Buick Straight Eight Jalopy Rebuild

Sorry got busy this summer. Now that it's freezing cold I'm hiding in the barn again staring at the buick. So I put a few hundred miles on her. Runs great. I had some issues with a Rusty fuel tank and decided to park it and focus on some other stuff and take a break financially and mentally. Other than clog fuel filters I could not figure out why she hates to start when it's hot. Cold starts are great but if I shut her down at the gas station I'm taking a 45 minute break before she will fire again. I blame ethanol and possibly vapor lock but haven't been able confirm anything. I will probably plum a pusher to the mechanical pump. I got a lot of positive comment at a few of the local car shows. Some people see it as a car that needs paint and new chrome others see it as I do, a relic of 61 years of driving. I do have some major trunk work ahead of me.

 

Great! Cant wait to see it next cruise season. I didn't get to many last summer due to moving.....

 

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Looks good to me! I'll follow your posts to see where this one goes as I have a Buick Special 45R to put together someday.

 

Good luck with your Buick. When I was a young boy my grandpa had a 53 Special 4-door. I remember the straight-8 and Dynaflow trans. In about 62 my folks bought it as a second car. Something for mom and the kids. And mom drove that thing all over the place. I have ever since had a soft spot for a Buick 8. We had it about 3 years then traded it off for a used Dodge.
Have fun!

 

Any updates.

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No not really. Polar vortex hasn't sparked much ambition at -20 temps.


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What oil do you run. My original shop manual for my I8 calls for 20w. I was just curious what other people used.

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Valvoline vr1 10w 30. Has a higher zddp (zinc) levels than most other modern oils. I also don't drive it when it's cold.


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I just got my car back this past week. Regrettable I sold her 7 years ago. Me and my dad tracked her down. She was in Alabama. I live in Tennessee. But when I owned the car years ago I had trouble getting it started in the winter. I would jump it off with a 12v jumper. Of course it eventually burnt up the points. Thanks for the info.

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I run a pertronix epoxy filled coil and stock carb with the thermal choke. 6 volt stock size battery and Nos AC 46x plugs and stock points. I will get her to fire and run cold every time. However starting hot is a completely different story. Fuel percolation, carb heat soak, old stubborn *** car. Still haven't pinned that one down yet. A new starter and 00 welding cable for battery wires make her spin over pretty quick.


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I hope you dis***embled the valve train as they clog up with dried oil. I have had 2 '50's and a '51. 8 in a row will make them go. All of mine had the Dynaslow ******,known for their leaks.

 

I run a 50 special with 3 on the tree,it starts and runs great regardless of hot or cold,i love the engine but not the trans,it jumps out of first and whines ok in 2nd and 3rd though.i swapped the diff out for a 3.6 and can now sit at 70mph comfortably.

 

Got a new tank from Tanks inc. 300 bucks shipped to my door with a new sender, gasket and filler neck.


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still on the road?