1983 Electra Park Avenue, family ride

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by TAG, Aug 15, 2021.

  1. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Priceless!
     
    TAG likes this.
  2. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    I must vent a little..

    First, i was pissed off.. Now im just depressed.

    First time i took somebody else to my car than family, he presses the headliner with her open hand. Why, i cant figure out. I never touch headliner with my hand. I have no need. The old, brittle cushion under headliner gives up. After 6 hours, the old, dried glue gives up.. And the before immaculate headliner, looses its grip, and starts to droop..

    For others, its just a drooping headliner. You want some glue to fix it? Sure.. And you really cant blame them; touch a relatively new cars headliner, and nothing happens.

    For me? Fixing it means uninstalling A-, B-, and C-pillar mouldings, and all others circulating headliner, hoping they dont crack when uninstalling. And then flipping a coin about taking out either front- or rear-glass. Plus no readily available headliner parts for 1983 Electra, so custom job, and custom price.

    Sorry, i just had to vent since none of my friends cant relate to the job whats in front of you; for what is for them simply "just a drooping headliner" :(

    I quess, the first time i tooked somebody else than my family to the car, was aswell my last.. :(
     
  3. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

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    A swing for kids. Last weekend 300kgs of playsand on trunk, for kids aswell. Using it like a car is what makes me smile the most, not pampering it like an artifact.
     
  4. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    Finally tuned the carb. Leanest metering block, #134-8, with jet size equivalent of 64, versus original 75, and 58 main jets ( it was supposed to have 62 main jets from Holley, but had 64's instead o_O). Its almost perfect now, lambda hovering around 1.00 on cruise up to 90mph i usually cruise on highways, might drop to 57 jets, but thats it.

    Also changed trunk pull-down motor to new, old one cracked in pieces. Now focusing to other things.

    This is my daily now, i sold my cheap KIA since i clock so small miles per year on own car, it doesnt matter what i drive or what it consumes.
    Regular costs here now over $10 per gallon.
     
    Mark Demko likes this.
  5. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Holy crap 10 bucks a gallon??????
     
  6. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    $10.13 currently per gallon of regular, median.
    They are expecting over $12 per gallon at the end of year.
     
    Mark Demko likes this.
  7. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Whereabouts you live?
     
  8. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    Southern Finland. 90% of our crude oil came from Russia, now about zero. Plus current government filled with different colour far left socialists have their hands at it too far before outbreak of war, but that veers too much to politics. Got to live what youve given. I rather save elsewhere, to drive with Buick.
     
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  9. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    Today is national museum car day, and had a happening closely, so visited it.

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    Alot of cars, tractors, trucks and motorcycles, from every continent.

    Yesterday i visited Estonia with a lorry and bought some beers to fight against dehydration during mid-summers fest :eek:

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    Took easily 36 cases of beer/ cider/ long drinks, and under package tray it was all empty still + had a spare at place. That makes some modern stw trunks look small in comparison :eek: And it still drove damn fine up to 100mph even trunk loaded up.
    Just passed today 1000mile/ 1600km mark for this summer.

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  10. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    I love seeing you drive this car a lot!
     
  11. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    Thanks. As i said before, i like to use car as a car, not an artifact. Whats the fun on garaged car driven twice a summer to show and back, in fear of use and scratches? That, of course, is my opinion, each to their own.

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    Scored this week. Got complete 307 with TH200-4R included, ~$170 for everything. Turns out std-bore, std-crank, good waterpump, etc etc. Bought it just for spares. Behind you can see one spare 350 block and 010/010 cut crank.
    Just the TH200-4R core would cost more here than i paid for whole ****. A set of spare Buick road wheels also on picture. Been wondering who would here restore a set, id want to get a complete set of wheels without any blemishes/ rust-spots. As far as ive searched, noone reproes these on big cars, 5x5.

    Been collecting slowly stuff for new motor, its going to be the dreaded swirl-port head and intake, 307 non-roller block, and just build for cruise. Jetted carb down to #56 mains from #58's, produced a slight hesitation when cruising at 15.7 AFR, went one size up to #57. Now perfect.
     
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  12. PGSS

    PGSS Gold Level Contributor

    LoL!

    I thought you had plans of putting the 350 Olds in it from the Cutlass?
     
  13. kiwidave

    kiwidave Well-Known Member

    Love this thread, great car, and fantastic to see it as a daily driver. I've been to Finland a couple of times and I know it has an insane US car/bike culture, as do Denmark and Sweden. Sorry about your taste in flavourless ''Mexican'' beer though!! :D
     
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  14. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    Haha :D

    Not my favourite either, but it gave most savings. 24-pack of Corona would be 65€ here, while crossing the pond its only 24€. And i bought alot.. :D With ice and lemon, its great summer drink, but a bit flavourless as you said.

    Soo... Into the mudflaps. As i drive this anywhere, i wanted mudflaps, since hearing rocks chipping your valances wont make me happy.

    I finally found fancy ones:

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    Just to find out, theyre so short that theyre more like a decoration than protection. So i had to make my own. Got rears done ( front ones tomorrow), sized to actually protect, and still they seem to hide pretty well on black car. In my honest opinion, they make the rear look better, as it sits so high naturally, that the underbody looked naked, and theres nothing to show on 225/75/15 tires either :p

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    Mid-summers celebration ( biggest celebration here at summer time) was also spend with Buick, by driving to summer cottage with it along family. Trip now has 1473miles / 2358 kilometers for this year. With my now-tuned carb, i got my first mpg out of it by driving whole tank, drove like as with modern cars, passing, driving highway at 90mph, in city at stop'n'go traffic, so well versed tank, and not even trying to spare fuel. Got a whopping 17mpg!!! :eek::eek: In my opinion, thats damn little! So little i dont need to think about trying to drive as to spare fuel :p This baby purrs like a kitten now, and its a total enjoyment to drive.

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  15. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Awesome update!
     
  16. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    Passed the 2000 miles mark this weekend. Attented Big Wheels-event @ Pieksämäki, Finland, which was held fully first time since corona pandemic. In 2019 it had ~1400 different cars in a day, which is huge here. This weekend the rainy weather cut off some participiants, dont know the exact numbers yet.

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    Then, half-accidentatly :rolleyes:, i bought myself a grocery-getter. Tunturi Maxi, 50cc moped.

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    That moped is a legend here. Made in Finland. Made from 1959 to 1987, with some changes during its lifespan, but surprisingly small. Approx. 400 000 units were made. Reason i bought this, its 1983 model as is my Buick. 2-speed, hand-shifted Puch VS50LF-engine. With pedals, you can pedal it away if engine quits. Its also pedaled to start it :DReminiscent of old law, as mopeds were required to be able to be pedaled if the engine breaks down, which ended in 1970, but the model was so succesfull that it was continued.

    I drove it home one hour today, and boy, i dont remember when i last time had so much fun :D:D:D At winter its going to get some pepper on it;)
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2022

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