the forehead where the skin graph will be taken I suspect my face will swell up like I had been stun by a dozen bees or more. Under those circumstances, I suspect using a computer will become difficult. As a result I might be scarce on this forum from time to time.
I'm not supposed to wear glasses until my nose is fully repaired. Since I need glasses to drive, the current assessment is that I won't be driving until the end of March. Last Friday, I took Biquette out for one last outing before I'm out of commission. While there I took this photo on front of some winter trees:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquette-test-of-smart-phone-navigation/i-CrzrT9Z/0/0fc8526d/L/Biquette%20in%20front%20of%20winter%20trees-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Biquette-upgrades-and-misc/Biquette-test-of-smart-phone-navigation/i-CrzrT9Z/A)
Thanks for your support. I'll try to keep everyone posted as I attempt to navigate the long and difficult road ahead.
Edouard
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Wish you well,good luck .jim
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Edouard,
Prayers have been going out for you and will continue.
God's blessings and prayers for the guidance for your doctors,
Loren
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Having undergone eight surgery in the last five years and three more on the horizon I feel your pain, struggles and anxieties.
Wishing you the best, I'll add a few prayers.
My best advice. Go forward, turn into the skid and accelerate.
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Prayers from Michigan as well. For comfort, healing and peace as you face months of procedures. We'll celebrate with you when you and Biquette are able to cruise again!
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Edouard, Prayers from Long Island. Stay strong, and when you are able to contact us we will be here for you.
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Prayers out to you from your forum friend just south of you.....if Biquette needs some exercise, give me a call, and I'll come on up and take care of it for you!!!
Look on the bright side.....your Gavin Newsom mask will cover up most of this while you heal!!
Cheers,
Keith
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Sorry to hear about your medical challenges and wish you the best outcome for the surgeries.
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Thanks everyone for your prayers and kind wishes,
Everything appears to be in place for the surgeries starting Wednesday. I've done everything I could to prepare. It is time for those experts at the University of California, San Francisco teaching hospital to prove that they deserve all the praise and accolades they have gotten over the years.
Thanks again,
Edouard
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My best to you and praying for full recovery and health!
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Prayers from FLorida. Be strong as you have in the past. This too shall pass and you will be driving Biquette again soon.
Dan
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sending prayers your way Edouard .
here's to a speedy recovery . :cheers2:
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
I wanted to update everyone as to how this week's two surgeries went. As feared, it has been quite an ordeal. The Wednesday surgeries were extremely tough. As usual, the cancer surgeon should have used more anaesthetic and it took a very long time to completely remove all the cancer. The surgery started at 9:30 am and there was a long wait while the pathology lab looked over what was removed. The surgeon made a decent guess but there was still some cancerous tissue left. So there was a second round of cutting in the early afternoon. They didn't finally bandage me up and send me home until around 3:30 pm.
That night wasn't so bad. I'm not sure why though. I had to get up at 4:15 to be at the second surgery site at 5:30 am on Thursday. I guess the pre-operation process went okay. I don't remember anything about it. However, when I woke in the recovery room I was obviously extremely weak. I could hardly move, much less make to a car to come home. I didn't have to argue much, the reconstructive surgeon concluded I would have to spend the night in the hospital. However, that didn't go well. For whatever reason, they couldn't manage to find a bed for me. I stayed in the recovery room from about 12 noon to 9:30 pm. I'm extremely thankful to the recovery room nurse that stayed with me long past her shift.
When I finally got a bed in the hospital the night nurse was also kind and helpful. The pain medications allowed me to sleep a bit so that I could recover my strength some. By the morning (Friday) I could walk to the bathroom and felt strong enough to be discharged. It took some fumbling to make that happen, but I was finally home at noon.
I'm not much to look at. My face is a bloody mess and, as expected, my new nose is an ugly blob of flesh. The surgeon ran into some sort of problem securing the flesh on my nose. As a result I have stitches along the left side of my cheek to my lip and probably another mysterious stitch in the middle of my lip. The flesh around my left eye is badly bruised and swollen. The skin graph from my forehead has a blob of flesh carrying the blood supply from my forehead to the reconstructed nose. That blob is also obstructing my left eye making seeing difficult. My body seems to have effectively shutdown and it is taking time to get all systems operational once more. I've had to write this in small periods of time before my eyes became too tired to continue.
The good news is that the reconstructive surgeon did what would seem to be the impossible. He created from a flap of forehead skin a first approximation of a nose. Moreover, while it is ugly, it is already doing its job: allowing me to breath. I was really dreading these first few days being only able to breath through my mouth, but even at this early stage the nose allowing me to breath a bit when eating. That's a big improvement in the comfort level.
That's the status report to this afternoon. The first follow-up appointment with the reconstructive surgeon is this Tuesday. I hope things will start to improve from here. Sadly, we know more about the insides of an internal combustion engine than our own bodies. Still, it appears the worst has over.
Edouard
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Hang in there Edouard.
Prayers for your speedy recovery.
Loren
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Thanks for the update Edouard. Was beginning to get nervous. Hang in there.
Dan
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Great news Edouard, we were holding our breath. Please send updates when you're comfortable doing so.
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Thanks for keeping us posted Edouard. I hope that the worst is indeed over and that the doctors (and your body) will create a success for you.
Praying for comfort, rest and freedom from the anxiety that accompanies medical procedures. Thanks for spending the energy to communicate with us!
Chuck
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Thank you for the update. I hope things continue to improve at a rapid pace.
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Thank you for taking the time to update all of us. I hope you heal and feel better everyday.
Your Trusty Wagon is waiting for many more adventures.
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Dear Loren, Dan, Kevin, Chuck, Jim, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers who occasionally in the caregiving receiving category,
Thanks for your prayers and good wishes. Some quick updates. On Tuesday the stitches from the first surgery finally came out. I don't fully understand the purpose, but the skin graph for the new nose had to be secured to my cheek and lip. Getting those stitches out was unexpectedly painful and the left side of my mouth is still partially numb. The whole region is finally healing and that is something of a strange experience. As the doctor described, there is a blob of flesh secured to what was remained of the right side of my nose. There is an abrupt transition from the graphed skin to what looks like a normal nose. The new graph is not surprisingly swollen so there isn't much air flow on the left side. So I'm vulnerable to congestion. To avoid that, I "try" to sleep almost sitting up. However, that isn't exactly the most restful position!
