2012-02-21 56X Buick

1956X BUICK WORK SESSION for February 21, 2012

Volunteers: Jim Baker, Al Batts, Jerry Bush, Del Carpenter, Connie DeJong, Don Feutz, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Dick Saddler, Chuck Snow

The small detail work shown is the manufacture of a "Parade Boot" latch. The Parade Boot requires a pair of two latches. We only have one of the set. Over the years that I have owned this car I discovered that this part was only used on a 1956 Cadillac Eldorado. Other year Cadillac parade boots used a different design parade boot as well as the latch. This past fall at the annual AACA Hershey meet that I attend yearly, I decided to make a concentrated effort to find a 1956 Cadillac Parade Boot latch. In the AACA program that they sell at this meet I circiled all the Cadillac vendors and proceeded to track them down.

After three days I discovered 1/3 of the Cadillac vendors did not know the parade boot latch I was carrying was from a Cadillac, 1/3 did not even know what part I was carrying, and the last 1/3 recognized it and the vendors simply stated you will never find one. So, we had to bite the bullet and start manufacturing the latch. The parts that have to be made are the stamped top sheet metal hook, a link with a hole in each end to connect the stamped top and cast metal base that fits in the top of the back of the parade boot, and a pin that will be riveted on one end to the base and the other end on the sheet metal hook. This entire assembly must have each of its individual parts chrome plated. Working on the latch was both Don Feutz and Don Mayton. Jerry Bush volunteered to take the base to a friend that casts parts. Although there is a lot of detail work that has to be done when a part is missing on this car it simply must be made.

Jim continues to work on his seat project. This car had powered head rests on all four bucket seats. Jim has discovered that a BMW in the 1980s on one model had powered head rests. So Jim, looking through junk yards has found one such seat. He had already figured out how to construct the powered head rests for the 56X but he wanted to confirm that there might be a better way. He disassembled the BMW's seat and the construction of this powered head rest was basically the same as Jim was planning.

Jerry and Dick Saddler continued to fit the parts on the bumper assembly including having to do more modifications to fit the one of a kind parts.

You can see in the photograph the altered bumper bombs that will receive the driving lights. Also, the unique parts that are between the parallel ends of the bumpers can be seen.

Art and Connie have completed all the painting and buffing on the front inner fenders. They are now stored until the car is in final assembly. They continue to work on all the individual black metal parts. In addition they painted a aluminum metal decorative trim piece that on the regular production

Buicks for 1956 was silver color. The identical piece on the 56X was a beautiful light blue. Although the face on the 56X original was badly sun faded the back side had no fading so the automotive paint store was able to do a perfect match.

Chuck has started doing the work of fitting the Parade Boot to the body. First he had to install the stainless trim around the rear of the body just forward of the trunk opening. In the process of working on the boot he showed me the vinyl that snaps on each side of the boot that fills the area from the boot side to 1/4 side inner panel trim.

Del worked on the rear brake lines on the chassis. He also did some shop maintenance with an air leak.

Again, Al continues to add to our photo archives.

Don