The grand adventures of a trusty "billy-goat" Wagon!

I wonder what it was that could miss your body side molding like that?

 

Probably some D-Bag in a Miata!

 

Possibly an errant shopping cart? Had it happen to me once and if I hadn't actually seen it happen I would have never believed it, The wind on a very windy day blew a cart completely across a large grocery store parking lot and directly into my month or two old 1994 S-10 SS. The cashier said, Look at that cart rolling across the lot, And she, My daughter and I watched it happen.

 

Hoping for a much better 2014 (Re: Trusty "billy-goat" Wagon!)

Dear Frank, 300sbb_overkill, David, and V-8 Buick soap opera subscribers,

Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, I am a bit puzzled how this damage could have been done. However, this drug-store chain has purchased some of those "customer in training" mini shopping carts. Perhaps that explains how the moulding was spared.

Definitely discouraging though. I went to all this trouble so that my trusty wagon could return to normal duties. In my eyes, Biquette is a family friend, not a 49 year old treasure that needs to be locked up for safe keeping. However, if the rest of the world doesn't show Biquette any respect, clearly my hopes to have the car out and about are in jeopardy.

Oh well,

Cheers, Edouard

 

In HazMat training we learned the following mantra-

Uphill, Upwind, Upstream, to avoid hazards. Don't know how to always meet all three, and I don't think you want you car in a stream, either.

Did you notice that this thread is nearing 300k views? C'est trs populaire!

 

Dear SteeveeDee and trusty billy-goat wagon fans,

Yes indeed, even with all the distractions we have these days from so many spectator sports, to cable TV, to all the news to be found on politics, medicine, society (and all those sorts of fictional reporting . . . . )

It is heart-warming that a soap-opera like this still has such a loyal following . . . . . . . . . .

ou: . . ou: . . . ou:

Even more amazing considering how unbelievable the plot is!

ou: . . ou: . . . ou:. . . . ou: . . ou: . . . ou:

:grin: Cheers, Edouard

 

Re: The final injury and insult of 2013 . . . .(Re: Trusty "billy-goat" Wagon!)

Parking all alone away from anything is what attracts idiots to park next to you... and it doesn't matter how many empty spaces are around you... they have to park NEXT to you.

 

I've even seen this phenomenon in the middle of the freakin' desert. Park as far away from anyone you can see, and someone will pull in and park like it was a 7-11 parking lot, with hundreds of square miles to pick from. Must be the herd mentality.

Don't feel too bad Edouard, my dad once parked his car as far from the store as he could. When he came out, his was the only car in the parking lot, and someone ran into it in the few minutes he was in the store.

 

66 miles and 2 thumbs-up! (Re: Trusty "billy-goat" Wagon!)

Dear loyal followers of da' trusty wagon soap opera,

Yesterday, there was a need to pick up prescription in a hurry and that was an excuse to give Biquette a little more exercise. It was also an opportunity to take my sister for a ride for the first time. Over the years, she also was an important advocate for da' trusty wagon. I remember one showdown in particular where Dad had decided that we should remove our personal belongings from Biquette so that we could junk her. It was Sis's refusal that finally got Dad to back down.

The drive to the pharmacy produced the first instance of Biquette getting a compliment. Two of the drug store employees ever very impressed, although I was chided a bit for not having put back the hood ornament yet! I'm going to wait until all the engine work is finished, just to be safe! We then make a few "loops" on the local freeway to accumulate some more miles. There was one more stop at the pharmacy (as usual, what was supposed to have been completed - was not . . . . ) Finally, one last stop at the dry cleaners. On that last leg, there was another driver who waved enthusiastically of his approval.

Sis' was pleased that Biquette was alive and well once more. However, she confessed that the exhaust remains a little loud. You guys must be rubbing off on me, it doesn't bother me as much as it once did! She was also very disappointed about the damage to the driver's side door. There were a few surprises. The Vintage Air heater is definitely cutting out on the freeway. My friend with the 1957 Bel Air (with Vintage Air also) has the same problem. I'm hoping he'll figure out what's up so I don't have to! :Brow: There is something a bit odd about how the EZ-EFI system is behaving. When I bought Biquette back from Orinda Motors, Greg had some concern that Biquette couldn't start well hot. Since having her home, there have been some times when starting wasn't perfect, but it seems like the EZ-EFI system is continuing to self-tune. At first, all hot starts were problematic. On yesterday's drive only 1 out of the 3 hot starts was a little rough. My only problem with this is that I'm not sure what is making these various hot starts different, so I'm not sure how to provide the EZ-EFI system with additional opportunities to correct the conditions for hot starts.

