My dad bought a 59 Buick new when I was in high school, I seem to remember the transmission being called a "turbine-something" or "turbo-something". Not a turboglide like chevy used but something that sounded similar. Didn't have "gears" more like a centrifugal clutch it just began to move and continued gaining speed without the feeling of shifting. Maybe what you guys are calling dynaflow but Buick used another name for it. Gosh I hated that car at the time but wouldn't mind having it now.
I don't recall seeing too many big '62 Buick wagons lately. Pretty slick looking car. With a 401 no less. very good score and a good price too. Maybe you could find some a those "sunset" stick on murals they useta sell a Pamida and slap them on the doors. Block the rear side windows with woodgrain paneling and put a few few tiki stickers in the window. Instant surf woody.
Somewhere in the mix there was a SuperTurbine trans, I think. But I keep thinking it was a 2 spd. and used a torque converter instead of a fluid coupling. Seems like maybe it was more of a Pontiac and/or Oldsmobile trans too.
When you go to pick it up, take a big 5 quart jug of Trans fluid. I had a '59 and a '60 Buick and when either sat for more than 2 weeks or so, the seals would dry out and all the trans fluid would drain out. When you'd add a bunch, the trans would work fine and would hold fluid as long as you drove it regularly. Then it would sit for a few days and -bam- transmission was dry again. Not sure if that was still a common problem by '62, but the earlier Dynaflows were pretty notorious for leaking like that. If the trans doesn't want to work right, check the fluid level first. It's important if it's one of those fluid coupling deals. The Transmission (at least on the earlier Buicks) ****, but I've had good luck with the engines. Invicta was supposed to be the 'performance' line of the 3 Buick models, hence the 401 only. Great score, congrats on finding it.
Thanks for the info and the congrats. Im gonna pull the drive shaft for the tow home, but Ill keep that in mind about the ****** fluid.
The Buick is now sitting in my driveway. It put up one hell of a fight. We tried to push it out of its old garage, but it wouldnt budge. We hooked up the old mans tahoe and jerked it about 2 feet. The rear braked were froze up. The tahoe couldnt get traction in the shell driveway, so we hooked up my dad's truck which atleast threw posi. It was able to pull it half way out of the garage. We decided to gut the drums at that point, but now we had to do it in the 110+ degree heat index. Halfway through it started raining, which was nice, but it stopped soon after and got humid as hell. We got it done, put the spare tires we had on it and hooked it up the the tow dolly. Heres some photos, Ill post more later: Its new home:
Ive cleaned everything since I took those photos. It looks great inside. I stuck a battery in it and bumped the starter. It turns they a running engine should. Everything works. When I turned the key to accessory the wipers started. The AM radio, front or rear speaker switch, courtesy lights, electric rear window, headlights taillights, brakes, running lights, blinkers, everything works!!! Im confident that after we change the fliuds clean out fuel lines, etc and put fresh gas, this thing will fire up.
Check out all the junk he gave me: He sold his dads house and didnt want to haul all the junk away, so he let us take what we wanted. My dad took an old kitchen table, antique chairs, an ancient extension ladder, a wooden tool box and tons of wood. That homemade contraption is an edger. The ice chest is old, but in excellent condition. He said the wheels were from a 72 camaro, but that doesn't sound right. The atlas was dated 1959 I think. The whole place was like a time capsule.
Interesting & cool upholstery / door panels! Also really digging that fluid rear gate/bumper design; so clean. How come every modern ****box with a 'gate needs a 'cut' into the bumper ?? Trans, I'm sure you already found out, is the TwinTurbine. Named as such for '59, as opposed to the uncommon TripleTurbine (renamed in '59 from Buick's '58 FlightPitch, IIRC). Bell will be marked 'DYNAFLOW" (my '59's was): planetary L gear, in D it's a variable pitch stator so no; it does not 'shift' in D. Some will call it a '2-spd', but in D it doesn't go thru the L gear, so maybe '1-spd' is best.
Real nice find there. It will make a great ride when you get done and you probably won't run into another like it. Like the two tone paint idea but a dark blue with white upper would look better than the "ghostbuster" look with the light paint. And it looks like you got a complete set of original "Finned" brake drums in the bargain find some wheels that are open so you can shown them bad boys off.
After thinking it over Im changing my plan. The wagon is different. Why do something normal with it? People already dont want to like it. Im thinking a blue flake close to the darker blue inlays on the seat. Top half a lighter blue flake with lace over the drivers seat. Leave the interior stock. Slam it by cutting springs until I can afford bags. Freshen up the 401. Put some thin white walls on the factory wheels until I can afford some astro supremes or maybe early wire wheels. I wish I was better at photoshop cause Im having a hard time visualizing it. I think itll look good. The hard part will be convincing my dad and my wife that its a good direction. Should I eventually loose the luggage rack?
keep the luggage rack and slap a board or something up there. I saw an old wagon this weekend, Unable to catch up to see what it was) it had a kayak on top as it p***ed the road I was coming up to. Sweet ride and I like you ideas so far
Funny that you mention a kayak. I was thinking about picking one up from CL on the way home from work today.
I would keep the luggage rack! Slam it to the ground, Flake and lace the roof! and paint a mural of dragons on the tail gate! Just jokin on the Mural!!
Here is a sample of an air bagged 62 Buick wagon. It isn't completely HAMB friendly but I think it gives you an idea of how the suspension work was done. http://ridetechgarage.com/more/1962-buick-invicta-wagon/
I saw this car yesterday in my little bro's (cJared3B) garage, and holy ****, it's in great shape! The interior is so clean with only a few flaws. EVERYTHING works...it's just ridiculous. Easily going to be a clean and simple custom cruiser. I'm sure he'll do***ent it here with his photos and details. Jeremy
Buicks.net is a good source of information. http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/nailhead_casting_numbers.html
May not be hamb friendly but Astros or wires with thin whites aint never gonna look this good on this type of car............just my .02 I love traditional...............but I try not to have too narrow a mind.
Buick had two automatics that year, Variable pitch Dynaflow (after 58 was called TWIN TURBINE) and Triple Turbine Dynaflow. Shift quadrant for TWIN TURBINE was PNDLR, whereas the TRIPLE TURBINE DYNAFLOW was PRNDG. Triple turbine dynaflow is very similar to TURBOGLIDE in functionality.
I've always wanted an old wagon. They look like lots of fun! I would hit it with a candy green paint job if it was mine and go mild custom. I don't like to change things too much.
Ill most likely end up getting chrome reverse wheels, but thats later. Yesterday I changed the oil and filter, cap, rotor, spark plugs and wires and flushed the radiator. I dumped a few gallons of gas in the tank and cranked it with a fuel line loose, nut got no fuel. I did however see oil pressure come up. I called in sick today so I can keep working on it. I'm gonna blow out the fuel lines and try to see if the fuel pump is working. My goal is to have it running by the end of the week.
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