2013-11-12 56X Buick

Subject: 56 X BUICK SESSION Nov 12 2013 -

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

Al as usual does his great job of taking the photographs to keep our photo archives up to date. Another service he does is bringing the weekly doughnuts and cookies.

Photos #s 1 through 6 shows the results of last week's painting of the corners and 1/3 of the front section of the lower portion of the front bumper. Today Connie and Dick Chambers buffed the paint, removed the paper protection cover and then with Del Carpenter's help bolted on all the front bumper to frame Seminole red supports. Next with an addition of Don M. helping the front bumper was attached to the running chassis. Note that the front bumper is now completed and on the running chassis.

Photo #7 shows the rear bumper that was previously attached.

Photo #8. What is it? It is one of the cross bows to the convertible top. Del spent considerable time sand blasting off all the rust and now Art is preparing it for primer and then the final color black. We had considerable discussion on the color of this part and the other normal black parts that were usually found on the convertible parts other than those that are chrome plated. After consulting with Larry Faloon, a retired GM Stylist that have been an ongoing advisor to this car as he worked directly for VP Bill Mitchell in the 1960s, we decided that these parts should be black. However, after Larry Faloon asked us if this car had an inner liner on the outside blue vinyl convertible top, the decision was made to have a dark blue

inner liner to match the two tone blue body of the car. Many times on GM special cars the inner liner was a contrasting color depending on the outside color of the top material.

Del had taken home all the other parts for the top mechanism and painted them the final black. He also took the 1929-55X side curtain frames home and also painted these the final black.

Jerry Bush also worked on some of the chrome parts for the convertible top including the latching parts preparing them for chrome plating.

Don Feutz, Photo #9, here is working on one of the mirror supports. Later we discovered this was an incorrect part for the 1956X Buick.

Photo #10 shows Dick Saddler removing rust from the front header assembly. This part is mostly hidden by top material but all the rust has to be removed and sealed with primer and a final black color coat.

Photos #11 & 12 show the top operating switch that Bob Boorsma is cleaning up for its installation at the bottom of the instrument panel. He has already checked this switch electrically and it functions as designed.

Jim Baker continues to do the final assembly on the right front power seat.

Don M. continues to work on the surround for the left rotating 90 degree seat which will be the prototype for the right seat.

Chuck Snow had to do some computer work today where we store all out photo archives. In addition since I changed my internet provider that process had to be taken care of. Chuck also continues to work at home on the center console as well as the seat back support on the two rear bucket seats. Chuck and Don M. had to confer on the right front seat bolster.

We have found a source of 1956 Buick parts that we need to purchase and some of these parts will be shipped shortly.

Don