I hadn't shaved in over a week. Finally the itching was too much and I timidly removed the "jungle" of beard in stages. You don't realize how pleasant it is to be clean shaven until you can't do it for a while!
The next surgery is scheduled for Thursday, February 17th. In that operation, the reconstructive surgeon will insert some cartilage to turn the blob of flesh into a normal nose. He will also "thin" the flesh of the nose to a more normal thickness. I'm not sure I want to know how he is going to do that!
In the meantime trying to get back more to a normal life. I still don't have very clear vision, so computer time is limited.
Thanks again everyone!
Edouard
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Thanks for the update, hope the worst is behind you now.
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Thanks for the update, sending prayers your way for a speedy recovery.
Tony
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So glad to hear the worst is over. Still hoping for a complete recovery. Continued best wishes to you!
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Prayers and best wishes on a speedy recovery!
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Edouard,
Prayers for comfort as you endure this first procedure and deal with the natural anxiety of what's to come.
As I read your descriptions of the procedures required, I see parallels in this process to that of car restoration. Liken your nose to a rusty fender that must be repaired. The rusty area has been removed and you're now in the process of having the patch panel welded in and reshaped to match the contour of the body, smoothing the repaired area with grinding, body filler, etc. Then finishing by sanding, priming and painting. When you have completed the process, you will have a special bond with Biquette, having both successfully gone through similar repairs.
Now I know that Biquette doesn't have feelings and didn't endure the pain that you are, but if she did, she'd be highly sympathetic to what you're going through right now.
Sorry to get off on a tangent and I hope you don't consider it silly. Medical science has always seemed to me very similar to mechanical engineering, considering the subsystems involved, the diagnostics used to analyze problems and the procedures used to correct them.
Heal well!
Chuck
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God Speed on a speedy recovery and getting back to the things you enjoy!
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Sounds like Chuck has it down .grandson has some nuts and bolts . And a skin graft a couple of weeks ago .Jim
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Dear Jim, Tony, Don, Jon, Chuck, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers who need from time to time to be on the receiving end of some care!
Thanks again for the prayers and encouragement!
As I read your descriptions of the procedures required, I see parallels in this process to that of car restoration.
. . . . .
Yes, I think you are absolutely on the mark and it is unusual for procedures on human beings. The damage on my nose was beyond it healing on its own. So it was like replacing a rusted out part with a new one. Unfortunately, you cannot find new panels like you can for a car! On the other hand, it would be a lot easier to restore a car if some parts would grow back!
Now I know that Biquette doesn't have feelings and didn't endure the pain that you are, but if she did, she'd be highly sympathetic to what you're going through right now.
Sorry to get off on a tangent and I hope you don't consider it silly.
Honestly, I find myself a in very odd spiritual space at the moment, and while cars have no consciousness like humans do, I think they have a belonging to our world and do have a kind of silent suffering. I spend a lot of time pondering what the world of the Second Coming will be like. There is a curious mix of sophisticated philosophy and what I suppose has to be called revelation that leads me to think it will be a lot like our world - freed of all the burdens and miseries. Cars are very useful things in our world and they bring us great satisfaction. Is it such a stretch to imagine that there is a kind of salvation for things that have so loyally served us?
Indeed the worst has passed but the next surgery on the 17th is heavy duty. It is still a tough road until the skin graph fully takes hold and my body finally gets back to normal.
Thanks again,
Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who occasionally stroll down memory lane,
I still cannot drive, so instead of taking my trusty wagon out for a spin during the Superbowl and I dug into another box of old slides. Eventually, I came across this photo that brought back memories:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Early-pictures-of-Biquette/i-SvMfk9Q/0/97a0f161/L/Camping%20near%20Grass%20Valley%20CA%208-1993-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Early-pictures-of-Biquette/i-SvMfk9Q/A)
During the summer of 1993, one of my cousins was visiting from France and I decided to pull out my trusty campground guidebook and make a tour of the Sierra foothills with my cousin and a few friends. Since Biquette was my car, she had the transportation duties. I soon learned that what the guidebook didn't mention was more important than what it did mention! The first campground was too close to the freeway and the noise kept us awake all night. This photo was taken at the second campground. My tent is in front of Biquette and obviously wasn't much insulation from the noise. In that case there was a steady stream of heavy logging trucks. One would pass every time you were nodding off to sleep! The caption on the side of the box of slides was: "The camping trip from hell!" Yes an exaggeration, but it was indeed one lousy expedition into the wilderness!
This is just one of the reasons why my motto has come when it comes to camping trips . . . . . .
Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick and an Airstream travel trailer!!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. The trip was notable for another reason. Biquette's odometer rolled over for a second time on the way. She has been driven over 270,000 miles!
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Nice story...and lesson about camping. Location, location, location.
Biquettes mileage is impressive, you have done a fantastic job keeping her road worthy. :cheers2:
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Dear 65GS.com community,
I have been conspicuously absent around here, but there is a rather amazing tale to explain it. Surgery #2 was a week ago Tuesday (22nd.) The main objective was to restore the cartilage supporting my nose that was lost when the cancer was removed on January 26th. In order to do this, they needed to remove the stitches and gently lift up the skin graph from my forehead to get access to the structures beneath. Alas in that process, they must have twisted or kinked the veins that drained the graph; constricting circulation. After the surgery, the skin graph started to fill up with blood and effectively die.
The skin graph is a small part of me but just about impossible to replace at this point - drastic and unorthodox measures were in order. From the surgery I went immediately to this hospital's ICU unit were I was treated with (believe it or not) leeches!
