I need the front doghouse and drivers door for a 77 buick electra limited 4 door. I am having a hard time finding parts. I am wondering what other models/years will work. I know 77-78 are the only 2 that have the same fenders and header panel. I think the hood and door will work 77-84 and i beleive on a couple other buicks, olds, chevy etc. But i am not sure. Is a 77-78 buick lesabre the same front end? it appears to be in photos i have seen. Thanks fo any help, i want to get this car back on the road.
Corbet,I'm really not familiar with the term doghouse,can you explain?I will venture to say that for the doors you are limited to the '77-'79 models.I could be wrong about this so don't take it to the bank.I don't have my interchange book with me but next time that I visit my shop I'll look it up.The same goes for the Le Sabres of those years,they look similar and they may interchange.Good luck hunting.
the 77-84 info hints to that only front end changes were made, then changed back. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Electra "A different grille was the only cosmetic change for 1978, but 1979 brought a redesigned, flat front end and a subtly different taillight treatment featuring a Buick crest and bisecting horizontal silver line. It didn't last, and the 1980 Electra went back to its earlier 1977 roots, but with a new grille featuring vertical slats. The 1981 model saw very few changes from the 1980 restyle but it got a modified grille"
Yes,I have heard the term used before,I remember it now.I went to my shop this weekend and glanced in the book at the '77 doors planning to bring the book with me,I hate to say that I left the book on my desk and it will be at least two weeks before I see it again.However according to it,Hollander,you are restricted to the '77-'79 years,good news seem to be that the Le Sabre is a fit also.Keep in mind that on the fenders,Electras have the 4 portholes as opposed to the 3 on the Le Sabre.There was a note on the listing but I didn't read it since I was planning on bringing the book with me. I looked at one of the links above,the information about the taillights is a little confusing.'77 was a one year only taillight,the '78 and '79 will interchange physically with the only difference being the "limited" crest on the '79 lens.These were the last tanks built in my opinion,great cars.
That wiki link talks about the port hole change. Yea you usualy only hear doghouse when folks talk about a van or RV, and its that big tunnel/hump/hood thats inside the vehicle covering the engine. Though a front clip could be looked at it as the same thing.
"dog house" must be a kentucky thing. I am gad to hear the the lesabre should be a fit, other than the vent holes. I allready have the trim for te vent holes so even if i found a fender that was a fit with no hole cut in the fender i could make it work. I am curious what it says in hollander about other models.
