September '08 the Buick has gone off to Rick Allen of Autobodyshop in Chatham Kent for a total rebuild, restoration and paint job including a new convertible top, engine/gearbox out, engine bay strip out respray including under hood and chassis, engine rebore, all new parts, all new chrome, rebuild and detailing, chrome air cleaner and valve covers, engine bay rewire, new trunk carpet and door cards, new interior, new carpet, new air shocks, new radials with 60's whitewalls, new fromt window, replacement rubber and seals all round and 100 spoke chrome rims.

Now its June 2010 and to correct the above the whole car has been stripped to the last nut and bolt, The frame has been repaired, blasted and repainted to a shiny finish. The body was blasted completeley and every pinhole repaired, rustproofed and stone chipped underneath and the whole upped body had all the old repairs taken out and the panels rebeaten into shape. The interior was stripped to the frames, resprayed and rebuilt as new. All new leather seats and trim. all electrics rewired and new roof. There is not a piece which has not passed through untouched ... even the tank sender unit was repleced with a new one. Should get it back on the road for August 2010. 

 

April 2004 the day I picked the Buick up. November 2004 great wash jobsh Arriving at the paint shop September 2008 Previous job leaving and the Buick ready to go in.   December 2008 .... gone too far to turn back now! ooooops that's the engine out! That explains the blowing noise I heard the last time I drove her!! Don't worry I have a new one for you to blow your hot gasses into.             All the chrome ready to go to the Chrome Shop Jan 09 Bumbers ready for Chroming Feb 09 23 Feb 2009 23 Feb 2009 23 Feb 2009 First parts back from the Shot Blasters. 24 Feb 09 25 Feb 09 27 Feb 2009 06 March 2009 06 March 2009 06 March 2009 08 March 2009 The very first coat of paint applied to any part since arriving at Rick's AutoBodyShop 08 March 2009 08 March 2009 Rick said he would park it in the garage, I didn't think he meant like this ..... lol Rims Mary Lou off to the media blasters 07946490615 is the number for Rick This is neat towing arrangement Interior on its way to the trimmers for a leather treat Thats the seats stripped The old upholstery now to be used as a pattern. Tyres arrived today 21 March 2009 Body is back from the blasters 21 March 2009 Chassis being prepared for painting. The block and crank are also back from being rebored and reground. The engine needed 20 and the crank 10. Now waiting on Marty Lackner to send over the full engine kit so it can be rebuilt. Hurry up Marty the Buick is needed for Rick and Bailee's wedding in May This is what happens if you chain someones rear axle to a fire hydrant and they drive off!! First bit of retrimming and the new interior color 27 March 2009 Carpet to match, the center one    Aluminum stitching will sparkle in the sun. New door card being set out More Chroming going ready to be collected 27 March 2009 Seat frames painted and ready for the trimmers 29 March 2009 underside of the front seat, now painted and off to the trimmers. Amazing what you can do with two engine stands! Spot of welding to the frame First coat of paint applied to the chassis 12 April 2009 Body mounted on two adapted engine stands so it can be turned for painting. The chassis is now painted and ready. 15 April 2009 rear seat being re-upholstered Wheels and tyres are together for the first time. 17th April 2009 The gearbox ready to be refitted 19th April 2009 Still Waiting Marty, Now mid June 30th June 2009 Smooth wheel arches!

  

  

 

The second picture shows the steering wheel after minor repairs were done and in the first picture the steering wheel has  had two thickening coats ( generic black plastic) of aprox 4-5 ml, two further coats of the pearl plastic yet to be applied.

Wheel & knobs , base coloured.

 Gear and indicator levers have been re chromed and bands hand machined to be fitted to same.

 All ready now for the final coating.

 

 

 

 

Anyone who has taken a car apart and totally rebuilt it will know the longest job and showing the least progress is the preparation of the exterior for the paintwork. This job has gone on and on, lining up the doors, trunk, and front fenders to get the perfect gap on the joins and also even more importantly to ensure a straight and completeley flat base to apply the final coats of paint to. Get this wrong and some eagle eyed critic will notice the ripple you thought you had flattened out. So here are a few pictures taken in the last 4 weeks.

 

 

 

 

And to my friend Pete, thanks for reminding me I had not updated my site

 

 

 

The steering wheel is on its way back from Wheelcraft in Australia. The colors compliment the exterior white and interior blue. The wheel has been thickened and all the chrome redone. The gear lever has been extended a little and the chrome rings are a custom finish.

 

The firewall with the basecoat, topcoat and laquer applied Nov 2009

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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more progress to report.
Brakes now functional, more chrome added, making good and preparing for painting the glove bax and other dash items, soundproofed the firewall. New foel tank sender unit fitted and the sound pad fitted, there will be enough done to send her to the trimmers Monday and then there will be some big additions. Can't wait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Seats are laid in to get a visual check and the first trimming starts with the trunk and the backing plates.