Got the wife a 55 buick project, need advice

My lovily wife has put up with my car addiction for over 13 years. She even moved past a chevelle purchase just 2 months before our wedding. Anyway, we goto the Ventura nationals each year, where my wife fell in love with this buick


She actually tears up a little when she sees it. I like em too. Love the size and lines of the car. I dig the huge chrome bumpers too. So I have been on a look out for one for ahwile.

In July while visiting my mom I found a 55 buick Century, with very little rust (no rust through) and very complete. Good glass, needs a rear bumper, seats and a couple little things. Its really pretty complete. I tried to make a deal, but we couldnt come to terms.

Fast forward to last week...I was back in Colo Springs for a visit, I went back to check if the car was still there and it was. So with encouragement of my mom and step dad, we struck up a deal. My parents even paid the shipping as a birthday/christmas present for the wife and I. Their excitement for me to take on this project is awesome. Its really priceless. I am very lucky to have them in my life. So with in 5 days the deal was sealed and it was shipped to my house in AZ. So this car has my total family support and involvement. The wife is soo excited as are the parents. The pressure is on not to screw this up. So lets start with the start.






Goal is a mild custom, with drivability and durability. My question is...Since I probibly will keep this static dropped does anyone sell drum to disc brake conversions for the front link pin setup? I really dont want to put in an s10 or m2 unless I wanted to bag it. and the wife aint hip on working the switches.

Any other guidance and 55 buick references would be helpful. thanks so much

 

Nice find, you need to check out all the rice rockets for the missing front fender ports! Good luck with the car, hope your wife likes when you are finished.

 

Great looking project I love the look of those cars. I think keeping it mild is the way to go, good luck I will keep watching this build!

 

Here you go brother! Mark "scarebird" is a Hamber also, I am going to do this conversion over the winter on my 50. That car is bad ass!
Chuck
http://scarebird.com/index.php?id=5

 

Tri-5 Buicks are kool, I owned a '57.

The only downside is the chrome work will kill you.

Nice car.... Nice score.... Congrats!

 

csimonds Thanks for the link. That should be very useful. Lots of chrome but most of it is pretty good and on the car.

Already have the missing port holes. Need a head light ring and a rear seat so far...

 

Nothing wrong with the stock suspension on those big ol' Buicks that disc brakes won't cure... Body looks good and straight, that's half the battle right there. Gonna keep the nailhead...??? You going to an open driveline and what kind of tranny...???
That yellow Buick is good looking, keep at this one and yours will come out as nice.

R-

 

Are you planning EFI for drivability?

 

as far as the rear seat goes an oldsmobile seat should be the same at well not 100% but they do share a few other parts.

good luck with the build ill be watching.

 

Drop by the nearest book store or news stand and pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News. Lots of parts resources in there. Don't forget whose car this is and you'll have a happy wife. Cool Buick.

 

I have sourced a few four door buicks in close to phx. Also the guy in Co has some if i cant find anything here.

Still up in the air on the engine. There is no engine in this. Since I will never lift the hood on this car prolly a basic small block and 700r4. (GASP!) Durability and price are on my mind with this car. There will be a ton of money in the paint and chrome alone....and I am pretty poor at the moment. Fuel injection would make it nice for her. We will see.

 

Good Luck on the project. I'm not very familiar with those yeras of Buick. One ?. Why does the yellow car have 3 portholes on the front fender and the Green one 4 ??

 

The yellow car is a Buick Special, a lower priced car than the green Buick Century.

 

Check out the Roadmasters on CL for donors:
Heres one for 750, grab the E/T/Computer and take the rest to scrap, you could get $350 for the shell at scrap.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/2652044368.html

 

The Century was an early "muscle car". The most powerful engine from the big Roadmaster put into the smaller, lighter Buick Special.

Jerome

 

What a dude, takin care of Momma. As they say, "a happy wife is a happy life". Looks like a great starter ride. These don't need big body mods to be awesome, mild is wild on these beauties. Best-o-luck on the build! ~sololobo~

 

Just a precaution, hardtops and sedans have a different roofline. In case you needed side glass or the rear window.





Carl

 

My advice is not to paint the bottom half of the front bumper lol. To Me it looks way better in chrome like it came from the factory. Like this one


A donor car is a good idea if you can find one to get good parts especially body parts. I believe some of the glass in these cars are interchangeable with a few oldsmobile models too. Google Scarebird he's got the stuff you need to do a disk brake conversion. May want to upgrade the stock master cylinder too. Look for a place that specializes in selling parts for old buicks like this. They will be good to get OEM/NOS style parts from but they probably wont be cheap. I use fusick for NOS Olds stuff. There might be a similar place for buick stuff out there.

 

Yep, LOVE them mid 50's BOP's!

My wife and I have a pair of 55 Oldsmobiles.
Can't help but feel you'll enjoy your Buick as much as we enjoy our similar rides.