At first, every 2 hours and then tapering off, a leech was allowed to drain off the excess blood and congestion from my skin graph. That removed the backlog of blood and allowed for circulation to gradually be restored. As the veins recovered from the distress of having been disturbed, the leeches became more like vacuum cleaners removing debris that was congesting the circulation in the nose. From Tuesday night until Friday morning the procedures were continued until the skin graph that is my nose started to look more like normal. I spent an additional day and a half in the hospital under observation before finally being discharged Saturday afternoon. It is a curious procedure but apparently increasingly accepted. Here is a quick web article about the use of leeches:
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-leech-therapy (https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-leech-therapy)
I had my first follow-up visit with the surgeon he was pleased and relieved. As he put it: my nose was finally back here it should have been at the end of the surgery!
It has been quite a learning experience. These skin graphs are very fragile and these sorts of restorations are more an art form than science. The nurses had some really amazing stories were leeches had once more been the difference between success and failure.
I'm back home and trying to get back to normal. Last week was tough and it is definitely good to get back my usual habits!
Thanks for your support!
Cheers, Edouard
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Edouard,
It's great what the medical community can do these days, even with old school techniques. Just knowing when and how to use them is so important and amazing.
Prayers continue for total success at the end of this journey!
Chuck
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Glad to hear back from you Edouard,
It sounds like you have the right doctors in your corner. You said more than you think when you referenced the art vs. science approach. That is the voice of an old school mentality that seems to be coming back around. Back when my 150 lb mutt broke his femur I had a hard time finding a vet that did anything other than a new bone graph?..which was just out of the question for a 8 year old Rottweiler mix. I had met a guy earlier who had been a vet for 40 years and he explained that he had hand built cages for large dogs and even horses in his practice. When he was done he showed me the blueprint that he had drawn up to construct a round tubular brace that would hold the cast in place for weeks for the bone to heal. It was not only affordable?.it added some good time to the life of a good dog. This is part of what bothers me in a technological world where books are getting more and more extinct to the youth and standard curriculum. Where will future doctors,teachers,judges,etc?.get their opinions or facts if there is only one available. I am happy to hear that you got in there with the right crowd and the doctors are open minded to their approach, Dan
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Dear Chuck, Dan, and thoughtful mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks for your prayers and good wishes!
It's great what the medical community can do these days, even with old school techniques. Just knowing when and how to use them is so important and amazing.
You are so right!
It sounds like you have the right doctors in your corner. You said more than you think when you referenced the art vs. science approach. That is the voice of an old school mentality that seems to be coming back around.
. . . .
This is part of what bothers me in a technological world where books are getting more and more extinct to the youth and standard curriculum. Where will future doctors,teachers,judges,etc?.get their opinions or facts if there is only one available.
I hear your concerns and share them. This process continues to hammer my spirituality and I am constantly pondering why humans think the way they do in the modern world. I think I've mentioned this before, but we can establish the first substantial polytheistic tradition at a site called Göbekli Tepe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe)in Turkey. It has been dated to over 10,000 years ago. In contrast, humans thinking about the world scientifically is at best 300 years ago. This scientific view at best ignores and at worse scoffs at religion, but that begs an extremely inconvenient truth. If the scientific view is correct, then humans spent around 10,000 years on what they would describe as nothing more as a fool's errand. Our knowledge of the natural world is that it is an extremely difficult place to live. If religion was nothing more than a extremely burdensome millstone around the neck of humanity - why didn't we go extinct long before science was invented?
COVID-19 has revealed an utterly mind-boggling optimism that certainly cannot be backed up science. The geological history is painfully clear: extinction happens. Human civilization has made us much more interdependent and therefore vulnerable. COVID could have easily been the end of the world we know it and there isn't a shred of science to make us believe otherwise. Yet, the rhetoric was/is sickening in its repetition: be resilient and persevere - and we'll beat this virus! As I'm painfully aware, the "war" against cancer is an ugly stalemate that we aren't even close to winning. Why are we going to beat COVID? At best, we have "faith" we can beat COVID - where on earth is this faith coming from so that we can proclaim it so universally?
Like my father, my life has made it impossible to swallow the literal theology of Christianity. There are just too many things wrong in the world. Ash Wednesday is tomorrow and I'm really suffering from the idea that a omnipotent, benevolent, and all-knowing God would insist the only path to salvation was the crucifixion of his beloved Son - is that what Love looks like?
Still, I would rather struggle with this problems day in and day out than simply take hope for granted and naively wish that COVID will go away. Science isn't a replacement for faith - it IS a kind of faith. As hard as being a Christian turns out to be, I much prefer that than to naively assume the human race is somehow owed something and science is the way to get access to the goodies.
Nobody said healing the mind or the body was easy . . . . . .
Edouard
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That is an amazing healing story and a good one to share. Still praying for a complete recovery. Mind body and spirit.
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
I'm sure I'm not alone in the need to wear glasses while driving. So how do you wear glasses when your nose is a "work in progress?" Well, I found on the web a curious contraption that is a headband with a hook to catch your glasses before they come into contact with your nose. It isn't perfect, but after some testing, I've been driving a bit. Yesterday, I took out my trusty wagon for the first time since the 3rd week of January. My first stop was Orinda Motors to let them know how I was doing. They were glad to see me and that at least progress is being made. While there, I took this photo:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-cc5J9dG/0/34ad2f4b/L/Biquette%20and%201950s%20pickup%20truck-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-autumn-and-winter-2021-22/i-cc5J9dG/A)
After that I finally did some "in person" grocery shopping. We had been relying on various grocery delivery services since the last week of January. That is certainly better than nothing, but it was a pleasure to actually get to select the items I wanted and deal with out of stock items personally.
Thanks for your support!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Great to see you are out and about!
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Good to hear that you are getting out of the house and going shopping and seeing your friends. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. A can do attitude will help you overcome a lot of negative feelings that a serious surgery like yours can bring about. Get in the Buick & drive :wave:
Tony :thumbsup:
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Dear Jim, Tony, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks for the words of encouragement! Certainly, I'll try to get Biquette out whenever it is practical. However, I'm back to my household caregiving duties, so free time is in very short supply.
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. A can do attitude will help you overcome a lot of negative feelings that a serious surgery like yours can bring about.
