Grandfather gave me my Great Grandfather's 41 Buick

That's a bitchin ride. I'm happy for ya. There's a really loyal following for Buicks. A few clubs exist, and the AACA message board has a page just for them. Some parts are scarce and pricey but not all. Common problems may have been adressed by now. You got some good advice about the basics so I won't repeat other than I can't stress enough about getting the brakes right. That's a lotta car to try and stop with an E-brake lever!!

If you don't want to go the new rubber route just yet there's another "fix" to get you by for a while. Get some glycerine. Commercial electrical wholesale outlets sell it as a lubricant for sliding wires through conduit. Soak the rubbers liberally over night several times. They'll "wake up" after a few applications. Don't be cheap with it and it won't hurt the paint at all.

Last thing, you express a hidden need to go somewhat "kustom" with it. If it weren't an heirloom, like if you sold it to me (!!), I'd do it in a heartbeat. There's a way to feed that addiction and never hurt or change the car. It wouldn't be cheap. That said, imagine the car with gennie Buick rear fender skirts. Next, find a set of 15" wheels like from a postwar GM that will accept a 47 Cadillac sombrero wheel cover. Done. Kustom. Unmolested. Want the ass end a bit lower? Go buy a couple bags of play sand and put em in the trunk way out back. 80lbs ought to do nicely, and just in case, put em in some plastic bags to avoid breakage and a mess. I know it sounds a tad bit hokey and cheap, but it's really not. Nothing changes, she drags ass a bit, has skirts (kustom), and has Caddy sombreros (totally kustom!).

Good for you. Great car, and don't forget to keep us updated.

 

Very cool! My granddad had a '41 Buick also.

 

Great score,,,,the history is wonderful.

Congrats,

 

Oh, that's just cooler than hell. Clean it up, do the maintenance it needs, preserve it, and drive it. It's an honest-to-God time machine.

 

Very cool. Those are some body lines MADE for Bonneville...



Go WILD...

Hey, someone had to suggest it...

 

Only one subtle hop up suggestion: Compound carburetion. It was an option for this car. They can be had if you search well. It is a progressive set-up. The pic is on a 1937 Buick we have currently. Split exhaust system also came with it. With glass packs, it sounds traditional and sweet!

 

i love modified cars but you are nuts if you do anything to that car other than get it runnin and clean it up.
that said, nuts can be fun. enjoy the free car.

 

What a great car and the fact that it was your great grandpa's makes it priceless! I am sure you will take good care of it and enjoy it. The older I get, the more I love and appreciate survivors. I just wish my family would have hung on to something for that long. My two survivor cars both came from other families.

 

Leave it alone and drive it until you can pass it on to your son (or daughter). It's a family treaure.

 

PLEASE!!!! WHatever you do...leave it ALONE!!!! I'm begging you.

 

I would not suggest lowering it. First off, you will decrease the originality and ultimately the value of your car. Second, you won't like the ride. In fact, I bet the shocks need some attention, so you won't like the ride, even if you don't lower it.

 

Congratulations - that's a great car!

If you lower it, talk to Jamco about a set of coil springs for it. They made a set for mine and it dropped the car very nicely without any other major modifications.

Also, I upgraded to a dual chamber MC on my '41 using a homemade bracket an a Jeep MC with the outlets inboard of the frame, so it bolts practically in place of the stock MC and fits nicely between the shift linkage, etc. I have scale plans for the bracket I built that I can email you (along with MC part numbers) if you want. It's nice and hidden, and gives you that "back up" if you blow a line.

Keep us posted - I think those cars make great mild customs.
Curt

 

I would love that info....thanks - russery@tfs.tamu.edu

 

How does it get any cooler then this. At least give it a chance as it is, it deserves at least a year the way it is.

 

That's killer

 

I always loved and still do, a Buick! Very Very Kool!

 

updated my first post with some new pics of cleaning it up.

 

Yeah its going to stay like this and then maybe later lower a little just bc i love the way these buicks look with a lil bit of a drop and some fresh skids. I want to bring it out to some events a let others enjoy it as much as i am.

 

Yea I don't get the lay frame thing but hey, I'm me.

Great car!!!

 

yeah no frame laying for me just a tasteful amount is all i would like on the car.

 

Fellow Hamber wrote:

"Don't change a thing! Treat it like your great grandad is standing behind you every time you touch it. You've got a real heirloom there." ..........

I couldn't agree more

 

congratulations, and please enjoy the car as it is

 

Man, what is it about '41 Buicks that turns this place into the AACA?

I just emailed you some photos and drawings of the brake bracket I made. Let me know if you don't get them.

 

I noticed it doesn't have an outside mirror.. I did a dbl take, cos I am not a fan of outside mirrors! Looks good without it.. was there ever a mirror there?(any holes?)

 

This thread might help and Stacy is right in your back yard.....

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268979&highlight=antique+auto+stacy

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Customizing this car is like giving Granma a boob job and make her as fake as the rest of the hookers out there!

 

VERY COOL RIDE!
Drop it a couple inches in front then drive it!!!!

 

Why lower it? It sits just perfect. Good catch Sir
Preserve it and pass it on to your kids

 

I cut the coils in back and added modern shocks to the rear......
I would cut it up if I were you........nose and deck it at least.....

 

Dennis, you have the same body style, right? Can you post pics of your car's stance? Also, if they are progressively wound springs, how did you cut them?

 

Too cool, clean it up, get the brakes and mechanicals working well, plate it and enjoy driving it.