65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Projects & Restorations => Projects & Restorations => Topic started by: 35chevcoupe on September 01, 2021, 10:49:02 PM
-
Bought this project as a basket case LITERALLY .
So the plan is to continue on with the 65GS from oregon and start on this one at the same time . With it being 1 of 123 made I can't leave it sit , It will drive me crazy . LOL ( which I am a little already )
So here's a little info on it so far . I'll update when I can .
-
Congrats, John! 2 at once is a challenge. It's very hard to have a project and not work on it.
-
Sounds like a challenge, but I know you will enjoy it! How many baskets is it in?? :dontknow:
Cheers!
Chuck
-
Chuck , there was at least 10 milk crates and 3 large tubs in his basement along with the white bucket seats that are actually pretty nice considering there age . Most of it was in the garage with a few things in the garage attic .
-
Little extra bonus .
-
Nice. Enjoy sorting it all out!
Chuck
-
Best of luck John on your "stereo" restoration projects! :icon_thumright: However, do pace yourself or you might drive yourself even more . . . . . :tongue3:
. . . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
-
Well we brought home the parts car and a pile of parts this weekend . Gonna have to make another trip down to pick up the GS convertible as the trailer was full . Got to see inside the engine and it don,t look pretty , has some really deep rust pits . Its a shame cause the engine was all rebuilt . OH WELL !
We got to Mark,s house and it wasn't more than a minute and Marks wife was out there BEGGING for it to stay there . BUT it wasn't for sale .
-
Well just about sorted thru all the parts on the convert project . Some parts were better than expected and some worse . So far I've located most of the stuff that was missing . The previous 2 owners had 4 of these cars so I'm finding 3 sets of some things , it looks like one of the cars may have had Air conditioning as i,m finding some parts that I don't recognize .
decided to fire up the sand blast cabinet and start cleaning , nothing like clean steel ! Ordered a pile of suspension parts to start putting the suspension together .
-
Nice start of the project. Feels good, doesn't it? :icon_thumright:
:cheers2:
Chuck
-
Yes, great start!
-
Well the Astro blue convert body tub made it home today . This winter should be fun working on both these Gran Sports . A big pile of parts came in this week so assembly of the chassis is going to begin in the next couple weeks .
Some interesting markings on the firewall on this car, probably gonna put those back on after paint . My verde green someone had smoothened out the firewall so I'll never know what was on that one .
-
Thanks John for the update!
Indeed you have gone to a lot of trouble to give yourself something to do this winter! :laughing7:
Best of luck on what will be a challenging bit of body restoration!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
-
Had some time on this nice warm sunday so started pulling apart this spare LT coded 401 i bought a couple years ago at a auction down in Iowa .
Since the rebuilt engine that came with the car is TOAST this will be the one taking its place .
Lifters came right out ( although badly worn ) so that was good .
Pretty much decided to go with dual quads again since I have two sets of carbs and two air cleaners . FUN FUN FUN !!!!!
-
Progress is progress! Your getting a good start! Sometimes it is more efficient to work on multiple of the same parts at the same time meaning if you have your press setup to press axle bearings and A arm bushings do them all at once! Many times we have taken big lots of parts to the sand blaster and power coater at once! Less trips better prices! My buddy Randy and I have done this with many projects with in the restoration process! I just have not gotten much time lately to work on anything! Very frustrating! Keep pecking away!
-
Nice John. Enjoy the first step of the thousand mile journey! :thumbsup:
Chuck
-
Well most most of the suspension parts came except for the centerlink . bumper brackets came back from powder coating. This week taking a batch of hardware to get zinc plated , one batch of clear and a batch of black to start with .
Hoping right after thanksgiving to have the front suspension all installed .
Hopefully I can get the rest of the engine torn down by tuesday and drop the block and crank off at the machine shop .
Also scored on a bunch of NOS rocker arms in the boxes .
-
Great start John and nice score on the rocker arms!
Chuck
-
Progress :headbang: :rocker is a great thing! Nos rockers cool! Oem is the bomb!
-
Well I got the engine all torn down and ready to drop off at the machine shop . Amazingly this thing looks really good inside with very little wear .
Only thing that made me a nervous was when i popped the heads off one side had the original steel shim head gasket and the other side looked like and old victor gasket, who knows why . ( maybe overheated it at sometime )
I,m not even sure the crank needs to be ground but ill leave that up to the pros . So either thursday or friday its road trip day . First stop machine shop then crankshaft supply then over to the zinc plater and then down to the DREADED CHROME SHOP !!! :sad1:
-
Dear John and mid-60s Buick caregivers who cannot get enough shine! . . . :sunny:
. . . . .
So either thursday or friday its road trip day . . . . . . down to the DREADED CHROME SHOP !!! :sad1:
Yeah, yeah, your wallet really hates those visits to the chrome folks, but what would a 1965 GS be without lots and lots of CHROME!! :sunny:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
-
Not a whole lot to report on except ITS DANG COLD OUT !
But i did pickup my fresh 10/10 crankshaft while in Minneapolis yesterday . Hoping the block will be ready next week .
Stay warm everyone and lets see some winter restoration photos of what ur all working on .
-
Dear John and mid-60s Buick restorers,
Not a whole lot to report on except ITS DANG COLD OUT !
But i did pickup my fresh 10/10 crankshaft while in Minneapolis yesterday . Hoping the block will be ready next week .
Glad to hear about some progress even with the nasty cold!
Stay warm everyone and lets see some winter restoration photos of what ur all working on .
I'll definitely second that motion!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
-
Any and all progress is great! Big favor it you get a chance John could you measure your driveshaft lengths!? If they are correct 3 speeds!? Thank you!
-
Any and all progress is great! Big favor it you get a chance John could you measure your driveshaft lengths!? If they are correct 3 speeds!? Thank you!
Hi Jon , hey i,m not sure on the driveshaft length quite yet . My car from Oregon didn't have one when I got it and the d/s i got with the convertible i don,t believe is correct either because it has rubber in it which i think was for an automatic .
I did get one from Jim Moses ( Jmos ) when i bought his 3 speed set-up but that one seems to be the same length as the 4 speed d/s .
I haven't done it yet but I was hoping to ask ( Red65gs) Don from Kentucky if he could measure his driveshaft when hw gets it out .
I'm thinking it may be possible that the 3 and 4 speed d/s lengths may be the same and the slip yoke may be the only difference but i,m not positive on that . I know the assembly manual shows the 4 spd shaft with a white and purple stripe and the 3 spd shaft has a red and blue stripe but they may be because the slip yokes are different . :dontknow:
-
Hi Guys! I'll be glad to measure the drive shaft. I have to pull it out anyway. We have had a bunch of snow, so it might be mid to end of week before I can get to it. I doubt I'll be able to see any paint colors but I'll look closely.
-
Thanks Don . No hurry on my end .
-
If you need the dimensions for a 3 spd driveshaft i can measure the one in my car now. Its sitting in the air getting the clutch linkage and suspension redone.
-
Length would be really good to know.
Loren
-
If you need the dimensions for a 3 spd driveshaft i can measure the one in my car now. Its sitting in the air getting the clutch linkage and suspension redone.
Absolutely ! A couple measurements from a couple different cars would be great . That will be a great way to confirm the correct length . Center of u joint cap to of u joint cap would be preferred method .
-
Center of u joint cap to of u joint cap would be preferred method .
You might want to edit this sentence if you want a dimension you are looking for. At least I do not know what you are asking.
-
It doesn't show any markings on the drive shaft. But I'm sure its original.
Measures 59 3/4 centerline of the u joints and 61 1/4 overall
-
Thank you
Loren
-
Thanks for the measurement . Thanks 65GSConv , think part of my question was missing . LOL
-
Thanks for the measurement . Thanks 65GSConv , think part of my question was missing . LOL
It crossed my mind to do an edit for you John. I resisted though. Trying to be less hands on, on the forum. lol
Loren
-
Yes thanks for the measurements! Hopefully we get a few more to confirm! Would be a nice project to put down the lengths on all transmissions and have this info on the site!
-
I was able to pull my driveshaft today as well, so here's the measurements. center to center of u-joint caps = 59.5" yoke = 5.37" from trans end to center of u-joint.
-
Not much to update on, but my carpet came in for the convertible . Hopefully they can start catching up on they're orders . I did start putting a few things on the frame but stopped because some of the stuff came in for the house project and guess which project gets priority ?
:icon_scratch:
-
That frame looks nice! Keep chipping away and eventually you will get there. I'm in the same boat...house project come first. I do try to keep it even though, one house project equals one car project.
-
Great looking frame John! I remember how proud I was of the chassis when it was complete. Then the challenges started all over again with the rest of the project. Keep up the good work!
Sounds like a few of us have house projects going. Mine's nearing the finish line.
:cheers2:
Chuck
-
Well since supply issues have me stalled out on the house at least i get a chance to work on the Gran sports . Got the upper and lower control arms all painted and put together with new ball joints and bushings . Installed the control arms and springs today .
-
Nice work!
-
Looks great!
-
Thanks John for the update!
We've all got to set our priorities, and while we love our cars, we all need a house to live in! Glad you found some time to get some work done on the GS!
Cheers, Edouard
-
Hi John,
I'm painting my house at the moment, I cannot get a painter as they all booked out for 6 months, sort of need to get it done now as we have new floor coverings ready to go in. So my build has taken a slight back seat, although I'm still saving and buying parts.
Thanks for sharing your photos, its a great feeling to get those front springs bolted in, especially when its just a frame and you cannot use the weight of the vehicle and gravity to help.
Kind Regards
Marcus
-
More progress! Always great! Thanks for the update!
-
another day in the shop ! got the front brakes pretty much done minus a few small parts like bearing dust covers and brake hoses . also got the tie rods on , could have put the centerlink on that I have but i didn't like the first brand i got so i ordered another one from Rare parts . As i get the chassis closer i,m finding out all the parts i,m missing .
-
Nice and shiny bright! Looks nice! :headbang: I got to get back on mine!
-
Great to see all your progress John. Keep the hits coming!
Chuck
-
Well well , Legendary seat covers and door panels arrived today . YEE HAW . Soon as the seat foam comes in they are off to the upholstery shop .
-
Very nice John. Finally!! :hello2:
Chuck
-
Nice! Don?t get sidetracked by that cuda!
-
Jim , I cant touch the cuda till after Nov. so worries right now ! lol :laughing7:
I keep telling myself B comes before C in the alphabet so ill keep working on the Buicks for now . But you may need to keep reminding me .
-
Dear John, Chuck, Jim, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Congratulations John on finally getting those items from Legendary! Given the tenuous state of the supply chain, you can never be too sure of getting anything until it is in your hot little hands!
Cheers, Edouard
-
Nice and they look like the correct white too!
-
small update on the covert basket case . my main machine shop guy got my cyl heads all finished up , got the pistons and rings in after waiting all summer so its all ready for the final hone job to get the piston to cylinder wall clearance set . just waiting for bearings to show up then the assembly can get balanced .
Still waiting for my 1st set of carbs to get done but my 2nd set of carbs is done except for a few choke parts .
I'll see if i can load some pictures but lately i cant seem to get ANY pictures to load .
-
carbs
-
more picts
-
sorry about the small photos , only way i could upload them .
-
Hey John,
No problem with the photos. They enlarged nicely. Carbs from Carmen or someone else?
Chuck
-
Great to hear it's coming together John!
Check the piston dome to cyl head chamber clearance.... there have been reports of the corner of the piston dome hitting the chamber. You can use clay for the test. What brand pistons are those?
-
Hey John,
No problem with the photos. They enlarged nicely. Carbs from Carmen or someone else?
Chuck
Thanks Chuck , thats good to know .
Carmen still has my 1st set of carbs so decided to try something/someone else . I did some digging and found the exact screws that hold the choke and throttle plates in so that i could remove them for cleaning . Then I don't know if you remember or met Frank Freidman ( Marks friend ) I think he was at Robs get together he use to have , anyway he was getting ready to do some dual quad carbs for his 409 Impala so we got together and he ended up doing them all . He must have had 20 AFBs there , it was a sight .
Wish i had some pictures as it ended up looking like the Carter AFB assembly plant . LOL
He did an awesome job .
-
Great to hear it's coming together John!
Check the piston dome to cyl head chamber clearance.... there have been reports of the corner of the piston dome hitting the chamber. You can use clay for the test. What brand pistons are those?
Thanks Walt , I ll make sure to check that . Especially since it will be a true 10.25 to 1 comp ratio engine .
I believe the pistons are from racetech , the guy that did my heads got them and works quite a bit with racetech as he does a lot of muscle car engine rebuilding .
-
Looks like the carbs turned out great!
-
Thanks Walt , I ll make sure to check that . Especially since it will be a true 10.25 to 1 comp ratio engine .
I believe the pistons are from racetech , the guy that did my heads got them and works quite a bit with racetech as he does a lot of muscle car engine rebuilding .
Good to hear, the Racetec/Autotec are likely the best Nailhead pistons on the market. Tom T worked with them on the design. The dome-chamber clearance issue was brought up by Matt/Russ Martin, so it's worth checking into since they do a lot of NH builds.
-
little up date on the 65 GS convert engine . After 18 months i was FINALLY able to pick everything up , so hopefully now i can start to assemble everything .
-
photos
-
more
-
Very nice John. Good to see progress with your project. Will you be focusing time on the rest of the project over the winter? Still working on the house and property?
Chuck
-
Dear John, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick restorers,
Thanks for the update. As I'm sure you have noticed, everything takes longer than anyone would prefer. When it comes to take care of classic cars you need an awful lot of patience! (https://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/patience_emoticon.jpg)
Edouard
-
Very nice John. Good to see progress with your project. Will you be focusing time on the rest of the project over the winter? Still working on the house and property?
Chuck
Chuck I am wrapping up the house project now and should be finished with it by the first of the year . Putting polyurethane on the floors tomorrow and then towel holders , grab bars and misc items . Still waiting on the siding to come but should have that any day now .
This house project has about put me in funny farm but i think i am gonna make it .
And YES I'll be on the 65s this winter and can't wait . I actually have been tinkering around out in the shop but not just on Buick stuff .
I just completed a 1953 Mercury flathead build that we dyoned yesterday , man that thing turned out SWEET !!!
-
Hope you are driving it next year!
-
Very cool flathead! Glad to hear you can enjoy the winter months on Buick projects that have been placed on the back burner for so long. Will look forward to your updates along the way!
Chuck
-
Progress! Yes Sir moving forward!
-
Well I've been working on the 65 Convert project and have been trying to post some photos but not sure why but they just wont load . Anyway have a bunch of parts out getting sandblasted waiting for them to return so in the meantime I have the engine just about long blocked , waiting and hoping to find 7 more rocker arms then it will be ready for the intake carbs and distributor .
Hoping this week to spray the core supports with epoxy primer for both cars and paint them and bolt them in the frames . Carmen has been working on my carbs again and actually did and sent out another recurved distributor with the pertronix conversion with the Super wildcat specs .
Ill see if i can get some picts to load but haven't been having any luck
-
photo
-
couple more
-
Good progress!
-
Lookin' good John. Exciting times!
-
Thanks for the update John! Glad you are managing to give this car some 'luv! :love4:
Edouard
-
little progress report on the convertible project . got the seat frames all apart and cleaned up and back to the upholstery shop . Bead blasted 20 head light buckets , hood latch and clutch linkage parts and sent out to get plated . Was pleased with the turn around from the plating company , only took a week .
Also did the best I could at refinishing the headlight panels .
-
few more picts
-
Looks great, John. Glad you found a good plater. That will make the results much more satisfying!
Great progress...keep it up and enjoy!
:cheers2:
Chuck
-
time for a little progress report on the convert project . Finally got all the interior stuff back .
-
couple more
-
Dear John and mid-60s Buick restorers,
Thanks for sharing! Restoring the seats is perhaps the most underappreciated part of restoring car. Perhaps it is not as glamorous as the engine, but you don't sit on the engine and with good reason! :laughing7:
Edouard
-
Good progress!
-
That all looks very nice indeed. Can you please share more information about the Plater you used?
Dwaine
-
That all looks very nice indeed. Can you please share more information about the Plater you used?
Dwaine
Hi Dwaine , the plater I used for the headlight buckets hood latches and grey phosphate on the clutch linkage parts was done at Brake boosters in Cal.
It was owned by Steve Gregory but has changed hands now . They use to rebuild brake boosters but they stopped doing that and now they just do the plating end of it . The headlight buckets and hood latches were done in Zinc Dychromate and the clutch linkage parts are grey phosphate .