Thanks for the good wishes but I harbor no small ambivalence to positive thinking for its own sake. I've experienced first-hand how confusing positive thinking and mental health ultimately makes things much worse. My life has turned out be a kind of prolonged Lent. Where does spiritual health fit into mental health? Positive thinking should never interfere with your sincere attempt to confront your maker. Medical criteria of what represents mental health shouldn't interfere either. Life is extremely hard for me and I'm using every last scrap of my intellect and spiritual awareness to deal with what I'm going through. Ultimately, I think that is a more powerful kind of healing than any amount of rose-colored glasses can provide.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
It has been another difficult week, but let me try provide a decent update. The last of the three surgeries in grafting new skin onto my nose involved completing the separation of the skin flap from the forehead here it was taken. That surgery was Tuesday at the amazingly late start time of 4:40 pm.
Alas as before, things did not go to plan. I was supposed to go home right after the surgery. When it was time to leave the recovery room and try to come home, my legs simply were not up to it. I could barely walk around the bed. I certainly wasn't going to make it to the house. So I had to spend a night and part of the day in the hospital. The simplest hypothesis is that the anesthesia they used was sufficiently strong that it interfered with my motor skills beyond the normal recovery period. Anesthesia for facial surgery is more difficult than for other parts of the body and adjusting this is something of an art-form.
The surgeon was pleased at how the procedure turned out, but it was another round of rough treatment. There are several new lines of stitches and it is going to take a while for everything to calm down and the swelling to subside. Completing the separation of the graft included new stitches on my forehead and there is a line of stitches going from my forehead to my nose passing very close to my left eye. That eye is once more irritated which makes using the computer difficult. Normal strategies to reduce the irritation like applying ice don't work very well at that location.
That's the Thursday update. Hopefully, I'll feel better as my body copes with the latest blows. Definitely feeling overwhelmed at the moment.
Edouard
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Thank you for the update. When this is totally healed take a long, relaxing drive in Biqette!
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Thank you for the update. When this is totally healed take a long, relaxing drive in Biqette!
I second that! More prayers for you.
Loren
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Edouard,
You have had a really difficult time. I'll still send up prayers for the best outcome. As we all know the road isn't always smooth and the journey easy but time and care has a way of healing even the most difficult things.
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Amen! Prayers continue for healing and comfort Edouard!
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Dear Jim, Loren, Don, Chuck, and 65GS.com faithful,
Thanks for your prayers and good wishes.
As scheduled, the surgery started at around 5pm on Tuesday. This time everything went to plan and the surgeon was pleased with how my nose and face turned out (more on that later.) However, the plan was to send me home after I spent the usual time in the recovery room. When the time came to try to get up and go home, my legs were too wobbly to support my weight any distance. I wasn't going to make it to the house under those conditions. As a result, I had to spend the night and part of the following day in the hospital. By then I was given an "all clear" from a physical therapist - it seems like I was back to normal.
I've had trouble bouncing back from all 3 surgeries. However, there were other factors in the previous two. This time the most plausible hypothesis is that the anesthesia they used was sufficiently strong that it interfered with my motor skills long after the normal recovery period. The problem with a facial surgery is that localized nerve blocks cannot be used so there are limited options. This could become an issue as noted below.
I've been home since Wednesday afternoon and doing what I could recover. However, there are new rows of stitches along my nose, against my left eye, and going up to my forehead once more. My face is bruised and swollen as if I had lost a boxing match and vision in my left eye is impaired once more. At least some of the stitches will come out on Monday and the surgeon will have his first chance to look over his handy work since the surgery. However, already twice the surgeon has mentioned the need for a fourth surgery to recover from the work that couldn't be done during the second surgery. If that happens will be at least a month out to allow my face to heal and the swelling to decrease. At issue is whether or not the skin graft on my nose will finally take its normal shape on its own or will further surgery be needed to make it look like it is supposed to.
Thanks again for your support! Yes indeed it as been a very long hard road . . . .
Edouard
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
It is May already and sometime between the 3rd and 7th 1965, Biquette rolled off the GM Fremont assembly plant. I hadn't washed her since December 2020! I finally rectified that yesterday. There is a fellow with classic Mustang who parks it at a local micro brewery. It made a decent backdrop for a few photos:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Spring-Summer-2022/i-ZmGCqxz/0/46a9c7ad/L/Biquette%20and%20Mustang%20-%20starboard%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Spring-Summer-2022/i-ZmGCqxz/A)
It was a partly cloudy day, not the best lighting for photography. Here is two cars from the front:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Spring-Summer-2022/i-3HMhtGP/0/826d8f71/L/Biquette%20and%20Mustang%20-%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Spring-Summer-2022/i-3HMhtGP/A)
Finally a view from the driver's side:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Spring-Summer-2022/i-pPW3fPR/0/5d59dfec/L/Biquette%20and%20Mustang%20-%20port%20front-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Spring-Summer-2022/i-pPW3fPR/A)
That's all the 'pics' I've got!
Cheers, Edouard
P.S. I can provide a quick nose reconstruction update. It was hoped that after the surgery of March 22nd, the skin graph would reduce as the surgery swelling decreased. Alas, it hasn't decreased much. My nose is bloated inside and out. As a result, my breathing is obstructed. So at least one additional "thinning" surgery is needed. Alas, with one surgeon out of action because of the bicycle accident of February, they remain shorthanded. I'm waiting to find out when they can squeeze the next surgery into the schedule.
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Thanks for the pictures, Edouard. Gives us in the northern climes something to look forward to...hopefully sooner than later!
Sorry to hear of the need for additional surgery. As hard as it must be to keep getting up from these setbacks, look forward to the desired result. Hoping and praying for success soon!
Chuck
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Skin grafts can be touchy,hopefully all go's well.jim
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Dear Chuck, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers who occasionally have a need for care in their own right!
Sorry to hear of the need for additional surgery. As hard as it must be to keep getting up from these setbacks, look forward to the desired result. Hoping and praying for success soon!
