Well, it looks like my 52 radical custom project is going on hold even longer and has been pushed back by a 58 Buick Special 2 door HT. Story is crazy and too long to tell here. But I will say that it was my preachers pa in laws car and he had owned it since 63 and his parents had it before then! He started restoring it 15+ years ago and now with health problems he said that he just wants to see it finished and get to ride in it. He's got a lot of stuff done already, but there is a BUNCH of stuff still yet to do. It is completely dis***embled and it's bad because it wasn't I that done it! DOOH!! My timeframe is a couple years to complete. Current plans are to do just a mild custom with some shaved trim here and there and drop it to a nice respectable level. Original color was black, so I'll go back with that and maybe something different on the roof but not sure yet. Does anyone have or know where to get parts catalogs for these or where best to research them since I don't know a whole lot about the Buicks. Posted from the throne room using the Wicked kustom H.A.M.B. App!
Hey great lines on that ride, nice score! You might contact Gary at oldsobsolete.com -I see some similarities and he has a ton of stuff and will get back to you as health allows. There are people that I bet he may refer you to as well. He is a good contact to have. Good luck, freezer'
There are publications, called "***embly Manuals", that detail how components are to be installed in production. They are not to be confused with "Shop Manuals" , a separate publication. Both are extremely valuable, in my opinion, especially with a basket case project. There are various vendors for these types of manuals, FAXON is a good one, but i's suggest you look in Hemmings cl***ifieds too. Consider joining the Buick Club of America (BCA), as they have tech counsellors for various year models, parts sources and cl***ified ads in the monthly publication , The Buick Bugle. Best wishes with your project. Ray
Cool Buick Jimmy! I was able to gain some Buick knowledge on the AACA forums back when I had my 26 Buick. http://forums.aaca.org/
Thanks guys. I'm trying to figure out where to start in all honesty. I've never had a TQ tube car and wonder why the scoop is on them and how dependable they are and all that stuff. I would rather not change everything (since its in good shape), however I don't know much about them, I want to drop it down to a nice respectable elevation and I usually drive the **** out of my cars, so they need to be dependable. What are the suggestions for the TQ tube system and then the Dynaflow as well? Thanks! Jimmy Posted from the throne room using the Wicked kustom H.A.M.B. App!
I am a Buick fan......but....that is in spite of the torque tube driveline and Dynaflow. They both work well enough when in good condition but are heavier and bit less less efficient when compared with other GM cars of the era. The Dynaflow in yours is probably the twin turbine version and is much improved over the earlier models. My suggestion would be to service the trans, i.e., fluid and filter and drive it. The real downside with the Dynaflow and torque tube driveline is the difficulty/expense involved should you ever decide to replace them with more modern components. Adapting an open drive rear axle requires providing control arms of some sort, either 4 link or the Chevy pickup style, both have covered in many other threads on that subject. That day may never come, so just enjoy the benefits of Buick luxury in the meantime. Ray
LEAVE THE TORQUE TUBE IN IT .. JUST AS Hnstray SAID AS LONG AS ITS IN GOOD SHAPE,YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. I LOVE MY 58 MOREDOOR. I DROVE IT FOR 2 YRS. 50 MILES A DAY, AND NEVER LEFT ME STRANDED.. ONE OF THE BEST CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED.. KEEP PLUGGING AWAY ON IT.
Good luck on the Buick. Just make sure you don't put the wrong size wheels on it. The Buicks are good looking cars. Later, ****
Har Har Har!!! Thanks for the advice ****!! I was surprised nobody said anything before now! LoL! Thanks guys, the trans is supposedly rebuilt already, but not sure if it was rebuilt or if it was a Krylon rebuild. It all looks "fresh" under the car tho. Are there any issues to lowering a TQ tube setup? Thanks again. Jimmy Posted from the throne room using the Wicked kustom H.A.M.B. App!
The only potential problem I can think of is that you don't want to lower it so much that the torque tube is lower at the trans end than at the rear axle. Level at ride height is as far as I would think is prudent. Ray
The Buicks & Olds of 1958 were the excess of chrome. Some would even consider them gaudy. Wish the new cars of today would change styles like they did back then. No mistaking one from the other, that's for sure.
Congrats on the acquisition, it'll make a cool sled...I didn't know the first thing about Cadillacs when I started on my '55...but learned a lot building it...you can do the same...good luck with it...!!! R-
Josh Mishler built a 58 hard top and his set low. you might try to contact him. His was a super or roadmaster so I don't know if that makes a difference. I think they are killer looking cars. Good luck. Later, ****
Bob's Automobilia and CARS have lots of Buick stuff. Both are kind of pricey but have hard to find parts. If the drivetrain is in good shape it will last along time. One tip I learned the hard way back in the day with Dad's 58, do not back out and put it in a forward gear without making a complete stop. That flips a sprage in the Dynaflo and causes the old man to hand out severe *** chewing! Laying under a big old Buick and jacking the rearend back to unhook the torque tube and removing the trans aint no fun. Old Buicks are just like a sore ****- you can't beat it!!
