Customs 1951 Buick Special

Well, this year has been a year of changes for me. Sold my longtime gal the 56 dodge pickup. Got a 66 c10 in trade and some cash and thought why not try the c10 stuff out, well a week after owning it, I was done. It finally went to a new home yesterday and I got the rest of the cash I have been wanting. I found a car that I actually liked the first time seeing the ad, and its different.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE!

So, truth be told, I am stair stepping for the higher level, I am working my way to 3 window coupe money one day, one build at a time, but I got sidetracked by my 34 Tudor sedan. It's a blast and super comfy. It's a car I didn't know if I would love but has turned out to be very fulfilling, enough so I am building another flathead for it right now. I am going to stockpile some parts for a future build so when either space or change is needed I can attack the build with some good parts I have in stock and don't have to spend money on. Also I have freed up some funds to stash away for hopefully the right 5 or 3 window coupe body at a decent price.

I had a 54 Super many moons ago, I sold it to fund a Model A project at the time, kinda regretted it some what but I wanted the room back also. And the Model A at the time was the prize!

So this car I bought earlier today, 51 Special, dynaflow car. Drives pretty good, has alot of loose ends to be addressed. So here are a few pics from the ad, and one on the trailer ride home.

So lets see if this one will make the cut. I have been wanting a good cruiser, something for road trips and enjoying the road again. I think I am just tired of folding my 6'3" ass up in these small truck cabs, and as hard of a pill to swallow, I need to stick to larger vehicles with the availability to have the seat moved back to allow my legs to be at a decent angle. I had it between this car and a 65 Suburban Delivery. Since I didn't like the 66 c10 that much, I figured might as well try something different and that isn't a belly button car.

Notice the strap on the hood, Yeah some jack wagon before me cut the hinge, latch plates up... that's on the to find list now. And someone clear coated the car very badly to try to "preserve" the finish. Ugg... I think some sanding and buffing it will be alot better. I am not a White guy but this is tasteful.

 

50 to 52 Hinges are the same.

 

Nice Buick. I love the way these drive. So comfy. Not a big fan of the DynaFlow but out on the highway they are fine.

 

Appreciate it!

 

Yeah, around town they kinda suck, but on the big road they shine. Slush box 101....

 

I feel your pain on being 6'3". I am an inch taller and really struggle to fit into an early 30's car, although I did build a chopped Model A coupe many years ago when I was younger and a bit more flexible.

 

First order of business, Moving the seat back a smidge..

2" to be exact, this make a TON of difference....
Just did some nut zert into the floor to relocate the mounting holes, should be golden.



Now onto figuring out why the car dove to the left when stopping... Oh, found it, right front wheel cylinder was froze up, Have new ones on the way with new brake hoses. Might as well be safe!

And, figuring out while I am here, Ill go ahead and give it a little altitude adjustment while I am under here... Also fixing some crap tastic wiring that was done with wire nuts. Ugggg. Trying to figure out if I want to put it back 6 volt or update it to 12.... Tough call.

 

Well, the de "funking" has begun...

So it had the wrong battery, got the right one, didnt have proper terminals, had to make new cables. Coil was wrong, wiring for coil was loose.

Before


After,


So I got the brakes back together up front. Noticed the wheel bearings were dry, touched the outer bearing pulling it apart and bam. BROKE.



So onto rear springs, I got some el camino rear springs off the rainforest website.
I was pulling these old ones out, and the jackwagon before me had clamped the springs together.

 

Its been a month of ups and downs. Hurricane down here, no power for over a week, but hey I was able to push on.

I've tried to sell the car and the market is junk right now, One would think 8k would be a deal for a runner-driver. But this isn't a belly button car so market is weird for sure. I've been so torn with this car, I think some of discontent with this project is that is my flatty built for the 34 has been more on the front burner. I still like the car, not a love affair though. I haven't had enough road time to fall for her. It's a constant topic of debate in my mind of do I want to sell and pursue another early hotrod fenderless flatty or set this car up for a road floating boat? It's a hard decision to find balance here. I think it's partially due to being torn between prewar stuff and 50s stuff, a dance I have done for years now it seems. I already have a flatty for my next project here on the ground, a set of wheels and I am accumulating parts for the an A thru 1934 if I find one in the price point.