Skin grafts can be touchy,hopefully all go's well.jim
Thanks for prayers and kind wishes! As I have learned, plastic surgery is much more an art form than a well-engineered process. So you got to trust the doctors and keep going. The only additional unwelcome misfortune is the spring allergy season. When your breathing is obstructed dealing with pollen is definitely a drag. Still, what can you do but persevere!
Cheers, Edouard
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Hang in there Edouard ! Sorry you need to go through more surgery.
Prayers continue friend,
Loren
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
Here is a quick update on my health situation. I've had to wait for the UCSF Facial Plastics team to catch up on their backlog, but finally, I'm in the queue for the next surgery. It is scheduled very early in the morning on this upcoming Tuesday, June 7th. I don't know how they do this, but they are supposed to thin the flesh of the skin graft so it looks more like a normal nose. I hope that means enlarging the interior of the left nostril so I can breath better and getting the bridge of my nose to the point that I can finally wear glasses once more. They will probably have to do some work on the forehead wound leftover from taking the skin graft in the first place back in late January. It still isn't fully healed after 4 months.
I'm back on the preparation treadmill, but you can only do so much. Once more I'll just have to endure the ordeal and find out if it is enough to bring me back to an acceptable state of normalcy.
Oh well, . . . . . . Edouard
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It has been quite an ordeal for you. Prayers for you and hope this comes out well
Loren
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Edouard,
As you mentioned, I hope and pray it brings you back to an acceptable state of normalcy, hopefully more sooner than later.
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Hoping all goes well and you are back to ‘normal’ soon.
Dan
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Hope things grow well on the next procedure and you can eventually put this behind you!
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Edouard,
Prayers for success with this procedure and hopefully an end to the suffering you've endured throughout this process. We've all talked about "a new normal" coming out of the COVID pandemic and I'm sure it has even greater meaning for you! Heal well!
Chuck
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Edouard
Here is wishing you a future of wellness.
From my family to yours.
Milton
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Thanks everyone for your prayers and kind wishes,
This morning I had to drive into San Francisco for the now obligatory COVID test before the surgery. Assuming it is negative (and it certainly should be) then the surgery should be cleared to proceed.
We shall see . . . . . . . .
Edouard
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Good luck .Jim
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good Luck with your upcoming surgery. Add my prayers for a complete recovery.
Glenn
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Hi Edouard,
Wishing all the best for your surgery.
Thought you might get a smile out of my gas can, its about the same age as yours. I have been meaning to send this since you sent your post of fuel cans. I had mine since I was in High school 1990 and used to ride a dirt bike .
Good luck Mate
Marcus
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Thanks Jim, Glenn, and Marcus for your continued good wishes,
Thought you might get a smile out of my gas can, its about the same age as yours. I have been meaning to send this since you sent your post of fuel cans. I had mine since I was in High school 1990 and used to ride a dirt bike .
. . .
Thanks for sharing! I had a very unpleasant discovery with the newfangled gas cans I bought for our portable generator. They are extremely difficult to empty into a car when the gas has been sitting too long. I'm starting to come around to the idea that the NATO Jerry can remakes are indeed worth the investment!
Thanks again,
Edouard
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
I'm finally catching up and recovered enough to give an update from the surgery of last Tuesday. There was a last minute change of objectives caused by 3 lesions that had never healed properly from the first surgery of January 27th. I started to suspect they might be leftover basal-cell skin cancer and the surgeon had come to the same conclusion. So he tried to excise them. The lab results confirmed that they were indeed basal-cell cancer. I won't know if all the cancer was removed until my appointment next week.
After that, the surgeon attempted to return to original purpose of the surgery. He still attempted to thin the skin graft on the left side, but could only do so much because he had to remove skin on the right side with the lesions. He even surgically tried to clean up the wound on my forehead from taking the skin graft back in January. So I'm back to stitches all over my nose and a modest wound area on my forehead.
Expressing my concerns over the past anesthesia appears to have paid off. They changed the anesthesia and that made a world of difference. This time I was able to come home the same day without any problems. My legs were solid as soon as was I conscious enough to try to use them.
Overall the procedure appears to have been a real success. Even with the limited thinning of the skin graft, I am breathing significantly better and I'm happy that those suspicious lesions are removed. However, this might set the stage for yet another surgery since the main objective of thinning had to be curtailed. Unless there is more cancer to be removed, I would expect that I will back in a healing and waiting position to see how much the nose will recover from this surgery on its own.
Thanks for your support!
Edouard
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Edouard,
Although the entire objective wasn't met, it sounds like you are happy with the progress and that's good! We'll pray that the next go round, if there is one, will be the last.
Heal well!!
Chuck
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Thanks Chuck!
Just got to let the process unfold!
Edouard
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HI Edouard. Good to hear that the latest operation went well. My family sends our prayers to you for a speedy recovery.
Tony :thumbsup:
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Edouard,
Glad to hear you are making forward progress. Sounds like some good developments in the whole scope. "Keep your head" up as my dad used to say.
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
For whatever reason, it took the lab a while to complete the biopsy analysis. Thankfully, it is good news. The surgeon was able to completely remove all the cancer and my nose should now be able to heal normally. There will be one more surgery in about two months to thin the skin graft as had been intended for this past surgery. That should resolve the remaining breathing problems and get my nose to about as normal a shape as is probably practical.
Back to a more normal life until then!
Thanks for your support!
Cheers, Edouard
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FANTASTIC NEWS. Hoping for a full recovery of your breathing issues and everything else.
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
For whatever reason, it took the lab a while to complete the biopsy analysis. Thankfully, it is good news. The surgeon was able to completely remove all the cancer and my nose should now be able to heal normally. There will be one more surgery in about two months to thin the skin graft as had been intended for this past surgery. That should resolve the remaining breathing problems and get my nose to about as normal a shape as is probably practical.
Back to a more normal life until then!
Thanks for your support!
That's great news !
Loren
Cheers, Edouard
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Glad to hear you finally are getting some good news!
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Fabulous news Edouard! Thankful that you're on the path to normal!
Chuck
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Yes great news and positive for a change! Best wishes on a speedy recovery!
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:hello2: :thumbsup:
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Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm and good wishes! :icon_thumright:
Hopefully, this is indeed turning the corner!
Cheers, Edouard
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I am very happy to read this! May you have perfect recovery and soon!
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Dear 65GS.com community,
In principle, my next surgery wasn't very high in the pecking order of facial reconstructive surgery needs. So while the earliest it could happen was in early August, I expected to be waiting in line for more urgent cases to be taken care of first. So it was quite a surprise when I checked in with UCSF facial plastics and found they had an opening almost exactly 2 months after the last surgery: Tuesday, August 9th.
It has not been an easy summer because at just about the time I was planning on getting the shingles vaccine - instead I got the darn disease. While it was a moderate case, I did have to cope with a bit of postherpetic neuralgia. I'm now in the rush to get ready for the next surgery. It is suppose to accomplish the goals intended for the June surgery: thin the skin graph so it looks like a normal nose, and in that process, realign the cartilage so that both nostrils flow normally.
It is hard not to have mixed-feelings about this procedure. On the one hand, I'm really tired of all these surgeries. On the other hand, I don't look or feel normal. It seems like a mighty tall order to put things right in one surgery. All I can do is prepare as best I can and hope for the best!
Edouard
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The waiting for procedures is tough too. I've been having a few tests done since the first week of July and still another next week. Start radiation treatments on the August 10.
I continue to keep you in my prayers,
Loren
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Prayers from here as well. For both of you!
Chuck
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More prayers for both Loren and Eduardo. Waiting is the hardest part.
Dan
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We are hoping for the best outcome with you!
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Thanks Loren, Chuck, Dan, and Jim!
The waiting for procedures is tough too. I've been having a few tests done since the first week of July and still another next week. Start radiation treatments on the August 10.
So sorry to hear that you are back on that treadmill. We all need to keep the faith because that's where the real goodness comes from!
I'll try to do the same!
Edouard
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Praying for both of you.
Kurt
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Dear 65GS.com community,
I'm catching up here a bit so I can give you a quick update on the results of Tuesday's surgery. There were no surprises this time, so the "debulking" was accomplished as a planned. The doctor finally explained exactly what "debulking" was. The skin on the forehead had some fat not present in the skin of a nose. The surgery was remove that fat allowing the skin thin down to the shape of a normal nose.
Also, on the agenda was to straighten out the graft on the nose which was twisted to the right and too far down. All this was hoped to realign the cartilage so that both nostrils could flow more normally. To my delight, the realignment appears to have been on the mark. I immediately noticed a dramatic improvement when breathing through my nose. While I'm still struggling with some congestion, I can control it with much less effort - a very good thing!
The unfortunate downside is that all this adjusting involved pulling and twisting the skin - something like pulling fabric around to reupholster a seat. So my whole face is stressed and the nose is once more swollen. It will take a few weeks for all of this to calm down.
Still as hoped, this surgery was a significant step in the right direction. With a little luck, perhaps it will be the last surgery needed.
Thanks again for all your support!
Edouard
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We like that kind of news from you. Hope this was the last surgery.
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Happy to hear continued progress!
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Progress is very good news. Hoping for continued healing and end to medical procedures!
Chuck
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Sounds like you are experiencing good progress! Great news!
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Excellent News!!
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Excellent news. I do hope it's the last surgery. Please update us in a couple of weeks.
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Thanks guys for your support!
I'll definitely keep everyone posted!
Edouard
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Take care.Jim
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Excellent news.
Turn into the skid and add power!
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I hope this was "turn 4" final lap and you take the checkered flag! :occasion14:
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Thanks Kevin and Michael!
In the meantime I've just got to maintain the wound care regime and give the nose time to heal!
Edouard
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Dear 65GS.com community,
The stitches from the August 9th surgery on my nose came out a week ago Wednesday. The doctor was very pleased at how the surgery turned out. The skin finally looks healthy everywhere and the scabbing from the suture lines are coming off as they should. What's ahead is a long period of healing and watching. At the moment, the nose still looks like a cross between Pinocchio and Rudolf the red nosed reindeer. The only difference is that Rudolf apparently forgot to pay his electric bill. Instead of being red, my nose has taken back a normal flesh color. However according to the doctor, it takes months for the skin to slim down after the fat has been removed. He doesn't even want to see me for 3-4 months!
He is the expert, so I'll follow the program. I'm continuing to baby the skin in the hope that will expedite the healing process. In the meantime, I'm back to the "regularly scheduled" Mohs surgeries to remove the leftover basal cell tumors that have cropped up while the nose was being reconstructed. However compared to reconstruction surgeries, this is small potatoes. It is time to try to get back to a more normal life - just in time for the California wildfire season!
Always something isn't there!
Thanks for your support!
Edouard
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Always something isn't there!
Certainly, seems so. Best wishes and prayers for your continued recovery.
Loren
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Sounds like good progress Edouard! Despite the additional Mohs surgery required. Praying for a time when you are fully healed, cancer-free and enjoying life. Especially behind the wheel of Biquette!
Enjoy a blessed weekend!
Chuck
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Dear 65GS.com community,
Sorry for not keeping everyone up to date on my situation, but I have been in something of a limbo health-wise until enough time had passed since the surgery of early August. It hasn't been an easy time. I just cannot get enough air through my nose at this point and have to constantly irrigate it with saline throughout the day. I finally met with the plastic/reconstructive surgeon to review the healing since August. I was very afraid that he would propose that there was nothing more he could do. Thankfully, he was just the opposite and agreed with me that something needs to be done to further thin the skin graft so I can breathe better.
Adding to my misery is some substantial scar tissue in the undamaged nostril. Between the two, I have very little airflow. I had tentatively scheduled an independent operation to remove that scar tissue. However, the plastic/reconstructive surgeon thinks he can work on both nostrils in one operation to spare me a second surgery.
It will be something of a race to complete this operation before Christmas, but the surgery is now scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, December 16th. It will be clearly a tough time to be healing from another operation, but it will be better than struggling to breath all the time.
Thanks for all your support! As you can see the process is continuing to unfold!
Edouard
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Edouard,
Good to hear you are making progress, although slower than you'd like. Prayers for success of this surgery and may it be the last one needed!
