We're supposed to introduce ourselves and I haven't done so officially, so here goes. I live in South Central PA. I have a 53 Buick Special with the original straight 8 that I drive every now and then. Hoping to put a coat of paint on her soon (satin black with blue flames). I have it set up to shoot flames, but I'm using the stock small exhaust pipe, so it throws a bit of orange, then looks more like a torch shooting a little blue flame. Which is cool in it's own way I guess. It still manages to draw a crowd! I also have a 53 chevy 5 window pick up, but I've had it for around 17 years and it's not finished yet. Probably never will be. That's all I can think of for now- greetings everyone.
Jub, We're practically neighbors, I'm in New Oxford! The last couple years I took the beast to a shopping center in York during the Street rod show and just hung out and watched the cars go by. I'm at work now, but I'll probably post more pics tonight. I would love to see pics of your Buick too, please stick some on here! I'm loving this message board. Most people just want to know when I'll put a shiny coat of paint on my car. They just don't understand when I tell them I plan on painting it, but it will be satin black. It's nice to hang with people who understand! Reading this board and looking at pictures of cars posted on here is kind of like therapy for me. Not that I have anything against shiny paint, but sometimes I just like a good old crusty car you know?
You know, that does look like a police light, but it's the hat of the guy getting in that ford truck behind my car.
hey fatassbuick, I looked at your clubs website and saw your buick, sweet! another 53 special. looks great with the wide whites. What did you do to get it so low? I was thinking of using the no budget way and heating the springs till they sagged, but the thing is unstable as it is and bottoms out occasionally, so I didn't think that was too safe.
Welcome Aboard. I'm doing my '50 Super in a traditional custom style and keeping the S-8. Good to have another Buick guy here. Scotch~!
[ QUOTE ] ...so I didn't think that was too safe. [/ QUOTE ] It's not...but it works ok if you hack off the snubbers about 1". And I started with El Camino springs in the back, whcih lowered it considerably to begin with. I'm gonna put some regular shocks on it one of these days. The knee-action shocks seem to be the weak point to me. Thanks for the compliments, post more pics and listen to Scotch. Hell be completely frozen in a month and we won't have him anymore. Now where the hell is Broman?
....sleeping. I have the front of my Buick lowered via the heated spring method. NOT RECOMMENDED!!!!! The Straight 8 is one of the heaviest powerplants ever put into a vehicle. It weighs like 750# or something to that effect (more than the so called "Elephant" - Hemi motor). Weak springs lead to easy bottoming and that will lead to stress being put on the shock levers &/or frame. BTW the front shock lever doubles as an A-arm type of thing. Break that on a road trip and you are, as they say -*****ED. Unless you live by a Kanter's outlet or something and have the 150 clams (or whatever the lever-shocks cost). Bottom line - do it the right way. Get lowered springs with a progressive spring rate. I have no advice on where to get these, but that is (a)the way to go. Unless you can go with air bags - which is what I want to do (traditional or not - I don't care). It is rare to see another Buick at a gathering, so we stick together via the HAMB - welcome to the club. I went to a goodguys show 2 years ago (Des Moines) - over 3000 cars. My '50 Buick was the only '50 there. There were 2 other Buicks, one '49 and one '53(or '54 - I can't remember). Fatass and Scotch are two of the most knowledgeable guys here, you will appreciate them sooner or later - Be glad they are Buick guys!!! If you get to a point where you need to locate parts or whatever just post up. I get leads on***** on and off all of the time. I'm known locally for my Buick and people tell me about stuff all the time. I found a few things on the 'net too, so just holler.
Stop by we are out in the garage almost every night. Bring that pickup over maybe with that Sandy could finish ONE! I didn't know you had a flame thrower on the car thats cool. Welcome to the HAMB.
alright Jub, a 2 door sedan special. Man, when you get that thing on the road we've got to go cruising somewhere together with the twins. fatabone- I almost stopped over today, but I was in the mood to work on my car. when the mood hits, I've got to go with it. sometimes it's hard to get the motivation. I'll stop over sometime. Someones got to keep Sandy in line!
You should have come over we were out there today. Sandy finally did some work to the roof and I mounted his tail lights on the truck. We'll probably be out there tomorrow after lunch. I thought you were going to lay some flames on the Buick?
I was heading to Westminster last night to watch a couple movies with my nephew and I almost stopped by just to say hi to you guys, but I was running late. Then, on my way home I thought about stopping, but it was darn near 12:00 and I didn't think you guys would be out there that late. I bought a gallon of John Deere Blitz black and I was going to cover it with that, then put blue flames on it. Yesterday, when I went out I thought I would smooth out some of the paint. as I was sanding the hood, I got to a spot on the bottom, just above the grille where the paint was cracked. I picked at it a little with a screwdriver and it broke through. Someone had puttied over a rust hole. so I did some grinding and made a little patch panel for it. I found a spot on the back of the car under the trunk, just above the bumper where there was some surface rust and bubbles. Same thing, I started sanding it down and found that it was more than just surface rust. so another patch panel. I guess it's going to be a while before I get it painted.
Buick guys: jub, fatassbuick, broman, scotch or anyone else, I just noticed that my intake manifold (original 263) is cracked. It must have just happened because I would have noticed it. I have a second carb, anyone know where I can find a "cheap" (yeah, right) dual carb intake?
like stated above I do not think they made one but I really do not know. You could weld your stock manifold though
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