1955 Buick Special

More updates including the shiney new brakes. More or less finished the drivers side now just copy it all on the passenger side.

 
Back from the dead to this thread. Since my last update I have moved, COVID, etc but all that stuff is boring. Back to the car where I put a full new wiring harness in, installed a new stereo with 2 amps and a sub, and a cool head unit that runs off android. Finished the engine mounts and reinstalled the engine/4l60 trans. Installing the engine is wayyy harder without a big gantry that can lift it up and in. The poor little engine hoist was at its max height, I had to lower the car almost to the ground, and it still barrrely made it over the front of the car. With the new trans installed I made the new trans tunnel cover. Next steps is to do the new trans crossmember, mount the brake master cylinder under the floor, and figure out exhaust. Good to be back!
 

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how's the neon? (that was also you, right?)
 
how's the neon? (that was also you, right?)
The Neon is lonely in my shop right now. Hasn’t had love for a while. Nothing wrong with it, just no interest when I have fun things like the Buick to work on.
 
Had a few days off work and made the trans cross member, mounted the brake master cylinder did a slick mount for the stereo behind the stock grill in the dash. Also played with the air ride and worked out the leaks.
 

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I had the spacers for the back wheels bored out on a lathe to fit on the centering hub on the rear end. Fits great! Took the shop 30 minutes!
100mm diameter by 5mm deep. Had to clean up the hub with a wire wheel to get it to fit on so it is a good tight fit.
 

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I reworked the original rims and stripped them down with a wire wheel, cleaned with acetone, primed and a few layers of black. Should be good for a few years.
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So I have made lots of progress on the car since my last post, but I am trying something different to share it. I started making videos that will walk through the work I am doing and uploading them to youtube. I have a intro video where I tell you about the history of this car and the changes up to Dec 2020, then I started making individual videos for the little project I do along the way. Here is a link to the playlist for this Buick. I will be uploading a new video every week so subscribe if you find them interesting!

1955 Buick Playlist!
 
I had posted the build thread for my Willys on here a long time ago but I made a video to walk through the history of it. It was alot of fun to make!


I also finished the video for the air ride suspension setup. The car has around 7" of air ride travel.

 
I did a few more little jobs while waiting for some parts. Worked on beautifying the parts you will pretty much never see because that seemed like a good use of time! It was a lot of work so I drafted in a helper. Let me know if you liked the paint schemes!


 
Somehow in the past 50+ years the fuel filler assembly from the car vanished. I have tried searching for a stock replacement with no luck. I decided to make my own using a generic fuel filler assembly from Amazon, some mandrel bend 2" pipe, and a whole lot of cutting and welding. I am happy with the result other than I need to replace the silicone orange coupler from the tank to the first hard line since silicone isn't fuel rated. I have a rubber piece on the way and will install it before I fill it up for the first time.

Here is the video!
 
Very spiffy fabercobble.
 
A long time since the last update but I have made a fair bit of progress. Torque converter installed, Engine/Trans dropped in, and getting ready to start! Here is the video:

 
Now the scary part, trying to manage the ECU and setup the tune correctly! I would appreciate anyone providing advice/feedback on this stuff!

 
The new manifold is here! I had a helper to thrash to get it all together and we try to start it!

 
All moved back into my place. Took quite a few trips with my big heavy 29' trailer but I made it. I am so stoked to be back! I missed the space and all of the tools I had to leave behind. I ended up finding a brand new two post lift a guy was selling because it wouldn't fit into his garage, will make my life alot easier. Will get focused on starting the Buick again soon! I have also concluded that 8 is too many floor jacks for 1 guy to have in his home garage....
 

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No progress on the Buick yet but I did have some fun with other projects. I worked with my brother to unload his Essex truck and put it into storage. He was working on it for a while but with a growing family he needed more space. The new project was a 1949 Olds, we cleaned it out, and changed out the rear end. His plans are a SBC, 700R4, and air ride suspension. I also worked on finishing the inside of my shop with insulation and drywall. It is a ton of work to do the 16' walls by yourself off a ladder but I am making some decent progress. Winter is coming before we know it so I want to be prepared with insulated walls and a heater.
 

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