Thanks for the positive comments guys! Yes, the car is complete, the hubcaps are on the back seat and I think one vent window glass has a crack, otherwise it's all ok. I also cant get the driver's door open for the life of me.. Damn thats alot of junkyard buicks on that site, StageIII! Well lets hope theres something left under this car to work with.. Think it'll run? :shock:
Time to go to work Will it run? I'd have to go back to the list "rebuilt carb. pull the spark plugs out and fill them with WD-40 or Marvel Mystery oil and let the motor "soak" for several weeks, then slowly start trying to turn the crank pulley to make sure it isn't frozen "30 years" I think you mentioned, if it isn't frozen change the fluids,drop the gas tank and have it boiled out,new lines, points or Protronic ignition " I've seen some pretty hopeless looking stuff start up before (my wife gets to see it every morning! :laugh: :laugh: ) I'd do that list and if you get lucky and it starts change the oil and then start going through the hoses,belts,brakes etc.Get her running and then do one of the new style transmission flushes etc. Sure hope it will work out for you. May as well take a friend,some shovels,plenty of different size boards, some chain and come alongs (cable rachets) four correct bolt pattern wheels and tires good enough to hold air and a chain saw. That should hopefully be enough to dislodge it from the "quick sand".Just have to dig under the frame till you can lay down some boards in the bottom of the hole deep enough that the floor jack will still go under the frame and start jacking, put some blocks under it and repeat theses steps over and over till you end up being able to get a stand under it. Replace the tire with a inflated one and fill the hole it was in with boards so when you let it down to change the rest it never drops all the way down.The higher you can keep everything obviously the less resistance you will have when it is time to rachet it out of the "grave". Make sure you have some chain hooks or bolts to secure the chain to the frame, than take advantage of all the trees by using them to pull off of with the chain ratchet. Pause often for refreashments :beer and photos and send us pictures of it on the roll back! :TU: Bear in mind I have never tackled a project like this (yeh, right heh heh) :laugh:
This one is like a REAL bad nightmare as it was at the far extreme edge of a junkyard on the edge of a drop off. To make things worse cars had to be moved by the methods listed along the "road" (goat path!)for hundreds of yards just to drive back to it in my jeep (was too wet first few weeks for the rollback, plus I could only afford to bring it to pull the one car). So weeks and weeks of digging out cars all around it that were loaded to the headliner with junkyard parts (ie NICE and HEAVY!!!) all on flats or no wheels,and sunk into mud on frames,finding wheels with air for about 20 plus cars (came off other cars that also had to be jacked up ou: ), ratcheting them by hand till I thought my forearm would catch "on fire" from burning so bad ratcheting the loads out of the way. When my forearms gave out I'd lay my body against the ratchet handle to move them inches at a time. Telling you all this so you will be encouraged "just to do one" :laugh: :Brow: Story was true though, never would do it again but I have one major car project from hell I can always share :laugh:
Damn man!! You've really had a nice time then! Reminds me of a 54 VW Bus I found in CT with no rear drivetrain! After digging through dirt and leaves we found the transmission in the dirt, bolted it in and it still was free and turning, and off we went! I hate to tell you this but the guy who owns the yard the 55 is at said he'll extract the car for me, including moving cars out of the way and drag it down to his lift, even! :laugh: You mentioned correct bolt pattern wheels.. What bolt pattern is this? Like a regular 5 bolt Chevy setup? No idea here... But it most definately will need some nice whitewalls!
Welcome, Al. I had a '66 VW beetle 1300 when I was a teenager. Drove it from Jersey to Cali for $33.00 in gas. That tells you how long ago that was. :laugh: Man, that '55 Roadmaster looks real impressive. :TU:
Hi, my first car was a 66 1300! What a teriffic car that was! As far as the Roadmaster goes I'll hear this week wether it's worth it or not. What do you folks feel is a fair price for a car like this in its' condition? Like I said, been sitting for 30 years, rust around the bottom, but complete and not messed with, interior's kinda shredded.. The owner wants about a grand, is that reasonable?
A grand? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Well, my gut feeling right off the bat is that is about twice or a little more too high......but than again I am a cheap skate when it comes to buying mystery cars with obvious problems already. That's a tough call man. I know the Roadmaster name will give the car some value but I already see quarter panel (tree has grown into) another hood,then the drivetrain and rust questions Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Here I am trying to encourage you but I'd have to honestly say it might also be worth looking at ones for sale on the internet and seeing if you can't find one that is or is close to running and can easily be inspected for severe rust concerns. Sometimes when I REALLY want something though I can justify it by looking at the parts I could sell off it if the car is to far gone to restore so I have a fall back plan. Yeh, Al I think I'd research them a little for what they are going for first because as cool a story and body style this is I'd hate for ya to get that deep into it money wise right off the bat if you could get something maybe even running for a little more. I'm no expert on this year though so I'll let the other folks chime in on that though. Still love the pictures and style of the car though :TU:
Thanks for the reply, John. Thats the thing, the car is very complete. I feel that price is a bit high too, I was gonna shoot for 750 assuming the thing still has a workable undercarriage. I mean, what else is he going to do? He can take the 750 or let it just sit there and continue rotting into the ground. There is another 55, I think it's a special he said I could have the hood off of. But yeah there ALOT of unknowns on this car. Yet I've been walking by it for about 4 years now and it's not getting any better. I've looked here and there and havent seen any others of this year and model near the price range, much less anything in this area. I can get a 53 Special 4 door right now for 500 that would be alot closer to roadworthy but it just doesnt have the style.. Well we'll see what the owner says after he gets it in the air.. Thansk very much everyone for your replies! :beer
Has another hood? Yep, every little perk like that makes things seem a whole lot better. I imagine a decent hood would be $250 to $400 when one could be found so that is cool for sure if he throws that in. I have to stop looking at those pictures. My mind is already spinning ahead "Okay get some SOS pads and start on that grill and bumpers,silicone all the door rubber seals,WD-40 or white lithium grease every hinge, start soaking bolts,pull the drums and free up the brakes,replace the brake cylinders,run some new exhaust, drop the fuel tank,hunt for any factory paper work under the seats and door panels,grease the window tracks while the door panels are off....................Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Someone stop me! :laugh: :laugh: ou: Once a car guy always a car guy. I REALLY hope you get good news when you get her up in the air, because that is going to be one BAD car restored, or just crusing around while you take your time on it. Guarantee you, you won't see many others :TU:
Yeah, the 55 Super or Special, whatever it is, has alot of good parts for this car including what I think is an aftermarket A/C setup! It's bitchin! The fan unit is under the dash and is about the size of a home window-mounted unit with 2 massive fan blades that would easily remove a finger or even a hand, I want it! I think the old hood could be fixed actually, just bend it back to the right shape and re-weld it! It's great to see someone who is as optimistic about this car as i am! :laugh: And you're not getting ahead of yourself with the ideas to fix stuff! Hell, the car wasnt even mine and I was up there earlier this year in it and was cleaning it out and WD-40-ing whatever I could! :grin: Well anyways, if I dont hear from this guy tomorrow I'll just call and ask if there's any news, knowing this guy it might not be till next week. ou: Oh, why would factory paperwork be under the seats?
I'm taking a guess on the seat.I have found some factory code sheets up in the spring area on the underside of the seats in several old cars.On the GS's they are usually also above the gas tank (between the bottom of the trunk floor and top of the gas tank). Then we've heard about them thrown under carpets,under dash pads,inside doors,in the interior roof piller covers etc etc. Always cool to check around for, and no telling what you'll find while you are looking :laugh:
Car is already pulled! I knew you were busy today so I went ahead and got him to pull it out for you. I took the liberty of spraying a lil paint on it to halt the rust and threw a few mag wheels I had on it to keep it off the ground (still kinda low though) :shock: :Brow:
Need to check these two links out! Seriously though even though this is a fake ad check out all the links this guy has listed for parts that he did his with. This will save you some time.http://55buick.loungespot.com/ Also I think it would be worth following up on this ad for a running Roadmaster for $2250.Might just be an old ad but even then it is good to see if he still has any parts left if the car is gone :Brow: Street Rods and Hot Rods For Sale www.USASTREETRODS.com | KOOL105 Radio | HOT RODS for SALE It is the third ad in blue on the first column (on left side "55 Buick for sale") 1955 "4 Hole" Buick 2 door hardtop / all electric- 720-275-5726 ($2250) V8 engine Runs and Drives needs door glass, interior and paint.
Damn nice job on the car! The white suits it! :laugh: That first site you sent with the fake ad is how I found this site! And that car on the hotrod site is nice! Of course it's in Colorado.. But yes, it might be a good idea to see if there any spares, I have a feeling I'm gonna need em! :grin: Thanks very much for checking around like that! :TU:
CntDrv55 Your new tag! "Thanks very much for checking around like that! " Ain't nuttin but a thang :laugh: I'd still check into that car transporting isn't that much, and if you low ball the guy on the price (if he's had it for awhile) you might end up with what he's asking for it now sitting in your driveway with transporting expenses included. Never hurts to ask. I just like the fact it runs and all. Still understand if you go for ole blackie there though :bglasses: Speakin of "Blackie" I ran him through a car show on the way back from the paint booth disquised as "whitieeeee" ou: :laugh:
Okay, time for bed here See ya, Fritz out :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :3gears: :sleep: :sleep: :beer :sleep: :sleep: :Brow: :sleep: :sleep: :TU:
Damn man, you work fast! I just hope you didnt redo the interior, I kinda like the raccoon-eaten driver's seat! :laugh: Still havent heard from the owner of the car yet, hopefully tomorrow.. i just dont think another car would do, this is the one for me! Especially once I get into it I'll be too broke to buy more cars! It'll work out fine, I think! :grin: :beer :3gears:
Didn't touch a thing "Damn man, you work fast! I just hope you didnt redo the interior" "Moss doesn't grow on a ROLLIN STONE" ou: :laugh: :TU: Yeh, I didn't have the heart to break up the wildlife habitat going on it there. I just threw a dog bisquit in the glove box every couple of minutes and they left me alone till I could drive it back from the paint shop :laugh: Now if you leave the windows cracked open for ventilation, and put some mobile office walls going up to the doors you can probably generate a few bucks from the neighbors and their kids while you are doing the restoration. Just bust out the lawn chair in the driveway, and some sandwich baggies of feed (say $1 a bag) and charge another buck to witness,FIRST HAND, the ONLY Mobile 1955 Natural Animal Habitat left in the entire United States! :Brow: :TU: ou: :error: p Okay okay I know.......stay away from the "bad paint fumes" but they smell SOoooooooo GOOD!!! :ball: :laugh: :laugh:
