Oh, I'm motivated, just have no time right now. Christmas and company year end, has me running in all different directions, it's just nuts. Sucks because it's 44 degrees F today. I can't remember the last time it was this warm in December. Now I'll have time next month, but it will mare than likley zero or below. Maybe I'll get that big heater from Santa :Brow: Rich
1969 GS 350 4 Speed Yeah well you guy's are not helping me any....I REALLY miss my old car :rant: :rant: My next car WILL be a 4 Speed :3gears: As soon as I finish my Stage 1 :Brow: I need to keep one of these cars..... ou:
George, Thanks for the 4s peed pics. Looks like we're in the same stage of resto. Hopefully my 70 will be done in a year or two. :TU: Charlie
Charlie- throw up some pics if you want/can. Rich- get a pair of longjohns, whimp!! :laugh: David- let me know how the 69 is coming along. Woke up this morning deciding to buy the 15" rims you had listed........ and sold ou:. Update: I began to use chemical stripper on my fenders. Took about 3 coats to get the paint off. Question: did the factory fenders have the matte black paint or was it (the black paint) limited to replacement fenders? I also plan on doing the doors and trunk lid with the chemicals. The hood and core support will be sode blasted. If anyone needs pics of any part or process, let me know. My POS is pretty much stripped and I will be more than happy to help anyone out. Please keep in mind that I am like MANY people here- I have NO body work experience, a VERY small garage, and a few hand tools as well as a SMALL BUDGET (ie: broke).... :TU:
**Rich- get a pair of longjohns, whimp!! :laugh: Oh, I have them and I've been known to work in the garage at 20 below. :moonu: Nevermind getting paint to dry at that temp, you can't even get it out of the can ou: Good part is that anything living in your car does not move very fast and did I mention, No Bugs and your beer stays real cold! **Please keep in mind that I am like MANY people here- I have NO body work experience, a VERY small garage, and a few hand tools as well as a SMALL BUDGET (ie: broke).... :TU:[/QUOTE] I've seen your garage, I really hope your budget is bigger than your garage or your in big trouble. My garage is bigger than my budget (notice the Man Grille :Brow: ). It's really to bad were not neighbors! Of course my wife wouldn't like you, she claims I already spend too much time out there! :spank: Later, Rich
Greg do you give fellow Buick fans rides? If so I'm in line next summer. David nice pic! Your old car? Brian
David- tell you what... Once I am finished with the Gray Ghost, I will take it down your way :3gears: :TU:
Brian I sure will, I wanted to introduce myself at Indy this year but I never found you around your car in the showfield. I am at most of the Indy chapter meetings and events. Come join us sometimes.
69 Stage 1 Hey Brian, if you ever want to sell your car please let me know. Yes, that is my old car :TU: George, when you use that stripper make sure you keep her...I mean IT.. wet on the car as it seems to be more effective if kept wet. And also be sure to tape all the gaps because you don't want it running behind the panel. Also, after the paint is off take a clean rag with thinner and wipe the panel clean. Then you can use a DA and sand the off the rest. Last you need to use a metal prep to de-activate the stripper before you can put anything like primer on. David R
David- thanks. I stripped the fender down to the black cover paint and DA'ed the dog leg.... VERY happy with the result- a nice, shiney piece of metal with 1 hole the size of a pin head (to us in the salt states, this IS a big deal :Smarty: ). I was worried it would grow larger as I sanded but nothing else flaked off. Maybe just a small piece of sand erroded that spot down? Luckily, only the DS quarter is similar to the fender (a tiny hole). Once I get the floor, trunk pan, weatherstrip channel and the top of the cowl squared away, it'll be smooth sailing. :laugh:
Greg, I met Mike (Fast87Buick) there. I also saw Bob Leavell's 69 at the World of Wheels a couple years ago and talked with him then and at the BHN. I am looking forward to when we can meet. I have to get my Skyhawk out more next summer and do some cruising with you guys. David I understand why you miss your old car! Even though mine fits the POS description you really wouldn't want me to suffer the same thing you are? Thank you for the offer but right now I still have hope that I will restore it. Brian
Question that I had when perusing repro stage emblem on E-bay: I see from my assembly manual that the hood emblem hole spacings were different on stage vice non-stage cars. How do you deal with this when swapping out a hood? I can see filling in the skin holes, but I guess the access holes on the interior of the hood gotta stay? Plus you gotta put in more for the new emblems? Just wondering what the right approach is. Guess that's another way to tell a true stage car from a phony -- check the hood from underneath. o No: -- Steve
Easiest way - which kinda answers both questions - is to use a hood from a '69 GS Cali since no emblems were on them. Otherwise you have to fill and yes, it would be real difficult to get past the bracing for the back stud-mount to make it look perfect...but Im sure it could be done. Also, there are slight differences between original Stage_1 emblems and the repro's. My Digital camera is down but I will post pics shortly when its fixed
The repro emblem is flimsy in both weight and size when compared to an original (thanks Alan). Something Alan's pic won't show...
Yes ... when George was over a few weekends ago we "studied" both an original and a repro. Even gentle handling of a repro can cause it fo flex where as the original you would actuallly have to try and bend - most notably on around the underscore between the Stage and the 1 The original is also quite heavier ... Id estimate about 1/3 heavier. I should be able to detail the differences with a camera
Sorry some took this the wrong way - it was a bit of cynical humor. That is the original "Optional Equipment" page from the 1969 Buick Feature Dealership manual
