2013-10-01 56X Buick

Subject: 56 X BUICK SESSION OCT 1 2013

Buick 56X Volunteers: Al Batts, Bob Boorsma, Jerry Bush, Del Carpenter, Dick Chambers, Connie DeJong, Don Elzinga, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Dick Saddler, Chuck Snow.

As every week of our work sessions Al Batts does the photography for our extensive collection of disassembly as well as the assembly of all components. It really helps when we have to do the assembly.

Photos 01 & 02 & 03 shows Connie and Art sanding on our newly restored and chromed and painted rear bumper. WHY! If you recall the lower portion of the rear bumper and the lower out side

corners of the front bumper were painted the darker blue as seen on the two tone of the car when VP Bill Mitchell finished the car back in 1956. Notice the left bottom of the rear of the car in the photo titled "right rear quarter" at the end of the list of the above photos. This photo came from GM Media Archives when the car was finished.

Photo 04 shows Bob Boorsma's hands. He has been preparing all the plastic knobs for use on the instrument panel. He has discovered there is a difference between thermo setting plastic and thermo plastic plastic. One melts or changes form when it is heated by buffing it too vigorously.

Photo 05 shows Dick Saddlers hands as he starts the polishing of the upper grill bar that runs from front fender to front fender on top of the grill. Lot of work here.

Photo 06 shows Don M. attempting to wire up the 6 way power and two way swivel driver's seat. I need patience here!

Photo 07 shows Ron E. starting to fit the driver light bezels inside the bumper bombs. These bezels were cast by Ryan DeVries and the fit has to be perfect for final chrome.

Photo 08 shows Connie thinking deeply. I wonder what his thoughts were here?

Photos 09, 10, 11, & 12. Here Jerry Bush is gathering all the components of the convertible top, identifying each part, and then the process of preparing these parts either for painting or chrome plating will take place.

Bob Boorsma has taken 27 very small pieces of one of the instrument panel vents and with the smallest tools he could find completely assembled one side as they are symmetrical right and left sides at the end of the instrument panel of these vent assemblies. For the next work session we will take a close up of all the components and the final chrome plated assembly.

Del and Jerry spent considerable time along with Jim Baker sorting out each of the electric window lifts. They checked out each of the motors to make sure each ran and then started cleaning them up for painting and then being assembled into the doors as well as the rear 1/4 area for the rear power windows.

Del also worked at tracking down the bad ground that has surfaced on the 1929 turn signal circuit. The 1929 Buick will go back to the upholster to work on the side curtains. However Brian has to first remove the metal frames from the original side curtains as they are enclosed by the side curtain material. We plan to take the car to Brian's shop on Tuesday, November 5.

Chuck Snow worked at home modifying and building the front console. He then brought it for its final fit but it appeared it did not need further modification.

Lots of work done today but a long way to go.

Don