I have at least a part of a 55 Buick nearby all the time in my rec room. Just got a 56 bumper from a friend to do a better job to finish the look................

Again, you and your wife ENJOY !

P.S. No fender was harmed in the creation of this decor.

 

Absolutely cool E-rock!!! A couple of thoughts - Back awhile ago, T-Man here on the board did a complete thread on putting a late model Jag front and rear under that car. The '86 and earlier XJ's are a dime a dozen here in valley wrecking yards, and it looked damn easy to do. On the front it might be an easier cheaper way to do this deal. Happy to help with the hunt and procurement if you want. Also, if your thinking of buckets for the front seats, I have a pair of late sixties metal backed Thunderbird buckets that I could let go cheap, and I think they would fit the scale of the car well.
Look up that thread, I think you could go that route for less money and not much more hassle than doing a disc brake conversion. Oh, you'd gain power steering too.

 

Well, the 50's roadmasters are completely different cars than the Century /Special line up. As far as late model stuff and EFI, you ain't from around here, are ya ??? This is a traditional hotrod message board.

Absolutley nothing wrong with the nailhead if you can find one, but I have no problem with the SBC swap myself either, however, you will have to do something with the enclosed driveline / rearend if you go that route. The scarebird stuff rocks, I used it.

Good luck, I miss my Buick a little bit.

 

Just did the brakes in my 48 Buick with Scarebird....awesome set-up. You have a great starting point with what looks very solid. There are a lot of nailhead parts and motors available....might be less money than SBC.
Hope she loves it and keep the build pic's posted.

 

Normally I say do not buy your wife /GF a project , been there done that, your projcts are on hold til hers is done unless you want to hear when are you gona work on my car whinning every night .
Sounds like a great hot rod love bird story instead though .
Say no to s10 or sbc, I think mid 70's A body , should be able to find buick/pontiac/olds as donor for chassis and motor .
Body looks same as 54/55 Olds . so glasss may interchange Look at mid 60's impalas etc for rear seat, we did a 67 impala rear seat in 55 chev 2dr hrdtp and fit nicely

 

Lots of great advice here. Thanks.

Chip I have a front seat for the car, just need the rear. Thanks tho...See you sunday at the swap. Jag stuff scares me but would be cool. And you are right....I will have to put in power steering anyway. HMMM The project is growing... has someone put in a power rack on these?

I actually like the buick suspension and swap stuff. Once this car is together the goal will to be not to have to touch it, unless its to wash it.

65olds....Yeah..I am a chrome guy too...

 

Just wanted to throw another rock in the pond on considering a front end.

I lucked into a complete 74 Pontiac Trans-Am subframe from dust cap to dust cap with all components including the quick ratio steering box for $20. Left over from a project that didn't happen. It went in beautiful for this guy who never did anything like this. Your Buick has to be similar to my 55 Oldsmobile. Lined the frame rails level with the stock Olds frame. Tied them into the X member and grafted the main rails together where they met. Very minor fabrication on the front horns to mount the bumper and body. Very little trim to the inner fender wells. The spindle points are exactly where the 55's pivoted and the width is exactly where the 55 Olds was. Forward mount steering box allowed me plenty of room along the drivers side of the engine where it's normally crowded. I slipped in a tilt column from a 70's Olds and used all stock parts from both. The 4 point frame mount and T/A suspension package really make the car handle, and I can go into any box auto parts store for replacement of anything on the spot.

Sounds like a lot, but believe me, if I can do it, anyone can. I dropped in an early 70's Olds drivetrain to keep it all Olds. Just go with a short tailshaft version if you are going turbo to get the best clearance on the X member which makes a great driveshaft safety loop.

Even the Summer vent boxes on the firewall make for great ram air cowl induction. Might not be traditional in most eyes, but I know the master Yunick did it way back then on his race cars.........

P.S. My real point here is, if you don't have to rush it, hold out for the bargains. It worked for me...................

 

How about a Buick 430?

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/pts/2656364515.html

 

gwarren...I am a bit of a riv guy too. I have a 65 that I love even though it hates me. 430 parts gotta be pricey tho...

I really like that roadmaster idea. Same with a firebird camero clip. Going to take some time with this one and wait till the right thing falls in my lap... found an s10 converted to small block with 700r4 for $850. Could use everything on that too. Need to do some measuring for sure.

If her to love it...I need to make it easy to drive. Thanks guys for the info and ideas.

 

good for your misses,bad for you
if go the route you say you wanna go-i would pick up the wrecked roadmaster,,i'm kinda a traditional guy,but if it's for the misses & the hood would not opened at shows,newer maybe better,ac,power brakes,power steering,EFI,who want else you could rob off the newer car?? JUST do NOT put fake old's valve covers on the chevy!

 

My buddy is building a 56 Special 4 door and found that the rear seat from a 95 Chrysler LHS fits like a glove and even goes around the door opening. He picked it up for about $30 bucks at a junkyard.

 

Thanks steppin out. I need to goto a yard anyway...I will check it out.