2013-05-21 56X Buick

Subject: 56 X BUICK SESSION MAY 21 2013

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

This is our last work session for the spring of 2013. We start back up shortly after Labor Day 2013.

Photos # 1 and #2 show our modern day hot rodders driving the 56X chassis making sure all is well and doing some more checks. That's Del driving and Jerry in the suicide seat.

Photos #3, &4 show the driver's seat in its final position and relative to the steering wheel.

Photos #5 & 6 shows the driver's seat positioned 90 degrees.

Photos #7 & #8 shows Don Feutz working on the radio bezel to prepare it for chrome plating.

Photo #9 shows Art's hands as he works on one of the window frames for chrome plating.

Photo #10 shows Dick Chambers' hands as he works on installing the clips on the back side of the aluminum rocker panels. Dick and Ron had to modify existing standard clips to fit the grooves that were machined in the back side of these rocker trim pieces that run from the front wheel opening to the rear wheel opening.

Photo #11 shows some of the trim pieces being worked on both for chrome plating as well as repairs. Connie and Art have been working on these.

Photo #12 shows the painted two tone trunk just placed in the rear trunk opening for safe storage. The two tone blue is outstanding.

Chuck again has been doing detail work for the consoles as well as the design of the panel back of the two bucket seats. He is doing most of this work at home but doing many other small jobs in the shop after fitting what he is working on. The final placement of the front seats has held him up but now the driver's seat is in its final position and our first work session in September we will be anchoring down the right passenger swivel seat.

Steering wheel : Our special steering wheel in in Arizona. In talking to the steering restoration shop they have the mold made and have made two steering wheels. However, one was too hard in the rubber compound and the second one as too soft and would not tolerate paint without cracking. They continue to work with their chemical supplier to obtain the correct feel for the rubber coating. I realize I mention rubber but it is a plastic compound.

We still have a list of parts we need and in the near future I will again list all of these parts which are standard 1956 Buick parts.

We also will be starting the design of the wiring circuit for the power rotating front bucket seats making sure we include all the safety requirements.

LAST WORK SESSION UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2013