The great debate of hotrod vs cruiser.

So none the less, lets get to the meat and potatoes rather than me sitting on a shrinks couch. I went ahead and have been working on finishing the 12v conversion, put a new alternator in there, and she is good on her own systems now. Going to do a rod to take up the room of the prior genny mount, but till now this is working great.



The car is nose down, I was really hoping the rear would settle but it hasn't. The front went too much, I had to put a few spring spacers in there to not bang out on little bumps but it did look good.




After spacers raised it up

 

Click Here for a walk around video.

Well, after a few weeks of tinkering and fixing junk wrong. I did a little voyage out to the local park today.
Freeze plug removal and replacement, intake/exhaust gaskets, new studs in a few spots, but finally found the hood hinge/latch mechanism's needed from a guy parting one out, so awaiting cables etc to get a working hood finally.

The front is just too low as it sits right now, its banging out bad so I need to figure out if I am putting it on air suspension or just coils. Money is about the same at this point. 2 bags with cups etc and a little work, vs 300 for a set of springs. So this is the great debate.

But none the less, here are a few pics for those interested and I changed the name of the thread Finally. Is air suspension worth it? Or should I just set it up Lower on the rear with coils, new drop coils and uprights up front?







Then a few Black and White, I think they turned out pretty good.








This one is my personal favorite! That Waterfall Grill is beautiful and flows nice.

 

Maybe springs and bags are the same $ but then add in the compressor, and batteries and valves etc and springs win hands down. Cool car, but I love Buicks.

 

Nice 51 Buick. only difference is it's a Special, not a Super.
Got a 51 Special 2 door hardtop myself

 

Somehow I missed this before, I also really like these Buicks. I had to open up my Dynaflow more than once to get it right, but it's been working well for nearly 50 years now.

 

Yeah I slept on it, decided springs up front would be better all around for now, I really need to decide how much I am willing to put effort wise in this right now, but best part its not costing a ton of money just alot of wrenching.

Thanks for pointing my typo out in the main title. When I am tired I sometimes duplicate when I just wrote one type. Stock or Kustom?

50 years, congrats, any tips or tricks? I agree they are very well built and the ride is so plush.

 

Happy sunday folks. Well a few weeks update.

Moved things around in the garage a bit to help out the limited space...



Got some new/used front springs, Did 1 cut coil vs the prior 2 coils. Sits pretty good all in all. Damn car fought me going back together this time.







Now she is a taildragger a bit, but looks much better all in all I think for now.

So when letting it down, I tripped on the jack and screwed myself up a bit, I can joke and laugh about it now. When I fell the leg hit a few things on the way down, the ribs landed on the removed coil spring and either broke or bruised a few of them. I tried to push through and keep going on clean-up but my body said no more. So, when you are tired, accidents happen, so be careful and know when to stop for the night.

So once I can drive manual steering again I will give her a road test. She looked great down low tucking tire but was not drivable around here.

 

Looking good! Sorry to hear about the fall, hope you feel better soon.

 

Looks good, but then, I like all your stuff. I want something running/driving and checked out a 51 pontiac this weekend, but I don’t think it will be in the cards. Keep up the good work.

 

Few photos of the settled in altitude adjustment. Still hurts to breathe but hey Im upright.

Rear is about 1" lower than the front so its nice to have a little BLVD rake finally.

Hope to try to drive it this weekend if anything just around the block!

 

I just did 4 springs on my Belair, over the same weekend. I used stock Dorman springs.

I'm glad I borrowed a shop from a friend. The rears were tough with help on Friday. Saturday we got a late start on the fronts only to find after 3 hours it sat too high, after doing 1 side.

