I’m looking to help a neighbor get his original 51 back on the road and be more reliable. He said the car sat for many years. He took it to a mechanic who got it running for a short while but he’s had to have it towed home a few times and is now afraid to drive it and sick of sending it to his mechanic. I’m not familiar with anything older than 65 but I consider myself pretty mechanically inclined. It seems like he is having fuel delivery issues as he as mentioned dirt in the fuel, getting the tank cleaned....Not sure how bad the tank is internally and it may be easy to just replace it and the lines ext...and rebuilding the carb to start. Where can I go to get parts for these old Buick’s? Also are there ignition upgrades available?
I have all stock parts only --- so I won't have any of those ignition "upgrades / downgrades" -- they are all Chineseum so debatable to call them "up" !!!!!!! I can supply you with a NEW Fuel Pump -- or Fuel Pump Rebuilding Kit and a Carburetor Rebuilding Kit... All of the above in NEW Ethanol Gas Compatible Material... I also have Quality U.S.A. made tune up parts -- Points, Condenser, Rotor, Distributor Cap, and Spark Plugs... And a whooooooole lot more !!!!! Always best to simply call me --- Craig --- 516 - 485 - 1935 ..... New York.....
The shop manual would be better, although things did change between 40 and 51, it wasn't by much. The engine in 51 for a Special or a Super would be a 263, and the Roadmaster had a 320. Timing and stuff is easy on those cars, the fuel pump can be a bit of a challenge to rebuild but it's worth it, and the tank is constructed like any tank in the 60s and 70s was, so no big deal. The fun stuff that is really different from later Buicks is the Dynaflow drive, the solid driveshaft and axle combo, and the knee-action shocks. In the case of the Dynaflow, the 1940 manual is completely useless as Dynaflow wasn't an option until 1948. The 50-52 shop manuals would be useful, so if you can find one in any of those vintages, it'll have your total mechanical systems covered.
Smitty455, Parts Men can't be bothered with literature... And literature guys are NOT equipped to be Parts Men.... Most of the literature guys sell reprints -- because of the limited amounts of original ones out there, but they "work".... There are a dozen literature guys at the upcoming Spring Carlisle.... Are you near Pennsylvania ??? Yours, Craig....
Thanks guys, yup it’s been a while since my last carsile visit. I’ll certainly try to make it up there with a list this year. Not sure why I originally posted pictures of a ‘41 manual. I think this is the one I’ll be seeking.
Here's the entire 1952 Buick Shop Manual in PDF: Click the download icon on the top right of every page to store the info on your device ALPHABETICAL INDEX Group 00: INTRODUCTION- GENERAL INFORMATION Group 01: LUBRICARE AND BEARING SERVICE Group 02: ENGINE Group 03: ENGINE FUEL AND EXHAUST SYSTEMS Group 04: CLUTCH, TRANSMISSION, UNIVERSAL JOINT Group 05: REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY Group 06: CHASSIS SUSPENSION Group 07: STEERING GEAR AND TIE RODS Group 08: BRAKES Group 09: FRAME Group 10: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Group 11: RADIO AND OTHER ACCESSORIES Group 12: SHEET METAL Group 13: BODY
...probably worth a look at tank, ethanol loves water, and water makes rust. Ah, the early '50s, when fuel pumps were also vacuum pumps, kept wipers running...
There you go; - Erik found the best solution for the manual for you , the 52 is exactly the same as the 51 is, they only changed a bit of trim so mechanically, they're exactly the same. Even the electrical diagrams will work.
Bob's Automobilia is a good parts source for the older Buicks. New fuel tanks are available, I would change everything, fuel tank, lines, fuel pump, and rebuild the carb. Bob H.
