As per intro I am th e proud owner of a 1958 Special, Canadian built, one option: dynaflow... Goal is to make it reliable so I can drive drive drive... car has 52k original miles... First question: who do you recommend as parts provider? not talking about the usual suspects (Summit, Speedway, etc...) but more about Buick specialists... I'd like to add some chrome to the engine (to make it go faster), maybe some chrome reverse, new spin on oil filter... I want to know who you guys like and recommend... So far I got spider caps (learned the hard way that front hubs are wider) and bellflowers ... Thanks JD
CARS old Buick pARTS Kanter NAPA (are there NAPA in Canada?) Bob's Automobilia This site and AACA - BCA forum
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?300054-Newbie-from-Ontario I am from Ontario, Canada... Thanks for the links, we have Napa and the usual parts providers... I'd like to add some chrome valve covers (Fenton or equivalent) and make it a early 60's mild custom... Been reading a lot on this forum... Thanks JD
Ah yes, another Canadian discovering the intricacies and residuals of the Auto Pact. and why it's such a challenge to own a Buick in the Great White North.. There isn't much for parts here anymore, I've used all of those sources that have been mentioned so far. They're all good, as long as you factor on spending 40 to 50% more than the sticker price. I used to have a great wrecker's yard not too far away from here, but they've stopped letting people in top pick and I believe they've now crushed everything older than 10 years. So yeah, hold on for the ride, and be prepared to order everything out of the US. There is nothing here in Canada for your car, and hasn't been since the 70s when the legal obligation to hold the parts expired. In the US, everything is easier, shipping is cheaper, and parts are positively plentiful. I put out a call for an engine block when I joined up here years ago, got lots of good responses, only that shipping was going to cost more than my car was worth to get it here. Contrary to what politicians of a certain stripe are saying in Canada right now, there is no such thing as Free Trade. These parts in no way take away from Canadian jobs, and haven't been made in ages, yet they're still heavily taxed. Step on the northern side of the border and everyone has his hand out, particularly the government or the banks (they nail you on exchange, even when the CDN dollarette was higher than the Greenback, I was still getting nailed at $1.07 when the US dollar was only worth 95 cents figure that one out!), they all expect a cut for doing essentially nothing, penalizing you for your success, considering you've done all the legwork and paid for it south of the border. Sorry if I sound facetious, but yeah, I've about had it when it comes to the fact that everything including the ashtrays has to come up from the US and usually costs 40 to 50% more to get it on your car than it would to someone in Hawaii or Alaska. :rant: Good Luck!
Thank you everyone, I use all these providers, just got parts from Summit and Speedway this week... I should have expressed myself better: what do you think about classicbuicks.com? nailheadbuick.com? specialty car parts places like that... any recommendations? I like their chrome parts to dress up the 364, but would also like to upgrade to a 4bbl manifold and carb, spin on oil filter, apparently a 59 system would bolt on... Thanks for all the input... JD
I'm sure all that is true Marc. But, in the last few years I've got a handful of parts from Canada off this forum and the other I mentioned. As far as chrome engine parts. You can do what my Dad did, chrome plate what you got;
All Nailhead valve covers will interchange (fit) but there are differences. Your '58 has a road draft tube for crankcase ventilation, later covers - starting in '63, are designed for cars with Positive Crankcase Ventilation. Some Nailheads have the oil filler cap directly on the valve cover(s) some fill through the valley cover. The '62 and earlier Buicks have oil filler caps that "breathe", later Buicks have caps that seal. I go along with James, I like the idea of chrome plating what you have. My guess is that any Nailhead spin-on filter setup would bolt right on. Use a quality filter. There's a lot of opinions about which filter is best, but I don't recall anyone slamming Wix. Most engine parts will interchange between the 364 engine that you have, and the later 401 and 425 inchers. Intake manifolds are 364 only. Good luck with your '58.
New to Buicks here as well and also a 58 Special I havnt got right into the parts hunting bit of the game yet, but I do know what your talking about as far as being hit in the pocket for everything I am in Perth Western Australia, so I probably cop it more I just finished (If theyre ever finished) building a 60 dodge and I think it would have cost me twice as much to build because of where I am I built that car (well, got most of the parts) while our $ was also at or better than the US$, so I was lucky there This Buick wont get as much NOS or chasing correct stuff like I did with the Dodge because of cost I just get parts wherever I can find them (mostly having to trawl US Ebay every day) Mick
Welcome and I got almost all of the (hard to find) parts I needed for my '61 off eBay as well. Took a long time, finding a good deal, etc. I tried swap meets, but not much out there for Buicks. Mostly Chevy and Fords.
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any experience with classicbuicks? nailheadbuick? I really like their finned valley cover, valve covers...
Hi and Welcome. I have used ClassicBuicks for some parts and they were very efficient, helpful and friendly. Parts were excellent as described. I haven't purchased anything from Russ Martin at nailheadbuicks, but met him when I was in Auburn back in 2008. He has a great selection, is very knowledgeable and has a very informative website. Tom Telesco (Telriv) can also get you whatever you may need, especially engine stuff. Ross
Thanks Ross for the information... lots of impressive and interesting parts on both sites... very tempting...