Cheers!
Chuck
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Hope the surgery works and you do not have to go through any more!
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Dear Chuck, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thanks for your prayers and hopeful thoughts!
I finally have some news about my trusty wagon. I normally take her in to Orinda Classic Car Center over the summer so that they can give her the once over. With all the troubles I've been having that didn't happen until early November. Here is a photo of her headed to the service bay:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2022-23/i-99R5BMh/0/a249768d/L/Biquette%20checks%20into%20Orinda%20Motors-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2022-23/i-99R5BMh/A)
She got a lube and I have switched her to PennGrade semi-synthetic oil:
https://penngrade1.com/products/high-performance-oils/penngrade-1-partial-synthetic-high-performance-oil-sae-10w-30/ (https://penngrade1.com/products/high-performance-oils/penngrade-1-partial-synthetic-high-performance-oil-sae-10w-30/)
Aside from the usual quirks of a classic car, she checked fine - but . . . . . . . . . .
We had a threat of rain for the day she was supposed to head over so I did my duty to winterize the wipers - Oops! No wipers - absolutely dead. Fortunately, I was able to dodge the drops and since she was over there I asked the crew at Orinda Classic Car if the could investigate. Back in 2013, I had upgraded Biquette to an interval wiper system sold by Detroit Speed. I thought there was little choice but to replace this system but the plot soon thickened.
The mechanics immediately recognized the wiper motor to be similar to one used on GM trucks in the 1980s. As it turns out, those motors have a logic circuit that were notorious for failing even immediately after the factory. Give the gang credit, they hunted around and narrowed it down to the exact model of wiper motor. They were able to then purchase a replacement locally.
Since they had confirmed that the motor itself was working fine, they tried to simply swap the logic board. Well that - sort of - worked. All the functionality was back. However, instead of parking the wipers against the cowling, the wipers are being parked on the left-hand side. This was even more mysterious since back in 2013 there was a similar problem when the motor was initially installed and we had to send it back to Detroit Speed. A little more detective work revealed the problem. It turns out that Detroit Speed had made a few modifications to the stock circuit board. Those tweaks to the electronics appear to have changed the parking position.
There weren't any easy choices so I took Biquette home with her wipers parked on the left:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2022-23/i-HMLgSPw/0/f867fbd4/L/Biquette%27s%20wipers%20parked%20in%20wrong%20position-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2022-23/i-HMLgSPw/A)
I contacted Detroit Speed to see if they might have some old motors laying around, but after 10 years the answer was no. So I'm going to have to bite the bullet and upgrade to the latest version of the Detroit Speed after-market wiper system:
https://www.detroitspeed.com/products/electrical/selecta-speed_wiper_kits/parts/121601 (https://www.detroitspeed.com/products/electrical/selecta-speed_wiper_kits/parts/121601)
I had been planning to do this for a long time actually. This newer model adds a built-in wiper which obviously is a real plus. I have already incorporated the washer bottle and have remaining 1965 specific hardware add the washer feature. Better still, the new Detroit Speed switch would work with the existing 1-speed wiper knob as you can see in this video:
https://youtu.be/_3BX8QH8CZY (https://youtu.be/_3BX8QH8CZY)
The trouble is that I will have to once more create the customizing adapter so that the Detroit Speed switch fits into the 1965 Buick A-Body dash. This was a real pain back in 2013. So much so that I had forgotten how I did it! I had to look up my posting on that "forum down the hall" to recall what I had done:
https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/modifications-to-a-detroit-speed-selecta-speed-interval-wiper-system-for-a-65-special.270488/ (https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/modifications-to-a-detroit-speed-selecta-speed-interval-wiper-system-for-a-65-special.270488/)
Obviously i can't take on this project for a while, but when I do, I'll be definitely in search of some good advice to pull off this rather tricky "mod."
Thanks again for all your support!
Edouard
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Hi can you just rotate the arm on the motor to get them back in the park position. Jim
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Hi Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hi can you just rotate the arm on the motor to get them back in the park position. Jim
But wouldn't that make it impossible to use the wipers? It doesn't rain much in California, but just in case, it seemed better to leave the wipers like that just in case I get caught in a surprise rainstorm. After winter passes then I could put the wipers into a display position.
I'm going to keep an eye to see if Detroit Speed has any Black Friday specials. If they do, I might buy the wiper kit then. It is quite expensive.
Thanks for thinking about me!
Edouard
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Hey Edouard,
You got me asking if they pulled the motor arm off when working on it. This sounds like a 180 degree linkage issue. Most wiper motors have a built in PARK position that stops the motor in that spot whenever power is switched off. If that arm will go on two ways it is possible that is an issue. If they never removed the motor it likely has other problems. If everything is functioning other than the stop position I would ask them about it. Unless your on the way to the doctor you have no excuse for driving that in the rain anyway. Hopefully things go a little smoother for you this year, Dan
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Hi Dan and mid-60s Buick caregivers that don't sing and dance in the rain with their classics,
You got me asking if they pulled the motor arm off when working on it. This sounds like a 180 degree linkage issue.
No they didn't remove the wiper motor at all. They didn't have to. All they did was swap the logic board that controls the motor with still in place.
Most wiper motors have a built in PARK position that stops the motor in that spot whenever power is switched off.
That is correct and with the old logic board the wipers parked in the correct position. What is definitely puzzling is why Detroit Speed decided to use this particular motor considering it had a reputation for not being particularly reliable and needed this puzzling tweak to the logic board. Perhaps they got an amazingly good close-out price of some sort. If they did, I suspect they soon regretted the choice because of all the complaints from customers.
Unless your on the way to the doctor you have no excuse for driving that in the rain anyway. Hopefully things go a little smoother for you this year.
Agreed, it would be really silly to have 58 year old car caught in the rain. On the other hand, I can drive the car as is with no more harm than the embarrassment of having the wipers in the wrong position. Since I won't drive her a lot anyway at this time of year, it seemed easier to leave things as they are and instead get started on the wiper upgrade.
Indeed 2022 has been a whopper year of misery for me. We shall see that the future shall bring.
