#14 - Progress Update for September

Heat and humidity have killed any joy for hubby's garage fun this summer. Having a heated garage for winter is on his wish list but after this summer's monster heat and humidity index maybe an air-conditioner is too. It made working on the project difficult.

The Buick was stripped down as previously mentioned, and unwanted parts not necessary for this project were listed for sale. Inspection of the engine and all things mechanical attached to it, is still a slow and ongoing job. Like all major car projects the most visible things happen right out of the chute (like disassembly) but the least visible things (like individual parts inspection and repair) take time. Being the perfectionist he is, hubby works slowly through the vehicle and makes sure everything will be operational.

THINGS OF NOTE:

Bent Tie Rod: 

Who can spot the problem? 

Finding the brushes for the Motor/Generator:

NOS (new old stock) not bad for a 91 year old box!

Having the motor/generator rebuilt was not the hard part, but finding brushes for it was. Luckily someone-knows-someone in the Antique Buick world and put hubby in touch. What he got was exactly what he needed and still in the original box from the 1920s. Amazing!

Cleaning, Sanding, Painting: The Before and Afters

Beautiful - even rusty

Cleaning and sanding the rust from...well everywhere... is messy and tedious. Hubby systematically goes through each area and makes it like new again. Most of this is sit-down, hunched-over hard work and your own comfort should be first on the list. A bucket was used as a seat for most of the work until the family realized this and got him something better to sit on.

(He highly recommends one for all garage mechanics out there.) 

#13 - Inspecting the Radiator

You may remember this photo that shows how the radiator looked when it was still on the car. It was impressive, heavy duty and made to last.

Even off, it is still just as impressive, has such nice lines and is in such great shape! The cap is also neat because it's actually threaded on, and not a twist-off-quick-release type. Hubby decided to investigate the radiator today and found an added surprise.

BONUS MOUSE HOUSE! ...or condo? 

Top View, Looking Down Into the Radiator Hole

Not sure how large this critter home is, but it was a shocker to see it right up at the top. 

Closer Look

In addition to this, he found acorns in the water pump so a flush of the engine block was in order 

(followed by the water pump and radiator). 

Pipe system in place

After all was done, it was noted that the water actually ran pretty clear with only a little rust and sediment - and only a couple acorns. The impressive mouse condo was actually made out of the stuffing from the old seats and was neatly compact at both the top and bottom of the radiator, so not a bad issue to deal with.

#12 - The Bucket Seat

Literally... The Bucket Seat.

The Bucket Seat

I asked why.

Always the thinker, hubby is measuring the distance from the seat/steering wheel to the inside dimension of the body style he is still deciding on.

For the record, this photo put us both into hysterics.

Vroom - Vroom!

#11 - Removing the Cowl

Hubby recently removed the Buick's cowl.

He hooked up the engine hoist and threaded rope through the holes where the cowl lights mounted. The hoist made it easy to clear the engine and steering column, and with the cowl weighing somewhere in the rage of 80-100 lbs., it was an easy (albeit cumbersome) one-man event.

Removal of the Cowl

Getting the piece off is critical while he decides which direction to take the vehicle.
Whichever he decides: a Boat-Tail Speedster or Mercer style, the cowl will need modification.

#10 - Uncovering the Fun Things

The neat little things hubby TD (hubby) finds on the Buick are pretty cool. Standard things like the shifter lock, shaft bells, and factory stamp in the wood frame are previously mentioned. Then there is the neat little oil can mounted on the inside of the firewall. It's standard issue, but still amazing to see present and accounted for after 91 years. One can just picture it being diligently used to oil things up back in the day. It's just a very cool piece (in my opinion). For a photo of a nicely restored engine compartment containing one of these, CLICK HERE

The condition of the wood wheels is another perk to this Buick. TD says they actually appear to be very solid...meaning you can't rock the car sideways. Closer inspection will happen down the road when the tires come off.

While the tire is shot, the wheels seem to be solid. 

Another interesting aspect is the starter. Here are TD's own words:

"The starter motor is also the generator. The windings are used for starting, but once the engine is running it is driven by the engine as a generator. Very much like today's hybrids that recover energy upon coasting or braking - store it, and then use it for motor power. Buick was 90 years ahead of its time! So can I say I have a 1925 hybrid? Maybe I can get a tax deduction for my purchase?!"

The drive system is this: There is a shaft driven by the engine itself, that in sequence drives the water pump, the distributor and the generator/starter. Hubby finds all of this VERY cool.

As tear down continues and the little things uncovered, our appreciation for this vehicle grows.

#9 - Getting the Manuals

When you get an old car you need to find as many manuals pertaining to your model as possible. Hubby finds his all over the place and starts the purchases immediately. Books like an assembly manual is considered the Holy Grail. Those were basically step-by-step (assembly) procedures from the factory and unfortunately those books only go back to about the 60's.

In the 1925 Buick's case, he wanted a maintenance/overhaul manual, a parts book, an electrical schematic, and perhaps one on the carburetor.

While recently working on the cowl disassembly, a hole located directly in front of the shift lever caught his eye. He remembered seeing a rusty locking mechanism in one of the parts boxes that came with the car and after checking his trusty parts manual saw that this hole was for a shifter lock.

A key would be used to set--or lock-- the shifter in gear or place so the car wouldn't be moved or driven off. You saw the condition of the vehicle in Post #1 so you already know he doesn't have a key, but he DOES have a good locksmith in town that can do anything.

Yale Lock

Note the set screw on the side to snug it tight. 

Amusing point: The set screw you see above holds the locking piece in. Unscrew that and the lock comes loose. If you had a screwdriver you could steal the car. 

Back to the point of this post: Make a list of the manuals and books you want for your vehicle and immediately start hunting them down so you have them on hand. Without the parts book to reference, figuring out that hole would be difficult.

#8 - The Debris Field

The debris field from the disassembly process is growing. Pieces of wood, metal, parts, springs and anything not related to a Speedster are accumulating on the garage floor. It is a fascinating pile of metal and wood.

So much interesting stuff.

Things like the bumpers, glass, rear body cab, radiator pan and fenders were advertised for sale. People who want to make a Buick Rat Rod could be interested.

Bumpers

Fenders

In the meantime, be prepared for your project garage space to expand until you can get the stuff you don't want out of your way.