2014-01-14 56X Buick

Subject: 56 X BUICK SESSION JAN 14 2014

Volunteers - Jim Baker, Mike Ball, Bob Boorsma, Jerry Bush, Del Carpenter, Dick Chambers, Connie DeJong, Ryan DeVries, Ron Elzinga, Don Feutz, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Dick Saddler, Chuck Snow.

Photo #1 ,#2 & #3 shows Dick Chambers, Connie, and Art working on the side skirt surrounds for the front rotating bucket seats. Don M. during the previous week added reinforcements reinforcements where there were cracks in these surrounds. These have to be custom fitted to the seats as they are individual bucket seats. Photo #2 shows some of the work done. These surrounds were supplied by Bill Nasberg out in the state of Washington.

Don F. as well as Dick Chambers continue to work on preparing parts for taking them to the chrome plater.

Photo #4. At the annual Kalamazoo swap meet the Chrome Plater owner shows up both bringing completed parts to the swap meet as well as picking up parts. His presence saves many from making that 3 hour trip to Toledo, Ohio.

Photo #5 shows Ron E. patiently working on the grill for the 56X and again the goal is it have it ready for chrome plating.

Photo #6 shows Don F. hands as he works on the new manifold extension to the side draft carburetor. He is preparing this part for final polishing.

Photo #7 shows the roof bows that are being prepared for the special blue final paint that V. President Bill Mitchell chose for the convertible top bows of this special car.

Since our parts washer pump failed it was time to get it fixed. Del took on the nasty job of cleaning the pump. Del and Jerry B. then worked on trying to free up the pump but the pump decided it needed to be disassembled. During this past week I took the pump to Holland Electric and there is was disassembled and repaired.

Chuck continues to work on helping with the seats and console work. Chuck has also been scouring the web site to find a 5 gang, 5 master switch for the driver's door. No luck yet. We are slowly coming to the conclusion that this switch had limited usage as many have told us they have never seen one. Chuck is looking at what it would take to make one.

Jim Baker has been working on the mount places for the right hand seat as well as lowering the seat mechanism.

Bob continues to work on the instrument panel. He has accumulated all the switches he needs except the above 5 gang switch.

For those of you who do not live in West Michigan you are not aware of the major snow storm that hit this area in this last week. I am still digging out from the snow and blizzard conditions we had in the last few days. It appears that things are calming down except for the cold temperatures that are suppose to arrive later today, Monday, and Tuesday. As in the past I advise others not to come if they feel the roads or weather conditions are unsafe. There is always another day to enjoy working together. Please do not put yourself at risk driving!

Don