Worth digging? (finned alum. drums)

Remembered this 62ish Buick laying down in a field the other day. I went and refreshed my memory today. It's got the Aluminum drums on it however there's only about 3" of each drum above ground. It's also got a WildCat Nailhead in it. 322 I guess, is there such thing as a 342??

Do you guys think it's worth the trouble to dig out or do you think I'd be wasting my time? I'd love to use the drums but dunno if they're going to be decent after being underground for a long time.

 

If its free,I'd dig!

 

you won't know if its useable or not until you get it out of the ground happy shoveling

 

Dig, ***uming you have permission from the owner of the field, and the owner of the car.

 

It's free, it's mine. My consensus is the same I guess, won't know till I dig it up.

I was just wondering if anyone thought the aluminum would deteriorate sittin down in that mud. Probably been underground for 15 plus years.

 

i;ll take teh motor... hehehehee

 

its a 401 most likely

 

Dig. Worst case scenario, you'll have a good story.

 

How can I tell?

 

Code stamped on right side of crankcase, fwd of valve cover. L41, L3H, etc.

 

cool, thanks. I'll look tomorrow after I get this thing unstuck.

 

I was just wondering if anyone thought the aluminum would deteriorate sittin down in that mud. Probably been underground for 15 plus years.[/quote]

Pretty safe to say if they have been the ground unprotected like that for 15 years, there will be nothing left of the aluminum, it rots quick in the open elements. Have fun digging, might be something interesting under the drums...

 

I got a backhoe, won't be too much trouble

 

well that takes all the sport out of the game!!!

 

Well, what fun is that?! It doesnt even take any effort that way. What kind of a cool story you gona be able to tell us?





.

 

Those have cast iron liners, which will (have) rust, causing them to pull away from the aluminum, leaving the whole useless.

There's still the story aspect, but the drums are useless.

Cosmo

 

that takes all the fun out of it.

39

 

I disagree. The steel lining was poured into the aluminum drums (if I understand it correctly). They aren't going to just pull away from one another. I don't think I've ever seen aluminum oxidize away to the same extent I've seen steel rust away either. But like everyone said, won't know until you find out.

Pull the engine though!
-Brad

 

Hey if the back of the car isn't shot to heck and back I know Fraz would be interested in the rearend and maybe the driveshaft as well.

 

I think it's worth the trouble.

 

I'd dig em out just for the hell of it..
If the're junk at least ya have a neet story to tell..
Any pics of the whole car where she sits?

 

Actually the aluminum was poured around the reheated iron liner. Get a shovel and dig.

 

The easiest way I know of to identify a nailhead it to measure the centers on the 2 foremost intake bolts. Below are the measurements:

322 8 3/8"
364 8 7/8"
401-425 9 1/8"

To figure out if it's a 401 or 425 go here for casting #s and such:
http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/nailhead_425_identification.html

If you can go ahead and dig it... Dig it... Dig?

Jonny

 

You've never seen me run a backhoe...

I'll try and get to it tomorrow. Probably be Friday thought the way it looks. Anyone would be welcome to any parts off it after I've had my way with her.

 

I think the drums might still be salvageable, depending on how long they've been buried.

Save yourself some trouble and take an oxy/acetyline rig with you and just cut the spindles loose from the A arms to get the whole shebang. There is a 99% chance the shoes will be stuck to the drums, and they are a ***** to get off when they are. Take the whole spindle/hub/drum ***embly back to your garage where you can soak it in penetrating oil for a while before trying to get it apart.

 

The other way to do that, for those of us gas-axe challenged, is to cut the heads off the shoe spring retainer nails on the back of the drums. This will allow the shoes to come off with the drums.
-Brad

 

Not necessarily...

A lot of times the shoes will hang on the locator bolt at the top of the backing plate, and you still can't get the drum off. I went through that at a wrecking yard (without a torch) a few months ago on a '61 Buick...and the outside nut on the locator was blocked by the spindle in such a way that it was impossible to get a wrench on it. I finally just gave up after ****ing with it for half an hour.

 

Yes, but 4t64rd was looking for some trashed Buick drums... he could send then to him for the cost of shipping them. That would be a GREAT idea!!!

 

Ive salvaged drums that were partially buried in a swampy junkyard and they were fine. The alloy seems fairly impervious to attack. Remember they were designed to run on rot belt winter salted roads.

In worse case maybe the liner could be salvaged to use in another drum(s). Someone installs new liners but its pricey.

 

I have seen it on other lined bi-metallic drums. Water will get under the liner and pop it right out.
Cosmo