I'm planning another expedition tomorrow. Perhaps that will provide some new insights.

That's it for now!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

"Just desserts" - Biquette's first two "kill" stories . . . (Re: "Billy-goat" Wagon!)

Dear Loyal followers of da' trusty wagon soap opera,

I'm trying to give the EZ-EFI system a diverse set of driving conditions to improve the self-tune. It does appear to have having a real effect. The engine appears to be handling better and the noise is decreasing when accelerating.

Yesterday, I had two cute experiences that I thought you fellers' would especially appreciate. Neither event would have been memorable if it wasn't for how the other drivers responded to Biquette. The first occurred at one of these places where a stop light provides two lanes that merge almost immediately into one. I was showing down to a red light with another vehicle to my right when the light turned green. I had a bit of momentum and definitely didn't want any problems. This car already has some dings, I wasn't going to risk any additional collisions. So I stepped on the gas and "Vroom!!" :3gears: The issue of who was going to be first on that single lane was quickly dealt with. Of course Biquette does have a rather "assertive sounding exhaust" under such circumstances. I wouldn't have given the matter another thought, . . . . except, I noticed the driver was giving a very wide lead!! Apparently Biquette had made an impression!! :eek2:

The second situation was almost the same except in this case the two lanes continued on. Once more Biquette had almost come to a stop when the light turned green. I guess I'm not quite used to the accelerator under those conditions and I tried to give her just a little gas to get going - but she got a little more than that. Immediately she downshifted and the transmission then performed more like the drag-racing transmission that it has to be in order to cope with Biquette's "assertive" big-block. So Biquette Vroomed her way to 35 mph in a hurry. As soon as she was at the appropriate speed I laid off the gas and she quieted down and proceeded like a perfect lady. However, once more she must have made an impression. That car hung back a long way!

What makes the stories cute is the type of vehicles that Biquette "killed." The first was a Subaru Forester. It is these sorts of SUVs that just about made the station wagon extinct. After the fad of minivans, wagons never made a comeback because instead everybody flocked to SUVs. Station Wagons still couldn't get any respect. The second is even more dramatic. It was one of the larger Mercedes cross-over station wagons that have come into production recently. Owners of these cars have been particularly snobby around Biquette. Obviously they think there are two classes of station wagon owners and Biquette isn't worthy of the "upper class". Well, at least one such owner has a new found respect for classic American muscle!!

Somehow, I can't think of this car as anything but alive in some way. As such it was very fitting that Biquette is starting to assert herself. After a long and desperate struggle just to survive, she is starting to say to the world - I've arrived and I'm for real!! :3gears:

Hope you'all enjoyed the story!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

I'm really happy the car is coming together

Be careful, no, be paranoid and leery, of that kind of power in any kind of rain, dew, fog, car wash exit- anything.

 

Re: "Just desserts" - Biquette's first two "kill" stories . . . (Re: "Billy-goat" Wag

There are two classes of wagons - but they have it backwards. 1965 (and 1964) Special wagons are the upper class and then there's everything else.

Biquette is looking beautiful and I love that you saved a family heirloom. When I was 14, I was unsuccessful in convincing my father that we needed to keep our '64. In all fairness, we were moving to Germany and it would have been difficult to manage but it was like losing a member of the family.

He did keep an even older member of the family though - a 1950 Hudson that was his first car. I'm currently having it completely redone but that's a story for another forum.

Keep up the good work. No matter how hard it is, it'll be worth it in the end.

 

Wagon pecking order (Re: Biquette's first two "kill" stories)

Dear Frank, Chris, and V-8 Buick "properly seasoned" longroof fans,

Thanks for the kind words and for your support as Biquette and I finally head out of these dark woods!

