2012-05-01 56X Buick

56 X BUICK SESSION MAY 1 2012 - BODY DROP (NOTE: - NOT ALL PHOTOS SHOWN)

VOLUNTEERS - Jim Baker, Al Batts, Bob Boorsma, Del Carpenter, Dick Chambers, Connie, DeJong, Ryan DeVries, Ron Elzinga, Don Feutz, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Dick Saddler, Chuck Snow, Wayne Jackson from the past Futurliner restoration stopped by.

BODY DROP - Most of the volunteers were involved in the process of removing the 56X body from the spare 1956 Buick chassis and then installing it on the restored 1956X chassis. The purpose of doing this is to get accurate measurements of the exact exhaust locations of where the exhaust exits the body. Although the frame still retained the holes in it as well as the reinforcements that the GM Styling studio modified the hole allowed the exhaust to vary. We had to be exact as the rocker panel, and all the trim that goes around the exhaust tear-drops had to fit perfectly. Just looking at all the GM Media archive photos you could see that the GM Styling Studio employes took great care in insuring that as far as could be done they did a perfect job.

The following describes these first set of photos that Al Batts captured for our documentation.

1) Steering wheel previouly removed by Del and Jerry B.

2) Body - Doors removed,

3) Body, front cowl lift bracket added.

4) Door opening braces added to keep body from flexing.

5) Chuck completed and installed the rear seat bucket seat body width panel.

6) Body on spare chassis pushed under human power.

7) Body pushed under raised car hoist. Note the wheel ramps of hoist are on the top of the body.

Hoist will be used to raise the body once it is hooked up.

8) Completed chassis with steering wheel removed is moved out of east workshop.

9) and then rolled under the body.

10) Body being lined up for dropping on the completed chassis.

1) Ryan checking the body hookup. Note the timber and chain to the right body mount just above Ryan's head.

2) Body has been successfully dropped, rolled out, and then rolled onto the car hoist.

3) Checking the exhaust.

4) Marking where the exhaust hole should be.

5) Inside rocker and the hole for the exhaust. Yes it looked like this.

6) Pilot hole.

7) Drilling a larger hole.

8) Rear original bumper. This bumper is headed for the chrome stripping tank. This original bumpers has to have extensive repairs before

being chrome plated.

9) Body folks working on door inner panels. By the end of the day they are in final primer.

10) Finished panels in final primer.

Again, the talents of these volunteers is amazing.

Don