Did some tractor work for a friend a couple years ago, he decided to give me a car, not as payment, but just to take it off his hands. The car: 1964 Buick Lesabre more-sedan. Super straight, needs paint and reupholstring. I know, not the most desirable car in the world but it's free. Car has 33k original, runs and drives fine. I could try to sell it but don't think that it would bring anything over 5 or 6 hundy. Looking down the road, would like to build a low-budget type rod, nothing super fancy but something I could have fun in without draining the checkbook. Not looking to break any speed records, just a fun little cruiser. Is this car worth parting out for a rod project or should I just bite the bullet and sell it as is. Would I be able to salvage enough stuff on it to get ahead cost wise? Motor isn't a HP or Torque monster but not looking to set the world ablaze with it, I have seen the alum 64 only 4bbl intake on ebay a few times. The finned drums are keepers I suppose. Steer box??, ******, rear end?? It does have 225/75r15 wide whites on it, new recaps from a few years ago, still have the ***s on 'em, anyone want to buy them? All input welcome, the rod isn't going to happen next week or anything. Still finishing up my tiki/garage bar, plus I need to start working on my 53. Farmall
I guess I would try and ***ign a value to the parts you think you are gonna keep off it and compare that to what you think you could sell or part it out for?? If you had a particular project in mind that might help you decide what parts are useable to you or not (i.e. keeping the rear, wide whites, etc)...
my two cents worth - pull the engine/****** and set in the corner of the shop/garage/barn (well covered & protected). a '64 lesabre should be a 401/t-400. i've heard that '64's maybe had a "precursor" to the t-400; but regardless of what it's called it's not a dyna-slush, anyway. use the engine/****** in your future rod. if you decide down the road that you're not gonna use this combo you can prolly sell the engine and trans for what you could get out of the entire car, so no $ lost. keep the driveshaft, or at least the slip-yoke on the front. why not cut down an existing shaft instead of paying for new tubing? keep the headlight bulbs; expecially if they are the ones the muscle car guys want. sell them to a restorer; i've heard that some folks are paying stupid money for the right bulbs. seems they aren't available anymore. at least that's what i've heard. if those things had a sway bar in them it oughtta be a stout ****er. if it's got one cut the curved ends off and you'll have quite a pry bar. if ya want to spend the time/effort, sell the fenders, hood, trunk lid, electric window motors, etc., on e-bay. take the hulk to your favorite s****yard, but when you get there have them roll the car on its side and cut out the front end at the ball joints. you can use the entire backing plate and insides with those drums and have better brakes than just using the drums on your ford backing plates and shoes. keep the rear drums, too. i've seen them used on ford rears and look pretty cool. don't know if this is worth $0.02, but here it is anyway.
Atch, no it has a 300 ci pinhead in it, the 64 I believe has a one year only alum heads and intake though. Like I said not a real power house by any means, but like I said, it runs and drives nice, beat having to find another motor down the road. If the damn thing was a two door I'd build it, someone on the hamb has a light blue 64 buick if I remember correctly, nice car. Farmall
Part it out and cut everyone a deal. Ya got nuthin' in it and I'll take the drums if they are aluminum.
my bad; i didn't know that a le sabre could have had the small motor in it. however, therefore, disregard everything i said above.
Are you seriously going to cut up a 33k buick for s****? Don't take this personally, but please don't do that. I had a nice 65 buick special 4 dr. with about 70k, and HAD to sell it to pay some bills. If you cut this up I will have nightmares for at least another year. Would you take a decent 68 chevy c-20 on trade? sorry, if I sound like a baby, I have some lingering emotions from my buick phil
any pics of the buick in question???? anyhow a 300 is a sweet motor nailhead or not! did I mention any pics????
I think unless you have specific plans for the parts, you would be better off to clean it up and sell it for cash, or maybe trade for parts or a car/project you want. Paint it flat black, heat the springs till it sits on the bumpstops, remove the hubcaps, paint red wheels with www's and put mexi blanket seat covers so you can sell it to a rockasilly idiot. Although with that said, I parted out a 60 Olds 4-door that was actually a fairly nice car, except for rough interior. I helped a lot of HAMB'ers out with parts, made back my original money plus a little extra, and have a nice engine, trans and rearend out of the deal. Since you are starting with a nice car for free, you might make more money parting it out.
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