Thanks for the info guys, I'll check out those places. Keep the advice coming! And I have your problem (according to your screen name), sitting in the garage (or around, LoL!) I have a 58 Nomad, a 58 Bel Air more door, a 29 A coupe, a 52 Buick Special 2 door post, a 51 Willy's 4x4 truck and my 69 Camaro..... Now add the 58 Buick!! DOOH!! Think I need more time and money.... Oh and skills! LoL! Posted from the throne room using the Wicked kustom H.A.M.B. App!
I would like for you to update the drive line. I know you and like most of the Kats we like to be able to drive them any where at any time. This is the ideal time to make the conversion and then you can lower it the way that you want and drive the wheels off of it. I'm a huge fan of a ch***is swaps, that is the way that I would go... It may cost more but its not my car or my money....
I've had the pleasure of seeing it up close and personal! SWEET car! Yes, I am somewhat jealous, but very happy for you. ;-)
Well some updates will be coming as I get time to post them. I've been farting around in my spare time trying to get "something" going with it. I built some shelves out of a couple awesomely made old pallets (like REAL 4x4's and 1x6's) in my shop and got to actually unload all the boxes and spread everything out to see what I actually have. I moved it around to the "front" of the shop instead of the back corner out of the way. Then pulled the front Sheetmetal off and out of the way. Holy cow that hood is stinkin a pain in the **** to get off by yourself!! LoL!
Looks like you are making some head way. You're a brave man to take on such a huge project. Going to be kool when you get her on the road. You just don't see many '58s running around....
Thanks guys, should be a kool car one day..... After robbing a bank to pay for the trim and chrome work! LoL! Next step, to try and go thru everything to mock up some of the stuff and figure out where the accessories go. I spent the better part of a day getting all the brackets mocked up for the P/S, A/C and generator. It would be SOOOO much easier if I either had an actual ***embly manual or I had taken it apart. But finally got it mocked and only had one small bracket left over, that I can't figure out where it goes..... (Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?) Now I thought it would be a good idea to actually drop the pan before I go any further to see how it looks in there and if there was any flash rust or anything. Remember the engine was supposed to be rebuilt sometime past, but don't know since I didn't do it and I don't have any paperwork on it. I couldn't get the pan off, but did get it down enough to peek in with a flashlight and it looked good. (Now the thing will probably leak, DOOH!!)
I hooked the starter up in a vice before I put it on to see if it actually turned over with a jumper box. It did turn over but really slow. So off it went to a local joint that rebuilds them. I got it back and put it on. Next was to put the pan back together, pull all the accessories off and try and get it set up to actually make noise and see if it runs. I ran some plug wires that I had off the Camaro and some extra boots so I cut them and made them fit to where they looked good. 90° ends on the p***enger side to clear the A/C and generator and straight boots on the drivers side since clearance isn't an issue. I bolted the carb on and ran a hose around the water pump to loop it. Dropped the radiator in and almost ready. Forgot about the fan and not being able to adjust a belt, might need that so I put it on and use zip ties around the crank and water pump pulley... That might work! So I've never ran an engine on a "stand" before, so I'm trying to learn which wires go where on the points and such. I set a battery under the car with a short cable to the battery and a short ground cable bolted to the bell housing bolt, more on that in a minute. After figuring out some way to make it work, I ended up just hooking up the ballast wire directly to the battery with an alligator clip so I can kill it quickly. Back to the ***** (yes I spelled that right!) the battery cable: the cable I had laying in a junk box was about the right length, but the soldered on end did not the right size hole, so I did what any idiot would do and took it over to the drill press to enlarge it a little.... Yes, laugh now! So I grab the right size bit and start drilling, no problem, but not big enough of a hole. No problem, just up the size one and do it again. Except this time I didn't take as much time since the time before went so well. Annnnnd it proceeds to grab the cable out of my hand and before I could jump back it rips my thumb open and slaps me several times as it proceeds to wrap up around the press. Nice..... So I shut it off and grab a paper towel and dig thru the cabinets for some peroxide, I know it's here somewhere! Finally found a bottle and pour it all over my thumb, grab some more paper towels and electrical tape to stop the bleeding and finish what I started. Crazy, but the hole is barely big enough now. Bolt the cables up and put a jumper ****on on to get ready to fire it. But I call it a night and go inside instead. Get my wife and 10 year old to come help me "fix" my thumb. Should have s***ches but meh, it'll be ok! LoL! Get my wife to hold my thumb closed, my 10 year old to dab dry(ish) the blood and I put the super glue all across the cut. 10 minutes later it's almost done bleeding, and her fingers didn't get stuck, bonus! LoL! Anyway, here's a pic, everyone likes pics! LoL!
The Jalopy Journal