Thanks for your support!
Edouard
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Hi, if the arms stop in the same spot all the time You should be able to just lift the arms off and rotate them to the park position and put them back on.jim
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Dear Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers who are rain averse,
Hi, if the arms stop in the same spot all the time You should be able to just lift the arms off and rotate them to the park position and put them back on.jim
Is the idea just to get the wipers down on the cowling so it doesn't look so weird, or do you think the wiper would actually work after that?
My thinking is that the motor will rotate to move the wipers down the windshield from the current parked position. That is what it is doing now. If I rotate the wiper mechanism so the wipers are down, then the motor would still turn in the same direction and try to move the wipers down into the cowling - obviously that won't work. Am I missing something?
Thanks for trying to help!
Edouard
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Hi Edouard,
The wiper motor rotates only one way from what I remember.
https://www.google.com/search?q=clasisic+car+wiper+motor+operation&oq=clasisic+car+wiper+motor+operation&aqs=chrome..69i57.21513j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:34ecd5d1,vid:Pa4jv8FvjAQ (https://www.google.com/search?q=clasisic+car+wiper+motor+operation&oq=clasisic+car+wiper+motor+operation&aqs=chrome..69i57.21513j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:34ecd5d1,vid:Pa4jv8FvjAQ)
This video explains it, even though its a few years newer than our cars.
Happy Holidays, and hope your 2023 is going to be 1000 times better than 2022 for you. :icon_thumright:
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Hi, you can pull the arms off make one out cardboard tape it on and run the wipers to see what you have.Jim
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Dear Jim, Jim, and mid-60s Buick rain averse types,
The wiper motor rotates only one way from what I remember.
Okay, that's interesting. I never thought of the wipers operating in much the same way as the rods of a steam locomotive. In that case it should be possible to move the wiper mechanism to park the wipers correctly.
However, back in the Autumn of 2014 the same motor was parking the wipers too low. Here is a photo that I took in part to explain why we had to send the motor back to Detroit Speed:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Misc-engine-bay-photos/i-ZGXPcHs/0/0623dab0/L/Biquette%27s%20wipers%20parked%20too%20low-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Drive-Train-makeover/Misc-engine-bay-photos/i-ZGXPcHs/A)
So I definitely need to be a bit cautious with this rig.
Hi, you can pull the arms off make one out cardboard tape it on and run the wipers to see what you have.Jim
That would certainly be a way to run a test safely.
However given a December 16th surgery date, I think I'll wait to take this on until I've recovered from that.
Happy Holidays, and hope your 2023 is going to be 1000 times better than 2022 for you. :icon_thumright:
Thanks! I sure need a change in my fortunes!
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear 65GS.com fans of a certain rascally wagon,
California has been making the news headlines with all the extreme rain events. We are finally catching a break after essentially a month of wet weather. My trusty wagon hasn't been out since mid-December so it was overdue. I ran over to get some groceries and on my way back took this photo a historic site nearby:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2022-23/i-gwS4tv6/0/50412fcd/L/Biquette%20at%20Moraga%20Ranch%20-%20Jan%202023-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2022-23/i-gwS4tv6/A)
I'm sure she was happy to "stretch her legs" again,
Cheers, Edouard
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She's lookin' good, Edouard! And thanks for showing some of us that live in the northern part of the country what sunshine looks like!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who are a fan of a certain rascally wagon,
Last Friday, I had one more skin cancer surgery. It was a Mohs procedure under local anesthetic to remove a small basal cell tumor on my scalp. They were able to remove the tumor with clear edges in an hour and half and send me home. There was one more surgery on my left ear in October to remove the remaining noninvasive melanoma. I'm not doing as well on that one because a skin graft was necessary and the ear continues to be very tender. Still, unless they find something new, I should be at the end of all these cancer surgeries. I see my dermatologist tomorrow for another 3 month checkup. We shall see . . . .
On Monday, I took my trusty wagon to a shopping center that always has beautiful trees in the fall. I couldn't resist taking a few pictures:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2023-24/i-8Tw4CKH/0/685a7abe/L/Biquette%20and%20autumn%20trees%20-%20starboard-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2023-24/i-8Tw4CKH/A)
Here is one more:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2023-24/i-Kv7dpnD/0/f3a489d2/L/Biquette%20and%20autumn%20trees%20-%20port-L.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Biquette-photos-Autumn-Winter-2023-24/i-Kv7dpnD/A)
I took advantage of the Detroit Speed black Friday sale to buy the upgraded Selecta-Speed Wiper Kit:
https://www.detroitspeed.com/products/electrical/selecta-speed_wiper_kits/parts/121601 (https://www.detroitspeed.com/products/electrical/selecta-speed_wiper_kits/parts/121601)
That will solve the wiper parking problem Biquette has had since last autumn. However, I'll have to face the same switch modification problem I had with the previous kit. I'll be asking for advice on that one once I get the kit in my hands and can size up the problem!
Thanks for your support!
Edouard
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So sorry to hear of more surgery. You continue to be in my prayers.
Always great to see the beautiful pictures of Biquette.
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick caregivers who are in need occasionally of some care themselves,
So sorry to hear of more surgery. You continue to be in my prayers.
Thanks for the prayers Loren. This morning my dermatologist didn't find anything that required anything more than some freezing by liquid nitrogen. So I seem to be finally at the end of the tunnel at least when it comes to skin cancer surgeries.
Always great to see the beautiful pictures of Biquette.
Thanks, hopefully she will finally get some much needed luv' now that I'm past all these trials.
Edouard
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Edouard, You are in our prayers. Take the time to heal and enjoy driving your Buick. The photos of the trees are beautiful, have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family...
Tony & Karen
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Happy Thanksgiving! Great news...Congratulations. I am sure everyone here is very happy for you. Prayers definitely work. :hello2: :hello2:
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What a long road Edouard, all the more wonderful to be near the end of it. Prayers from here as well for your full recovery!
Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Hi Edouard,
What great news!
Wishing you the best of luck on a full recovery.
Marcus
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Thanks everyone.
Edouard