Fine Wine Buick

Saturday was the MSRA Award banquet. We did not make the final choice, but we are very proud and happy anyway. Check the beautiful drawing of our car and the very nice plaque. We are very pleased and proud to be nominated. There were only 6 customs picked for this award, being one of the six is a great honor.

3w is Finished !

The 3w came home last night from the upholstery shop..all done. I like it, looks great. Al did another outstanding job. Check the pics and see for yourself.

more progress

The seat for the 3 window is done, looks good. The top insert is also done. Monday we took the RPU to Westside Welding for the exhaust. Clark did a great job, I finally got some Porters!
Today I blew the RPU apart, the body goes to Ben's on Sunday for body work and paint. I now have many little parts all bagged up and waiting for reassembly time. He has the box, grille shell and hood ready for paint, will be in color in a few days.
Most all of the holes are drilled, brackets made etc. Just need to get the frame primed and painted and the front suspension powder coated.
I will pull the engine and trans in a couple of days and start working on the frame.

RPU progress

Well the 3W went to the interior shop, so I got busy on the RPU. Dropped the engine in,fitted the steering column, mocked up the steering shaft with a wood dowel. Made an electric fan bracket out of some flat stock, sawed it out on the band saw, it fits and I like the look. I will powder coat it black next.
I got one side of the tonneau cover frame made, now I have to match it on the other side. The third brake light is in, a "flying eyeball" with red leds in the eye, its pretty bright too.
Tomorrow I hope to make the driver side tonneau frame. I have ordered the steering shaft from Speedway. It will be here Monday evening. I need to make a 1/4 inch spacer for the column drop, drill the dash for the bolts, install the 14 inch steering shaft and tighten the joints.
I need to get the exhaust system made, Central Welding in Foley is closed up, so I think I will go to West Side Welding in Mound...home of the "Porters" mufflers. I have always wanted to run Porters on something. I met Clark Babler and his wife in LA a couple of years ago, they own Porters, real nice people. We laughed that I had to drive 2500 miles to met people that live an hour from me. Check out there stuff at www.portermufflers.com

more progress

Finally got the passenger glass in today for the last time. I ended up buying a new regulator, the new glass and after several installs, its in.
There is still a pinon leak, I replaced the seal, helped but not dry, in the morning its off to my machinists to have him modify the yoke. Its very pitted, so it will not seal. He will turn it down and press on a new correct size sleeve to cover the pitted area.
Lumpy is coming over at 10 to help bleed the brakes and install the windshield with the newest rubber seal.....the third one! Bob Drakes seals do not fit, I have a Dennis Carpenter one know, sent the Drake back for a refund, I ruined the first one trying to make it fit. At least they will take the second one back....$50, oh yea, Carpenter's is only $27 and it fits.
I am a few days late to the interior shop..............sorry Al. Hopefully by Monday.
I hope I have all the brake fittings tight no, I had to redo almost every one, leaks every where. When I do the RPU, I'm bleeding the brakes BEFORE the body goes back on.
check out the dark glass

more 3w info

I got the rear and driver side glass installed. The door glass is a bitch to get in, and to get in the right exact place to roll up and down. The regulator has to be unbolted and lowered to hook onto the glass, I did that at least 6 times to try to get it just right......finally got it. I was starting the passenger side when I broke the glass,so off the the glass shop for a replacement, hope to be ready for pickup on Friday.
I connected the battery cables and started turning things on..........they all work except the horn. I think the horn itself is dead. I will take care of that Friday or Saturday. The radio plays tunes, without any antenna at all, the AC blows lots of air, lights, signals, fan all work with no extra smoke leaking from the wires!! The neutral safety switch needs adjusting, I will add shims tomorrow to fix that. Now just bleed the brakes, add ATF and antifreeze.
Check out the cool embroidered "V8" design for the interior....will be on black not the brown in the photo.

3W update

I have been busy on the 3W coupe. It is just about done. I have to put the glass in, arriving tomorrow, paint and install the new drive shaft and add some fluids. I picked up the new Gates power band radiator hose clamps Saturday, I will get them on Monday. It is all wired, just need to attach the ground cable and check the circuits for " smoke leaks" hopefully won't be any.
I am very p;eased on how it is looking, I like the stance and the look. The paint is awesome, All that is lacking there now is the thin red pinstripe down the belt line, that will come soon.
The interior is ready to be sewen and installed, it will be going to Rapid Upholstery shop in a week or so. The new wheel looks great and I am pleased with the black dash and garnish. The seats and panels will be black with thin red piping and some red top stitching. In the back of the seat and in the rear trunk panel there will be a "v8" design embroidered in red and silver grey, the sample we did looks great.
The RPU is waiting for her turn...........I am anxious to start on that. It is set up for a trip to the paint and body shop about Christmas, so I have to get rolling on it.
I will add some photos of the 3W progress.