2015-04-07 56X Buick

2015-04-07 56X Buick Work session. - Volunteers.Jim Baker, Al Batts, Bob Boorsma, Del Carpenter, Dick Chambers, Ron Elzinga, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Paul Prinzing, Chuck Snow.

The two photos are the modern equivalent of ballast resistors. However, we wanted the restoration just as VP Bill Mitchell finished the car in 1956. So Ron E. removed the insides of the original 50 ohm 1956 resister and then with a slight modification of the new resistor inserted it into the ceramic housing of the 1956 resistor. Since these resistors were identical from 1953 through 1956 this can be done on any of those year Buicks with the V-8 engine and 12 volt electrical system. After Ron cleaned up the original resistors they were installed on the firewall in the exact place when the car was completed at Buick. A simple but effective way to make the car look original.

One additional comment is that I started this job by going to buy the original resistor from a national parts store and was told by the counter person that he had not seen one of those in 8 years. They had no modern equivalent. I then went to a second different brand national part store and they looked up the modern equivalent and they had them in stock. The very same week I had to pick up manifold gaskets for the 1956 engine. The exact reverse happened! One store told me they do not exist and the other, except being the opposite store, had them in the computer and simply had to order them. Always check more than one store and you may find them.

At another time I had to purchase special nuts for a 1917 Buick and although their computer said they were no longer made he went on line and found a small supply in a store in the west. Since they were no longer made I purchased the small quantity they had.

Photo #4 shows one exhaust manifold having its casting flash being ground off by Chuck Snow. When Chuck is not working on his specific project due to waiting on others to finish their jobs he always is helping others.

Paul showed up just in time as Bob's first look at the new Futurliner model he ended up pulling off a door handle on the very good new model. Paul came a little later and then grabbed another door handle and pulled it off. We have learned the hard way not to pull on the door handles. Paul ended up repairing both handles with some super glue. This is a high quality model and since everyone wants to open all the doors which do open you cannot use the door handles.

Photos #5 & 6 show what looks like a snake. No, Bob Boorsma is not holding a snake but the 54" long drive cable that is attached to the rear of the generator gear box to drive the tachometer. We finally found it thinking it was lost. Since the cable was stuck Bob filled a round catch pan with one of the liquids used to get bolts loose and left it in place for next week's session. By then it should be free to turn again.

The last two photos show work being done by Jim Baker on the seating bucks.

Art, Ron, & Dick Chambers worked on fitting the clips into the left rocker. Then they worked on fitting it to the left body. They will continue that work next week. Del is working on the manifolds to prepare them for installing on the side draft engine. Lots of work to do here.

Al Batts continues to provide excellent photos for our records.