2014-10-21 56X Buick

Subject: 56 X BUICK SESSION OCT 21 2014

Photographer Al Batts again gives us a detail view of the work going on for the 1956X VP Bill Mitchell Buick. Yes these photographs are so valuable.

Bob Boorsma has hurt his back installing a furnace and we hope a pray he is doing better. I do have good news for the part that he is working one which is the upper part of the instrument panel. I took this part to the local auto paint store and after numerous tests they were able to match the color of the dash pad to the original color vinyl. The paint is mixed and a repair kit purchased where there is some damage to the underside of the tachometer protrusion.

Ken and Jim Baker have made real progress on the rotating power seats. The mechanical part of the right seat has been assembled. Next the wiring has to be hooked up for another trial.

We did stop after lunch to look at the 4 Carter YH Side draft carburetor engine at CD's hoping to see it run but they had a different engine on the stand.

Del did a lot of organizing today and later he was invaluable stripping other part from the original body. Everyone of these parts will have to be restored.

Chuck Snow today got on the web and found some parts that we need. These are regular production parts that would be common on any 1956 Buick of our series. Chuck does an outstanding job of finding this stuff.

Photo #1 shows one of our more difficult trim pieces that Ron Elzinga and Connie DeJong have been working on. This piece is very narrow and runs the length of the hood. As I mentioned in last week's report it was originally made, because of its length, in two separate pieces and assembled like an old Lionel train track except it had to appear without a joint so the joint was soldered. We hope next week changing the type of solder we are using will make it easier to join, solder, and then metal finish. It seems Ron and Connie get the most difficult pieces although Don Feutz has had his share of very difficult pieces.

Photo #2 shows Dick Saddler starting the process of the disassembly of the handle that latches the convertible top to the top of the windshield header. Then Dick will start the process of preparing this piece for chrome plating.

Photo #3 shows Connie and Ken adjusting the fit of the deck lid to the body opening to get it centered and to make sure it will fit perfectly.

Photo #4 shows the right long trim on the deck lid. Both the right and left deck lid trim pieces had fastening studs missing. Today Connie worked on getting the mounting studs installed on these two pieces of trim.

Photo #5 shows the retracted convertible top and how it fits inside the body of the car.

Photo #6 shows another trim piece that needs repaired prior to chrome plating. This piece is one of the right and left piece that the clamps tighten the convertible top to the right and left upper part of the windshield header. Don

Feutz is preparing these pieces for chrome plating.

Photo #7 & #8 shows the brackets that holds the sun visors. Both of these right and left brackets must be prepared for chrome plating.

Photo #10 & #11 shows a 1934 Hudson Terraplane. We had a visitor today who drove this to our shop. He has made it into a street rod with a Corvette engine, a Ford rear end and lots of other goodies. He stated he did not have to touch the original body.