Point well taken! However, now that the distributor is where it belongs, Jim is 100% correct the engine is extremely responsive. My only problem is that the throttle linkage requires more force than the old carburetor linkage. However, it is consistent with modern cars and I'm sure I'll finally get the hang of it.

What has really surprised me is how this engine changes how the car feels in tiny but neat ways. I have always felt that Biquette handles quite well for a car of this vintage. Now the engine can accelerates the car in ways that I'm really appreciating that good handling. Just making a 90˚ turn on surface streets from a complete stop there is enough acceleration that I'm slipping on the seat. I'm realizing that for a muscle car, even one as "tame" as Biquette in terms of gearing, bucket seats are highly desirable.

I'm not sure where to put the dividing line, but there is no doubt that the American wagons of the 1960s-70s were unique machines with capabilities to put later wagons to shame. Just the versatility of the tailgate made these vehicles unique. You can't even get a SUV today with real tailgate anymore. The folks buying these modern "wagons" have no idea what they are missing out on.

So sorry you weren't able to save your Buick family wagon. Glad you managed to save the 1950 Hudson at least. Best of luck in that restoration!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

Resuming REAL wagon duties! (Re: Trusty "billy-goat" Wagon!)

Dear V-8 Buick aficionados of the more practical side of classic vehicles, . . . . .

Undoubtedly some have asked: Why put so much time and effort to restore my trusty wagon?

Does THIS answer your question!!



Cheers, Edouard :beer

P.S. Okay, okay, it is only 70 pounds of birdseed, but Biquette is only starting to get back into the groove!

 

Glad to hear you are driving it regularly!! Awesome!

Bummer on the door dings, but that is the risk of enjoyment. Worse thing I know of is some one so afraid to drive the car they've spent so much time on money on that they'll never fully enjoy it. It's cosmetic and can be repaired or gotten used to. Congrats again!

 

Nice to have my family friend back! (Re: Trusty "billy-goat" Wagon!)

Dear Randal and V-8 Buick "assertive" trusty wagon fans,

Eventually the leaks will have to be dealt with, but they don't seem to be getting worse. I would like to drive the car until the EZ-EFI really seems to have locked in the tune. I'm also curious to see how Biquette is doing gas mileage wise. A little premature to speculate, but it is already obvious Biquette is covering much more distance on the current tank of gas than she was able to with the engine out of tune. It sure looks possible that my performance hopes will be met!

Yup, It happened on New Year's Eve. Perhaps it was a mistake to stop anywhere on that day given how much the natives were restless . . . . However, the hope here is that Biquette will return to her family duties, so she will have to cope with the world out there. Just wish that world was a whole lot more like 1964 than 2014 - from the condition of the pavement to the politeness of the people!! :shock:

Thanks for the positive waves - I sure needed it!! :TU:

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

There would be no better badge of honor than for you to wear her out one more time in your life.

 

Had to "discipline" a young upstart Buick! (Re: Trusty "billy-goat" Wagon!)

Dear fans of "assertive" trusty wagons,

I couldn't get Biquette out last week, but I took her out yesterday and had one of those cute moments. I was lined up at stoplight with one of the current Buick sedans: either the Verano or the Regal - hard to tell them apart!! I decided that after all, seniority should apply in this case so I made sure Biquette stayed in front. It took a little "assertiveness," but Biquette was up to the task! :3gears: I had to repeat the procedure at the next light - with the same results!

The driver of the new Buick was clearly an older fellow, perhaps as much as 10 years older than me. To be driving a current Buick instead of something else would suggest that he was a Buick-guy. Since the driver was older than me, you would have expected that he would have been familiar with Buick's of Biquette's generation. Yet, he didn't notice Biquette at all. Kind of sad, he must have been one of those CPA types who buys Buicks, but doesn't know why he should.

Oh well, I suppose somebody can be a Buick-guy without being a car-guy.

Odds are da' trusty wagon won't get much activity this week either. Can you believe it? They are using that "R" word in the weather forecast!!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

MMMmmmm... build him a mileage motor, and he turns into a drag racer....

ou:

Glad to hear your finally having some fun with it Ed!

JW

 

Now that is funny! The right pedal is always the one that brings enjoyment :laugh: