2013-12-03 56X Buick

Subject: DEC 3 2013 BUICK 1956X SESSION VP Bill Mitchell's Car

VOLUNTEERS - Jim Baker, Al Batts, Bob Boorsma, Jerry Bush, Dick Chambers, Connie DeJong, Ryan DeVries, Ron Elzinga, Don Mayton, Art Miedema, Chuck Snow, Dean Tryon, Stu Allen

Al continues to provide us with a running photo record of this restoration.

Photos #1, 2, & 3 show the complete assembled 4 YH Carter side draft manifold that also show the four side drafts mounted. The manifold was made by Jared Thomsen from both photographs and dimensions

Jared made at the Buick Gallery of the Buick Wildcat II Concept car. We thank Jacob at the Buick Gallery for his help in making this happen. Upon advice of retired GM Stylist Larry Faloon this would have been the type of manifold on the car that GM VP Bill Mitchell would have had built. The 4 carburetors have already been shipped to Dean Tryon (North Carolina) for rebuilding. Both Dean and Stu Allen ( Virginia) are GM retirees working in different divisions have years of expertise on GM fuel systems.

The process of polishing has been started on the manifold. Once the polishing is completed then the attachments must be welded on for the linkage to operate the carburetors.

In addition the four air cleaners must be built.

Jim Baker is continuing to work on the 180 degree swivel passenger's seat.

"DISASTER" Photo #4. As the team continues to prepare pieces for chrome plating we decided to get the large cast "BIRD" that decorates the front grill ready for plating. However, it attempting to fit the already chromed center emblem it was discovered that the "BIRD" would not fit against the grill. It had been hit near its center and as a result was bent at the center where the two "BIRD's" wings spread out. In attempting to straighten this large casting out we ended up breaking it at the center where it was bent. Now what? The next day we hauled it over to Ryan DeVries who casts brass and also repairs brass. We left it with him to see if he could save our mistake.

Photo #5 shows the hands of one of our volunteers as he prepares one of the bars that lift the convertible top.

Photo #6 shows one of the bucket seats being fitted with a 1956 Buick Century.standard bench seat skirt. Since this 1956 Buick 56X had swivel bucket seats and the only seats in a standard 1956 Buick Century had bench seats we had to not only find a pair of bench seat skirts for a 1956 Buick Century but two pairs of these skirts with the power seat option to obtain the controls. William Nasburg out in Washington State had not one but two of these sets available and with a small amount of modification be able to use these parts on VP Bill Mitchell's 1956X Buick. Just a reminder, we received the car with standard bench seats, but the GM Photo Archive photographs show 4 bucket seats.

Bob has checked out the power seat switch shipped from the state of Washington and it works fine. He also cleaned it up and the chrome is beautiful. The plastic skirt needs some repair and Don M. is working on adding metal reinforcements where necessary.

Chuck continues to work on the rear bucket seats surround at his home.

1929-55X Buick parts that were fabricated by Jerry Bush and painted by Del were delivered to Brian the person making the side curtains to complete the restoration of that car. Del and Jerry then went on to work on a 1917 Buick D-45 that has been really challenging us to get it running properly.

TV??? Yes, it is a vintage TV. Mark Behr, who has nothing to do with this restoration is from Australia and has visited our group during the summers of 2012 and 2013. In 2012 their mission here was videoing the Futurliner for a TV program shown in Australia, New Zeeland, and other Pacific Ocean basin countries. In 2013 they were back for the same reason but wanted to do other videos of the local antique cars in west and east Michigan. To shorten this story Mark for some reason purchased an antique TV off of e-bay and since its USA owner only lived a few miles from my place he asked if we could pick it up for him which we did. So, there it is!