Hows the process going? i just finished my 65 2 door hardtop and it took me roughly 3 years and that's without any body work! good luck on your project, you definitely have a classic!
Yeah some pics would be cool. All I have done is torn everything out of the enging compartment to try and get the motor out before winter. Working and going to school have not given me as much time as I would like so we'll see if I get to my goal. Right now it's not looking too good. But I figured I'm going to be several years in mine. I'd like to throw in a welding class into my schedule so I have a chance to practice, but being that I am paying my own way that might not be an option. I'd like to see some pics of the inside of the trunk. Mine needs a whole new trunk floor and I'd like to see the spaces behing the wheels for a little comparison.
Just read through the post. Glad you decided on saving this car. It looks like you have a long road ahead of you, but in the end you will be glad you wne through with it.
Darren: If I were you I would buy this wiring harness in an instant! From the looks of your car, I'm guessing the fuse box is rusted pretty bad. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT FUSE BOXES FOR THIS CAR. This harness looks to have no cuts or splices and appears to be in pretty good shape. I purchased an entire dash just to get the harness for my car and wound up transplanting a newer blade type fuse box. For $50 bucks I think it is a steal. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...ame=STRK:MEWAX:IT&viewitem=&item=150293276753 Here is one of the engine harnesses. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/65-B...62QQcategoryZ10076QQihZ024QQitemZ370085531195 Rick
Well I havent actually looked at the inside fuse box, but the engine connectors are actually quite nice. The engine one you listed looks just like the one I took out. I'll keep those on my watch list and check out my fuse box to see how bad it may be. Thanks for looking out!
Yep, took a loot at the fuse box...clean as a whistle. Just one more thing that surprises me about this car. As bad as some of it is, other parts are really nice. Now if I could only find time and money, I'd be all set!
You bet it's worth it! Have a 65 conv LeSabre 400, 107,000 miles. I probably would not have looked at it if it was a 4 door. Had it 10 years now. 300-4v with ST 400, smooth and strong enough to move me out ok and so simple to work on. Cruise it all over, never see another and it draws lots of attention at shows/cruises. Installed chrome wheels from a 1973 Riv years ago, they make the car sing. Used 5/16 spacer to back the rims off the cups so they would work right. Ten years of cruising, not many out there and my total investment after 10 years of enjoyent is about $4000. Sheetmetal is a challenge but my local interior guy matched some Cadillac fabric to repair my seat and it looks great. My kids grew up in it, we've been everywhere in it! No, it's not a Chevelle, Camaro or Mustang! Go for it, you won't regret it!
Yeah I have decided to give it a whirl. Got then engine compartment stripped out and the front clip off. I wanted to get it in the garage for the winter but I dont know if thats going to happen or not(I have a really small garage). The one thing that I like about this car is its rarity. Unfortunately thats also going to be the biggest drawback: the rarer the car the rarer the parts. But at least it'll give me something do to for a few years.
There is nothing wrong with a nice LeSabre, I've had a few of them and they've been reliable, not too bad on fuel, generally good cars. One can load them up with all the options available in the Buick catalog, so they can be very comfortable too. A two-door hardtop or convertible is definitely worth consideration, but I've started seeing restored 4 doors coming out of the woodworks recently. It all comes down to how much you want to spend, and if you really like the car enough to tear it down and go through the heartaches and budget over-runs that it'll put you through. Whatever budget you have in mind, double it; - that'll be the minimum of what it'll cost to restore it. Parts and availability is much better for a LeSabre than for the Wildcat or Electra. There are a lot more LeSabres in wrecking yards than the others. Aftermarket stuff or new parts are a little trickier. Pick up a copy of Hemmings and start from there. The ST400 with the switch pitch was a nice solid transmission. The ST 300 isn't bad either, - I had one in a '67 LeSabre a while back. Both are fairly cheap to rebuild, and the parts are easily available, - with the exception of the "switch-pitch" solenoid. In any older transmission this will invariably have to be replaced. The wire just gets too brittle from being exposed to ATF and stops working. I just had a ST400 rebuilt for my Electra, and man is it nice! Having finally run a nice 400, I'll never go back to a Dynaflow again. But as stated above in a previous stream, avoid the 64 ST400 even for a parts source. It was a one-off tranny that could only be found in Buicks and Rolls-Royces of that year. The subsequent 65-67 models were much better. Being a Buick nut, I'd hope that you do decide to keep it and fix it up, there can't be "enough" Buicks out there!
Just realized that I posted to the wrong part of thread...#$%&@!! -Guess that's what they make page numbers for. Looks like you've got quite the project going. It'll be a nice car when you get it finished. I haven't found a good "how to" manual yet that covers a Buick. But I'd get a factory service manual as soon as possible if I were you, it'll save you a lot of grief. The last time I took anything apart that was going to sit for a while I photographed the hell out of it when it cam apart, and then tagged the parts. I found that it was better to restore it section by section, ie motor, tranny, front end, body, etc. as opposed to tearing the whole car apart and then wondering how it all fit together. Good luck with the tear down!
Yep, I took a bunch of pics before I started tearing into it. (I really gotta get those off the camera before something bad happens) Bagged and tagged everything except a couple of things like the PS pump and alt. I'm really itchin to get into this, but being in the north and not having or being able to afford a heated garage I'll be waiting til spring to do anything else. I figure this is a good time to try and find some tools and equipment for the project. If only I hadn't already spent my money(d@mn credit cards are evil) I'd be a little better off in the finance department. Oh well, slow and steady wins the race, so I figure on taking a lot of time and do things when I can. I really want to get things rolling, but time has taught me that when I rush things they inevitably come out wrong somehow. I do have the Chassis manual and have been looking around for the body manual too. I have found one or two on evilbay, but haven't convinced the wife to let me get one yet. All in due time...
OK 65 Lesabre Person: I currently have a 65 Lesabre Custom 400 4 dr. HT with power windows and a/c. It sounds like the car you have . Rusted, banged up, interior poor, crusty. I traded a junk yard for a 55 Desoto 4-dr. that I didn't want. The Desoto was complete, straight and rust free. My Lesabre isn't worth putting one red cent into. It's a BLACK HOLE!!! The only reason I don't re-junk it or part it is because my ridiculous brain won't let me do that to it. I don't believe that too many people want any full size 65 Lesabre unless it is super super clean or has some kind of personality. My advice...................send it packin'! Mitch