So out it came... I decided to remove 2 coils. Which ended up being 1" lower than it was. We came back Sunday, did side 2 in under 2 hours.

I have a pretty bad cut on 1 finger and I'm on blood thinners. I got a large bruise on.my chest, hair burned off one hand and multiple head bumps and a scrapes. BUT... it rides 2000% better.

 

The Gods of Suspension were not in our favor it sounds. All in the love of Stance and Ride. Glad yours is working out good though. Im hoping the same outcome on the ride.

 

Are you missing your truck yet?

 

Some days more than others. The new owner loves it and has been giving it alot of love.

I do miss having a truck in the fleet for hauling big dirty junk around. Its been a constant point of aggravation lately. I could get a different DD and solve the issue and enjoy two cars for a while?

Contemplated a panel truck but that's alot of blind spot and driving around in my area could be hitting someone or get shot, so that's kinda off the docket. I had contemplated building another Mid 50s to late 50s dodge truck again, taking everything learned and wrapping it into a 1 and done. But I am a proponent of not owning the same vehicle twice, or trying not to at least. Seating position in the truck I had was great, just legs being folded up got to me. If I build a custom seat just foam and no springs it would open up the room some more. But it was more than I was willing to do at the time. Furthermore I was mostly done and at the crossroads where she still had some purpose but I had done all the stuff I wanted to do with her and places I wanted to go.



Sorry for the ramble, when your beat up and cant tinker as much; you have more time to think.

And then ya ask the dreaded question!

Yeah I miss the truck, she will always have a place in my soul. Now here I am trying on different things trying to fill the void.

 

Sorry didn’t mean to pick at the scab. I have had a truck most of my driving life, I know how important they can be.

 

Exactly, and dont be sorry! Part of the process as they say. Honestly it was a great 15 year run with her, and it was time for some changes. Now to find something that I want for another 15 or just keep going through em all? Some days I wish I was loaded and had a big shop to tuck em all into and have 1 for each of my mindsets.

 

Took her around the block finally. Nice and floaty again!

Polished up the mustache after stripping the clear off it.







Going to attempt to take her to a local show tomorrow morning! Keep your fingers crossed!

 

Looks like you did a great job cleaning it up and getting the clear off it! Looking good!

 

Happy Sunday everyone.

Well, I took a 10-mile jaunt in the car, was painful and I am paying for it today, but we hit a little local show for charity and had good times with some good friends. Rode good, drove well, figured out she is not really a freeway flier, I'm guessing 4.10 gears, she is wound out really good at 60-65. 55-60 Seems to be about all I want to rip that motor to in this phase. Power wise she feels good, dynaflow is working flawlessly right now.

On the way home cruising about 55mph she started coughing, running out of fuel. I looked at the wife and said "Well we may not make it home with ole Bertha". But we pulled off the road about halfway home, decided to grab a bite and let her cool down a bit and make the rest of the trip. She got almost 1 mile from home and started the junk again. So I knew it was fuel flow. Pulled the fuel filter someone had installed and pulled this out. Thankfully the rainforest website overnighted me some new ones and she is good to go now.

Is her name Bertha? Only time will tell!

















Fuel Filter fun!

 

Wow. Got your moneys worth out of that filter.
The gear ratio is probably stamped on the bottom of the rear end housing. Is in 1950.

Ben

 

I had a '50 Special Sedanette with a stick in the late '60's. One of the best cars I ever had; we used to take it to Canada to go fishing, it was that good a road car. After it ate the second transmission, I got rid of it. Buick stick transmissions don't grow on trees (even back then) and I figured it was some kind of mis-alignment in the drivetrain I was just not up to chasing down.

Enjoy it, they're something Special.

 

Yeah Ill have to give her a crawl once I get up to it to get under there again or get it on my buddies lift is probably the better solution right now.

Decided to cut open the filter. Amazing, and none of it is magnetic.



In other news, went to Old Town Spring yesterday to watch the Big Boy come through. Always a site to see 4014 In motion.... If you ever get the chance I highly recommend it.