2014-04-22 56X Buick

Subject: 56 X BUICK SESSION APRIL 22 2014

VOLUNTEERS - Jim Baker, Al Batts, Bob Boorsma, Jerry Bush, Del Carpenter, Connie, Ryan DeVries, Ron Elzinga, Don Feutz, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Bill Nasburg, Chuck Snow

Bill Nasburg has again come through with parts that we need with a very good set of window wiper arms and the wipers themselves. The ones we have are greatly deteriorated. We will now be cleaning these up for use on this Buick.

Since Del with Jerry's help got the 1917 Buick D-45 running they decided to tackle a persistent oil leak coming from the oil gauge in the back of the instrument panel.

This is not a oil pressure gauge but an oil flow gauge. They discovered that the plumbing to the back of the gauge had a bad fit. Jerry attempted to straighten out the brass tubing that had a bad kink. However, it was decided to see if new brass or copper tubing could be found. The local hardware store had none as the tubing's outside diameter is 7/16" and is for a pressed fit. Even the McMaster-Carr did have the tubing but no fittings. The next step is to use the tubing that Jerry worked on.

The first two photographs show Chuck working on the fitting of the rear seat back bucket seat support to make sure the convertible roof as it goes up and down will clear his work. Chuck has done a lot of work in this area making sure everything is fitting. In addition Roger Ziel took home the latching system for the fiber glass parade boot cover to make one new closure piece and finished it and returned the piece.

Photos #3 & #4 show the motor drive for the powered head rest along with the vertical tracking device for the head rest mechanism. Jim Baker continues to develop this system that will end up on all four of the bucket seats. He has to sandwich the system in the rear of the vertical part of the bucket seats.

Bob has been working on completely disassembling the steering column and cleaning, sanding and painting each individual part so that all pieces when done can be assembled into the completed steering system.

The 5th photo shows a lot of stainless steel trim parts. The dings and scratches are being worked out by Connie and Art while the gathering up of all these parts is being done.

back Dick Saddler and then our master buffing guy, Ron, does the final polishing. Also Don Feutz has been doing all the small pieces.

FUTURLINER - Not shown is the hatch that was shown on previous photos, the hatch that intersected with an overhead overpass. Ryan DeVries constructed a new hatch. The metal finish was so good that no filler except a little icing had to be used. Art and Connie went to work priming the hatch, finish sanding, and then painting the hatch top and bottom sides with two coats of "ARTIC WHITE". The hatch was delivered back to Ryan for installation plus the interior upholstery. The FUTURLINER goes to the NATIONAL AACA show in Auburn, Indiana next week that will be in Auburn, Indiana.

Also, the 1929-55X BUICK that was restored by this same group that have restored the Futurliner and now restoring this 1956X BILL MITCHELL BUICK will be at its first AACA show. What a group of skilled men.