Been a LOOOOONG time since I've
updated
thais page. My life has changed quite a bit the past couple years.
Instead of being a poor college student with no money, no time to work
on the car, and 100 miles seperating the car and I. Now I've graduated
and have a great job. However the situation is some money, some time,
and 300 miles seperating the car and I... Arghhhhh... That might change
when I buy a house soon and have a garage to work in... But then I'll
be poor again! Arrrggghhh!
Changes?
I've moved the page to a different web host. I've cleaned up some of
the pages, taken out the pages that didn't get much traffic and sucked
up webspace with pictures (the classic car page and rice pages). I've
also added some info on pages, like the glow plug relay/controller
conversion. The Diesel Webring is being managed by a guy that manages a
bunch of webrings. I didn't log in to manage it for a while, so it was
"adopted"... I've updated my PBY page. I've been working on that a lot
more than the buick the past year...
So, how's the Buick?
Well, it's not a roadworthy car yet. I've moved to Kent, and don't have
a place to store the car, much less work on it. So it will stay in Mead
until I get a house over here. Right now the car still has the interior
half apart, and has a list of stuff to be fixed to be safely
roadworthy. Thanksgiving brought around a loud knock after I had it
idling for a few minutes. I reallly hope it's the leaky tranny (which
was to be replaced after I started driving it regular). So that will
redirect my efforts from making the car roadworthy when I do get a
chance to work on it next.
Last update back in 04 I had a list that pretty much is the same now.
The rear springs need replaced or airbags put in.
It bottoms out on small bumps with a toolbox in back. It hits the
exhaust which is tucked in as best as you can for 3" pipe.
The fuel
pump needs to be relocated to a better spot further away from the
exhaust.
The interior needs to be put back together but I need to
finish painting/dyeing the trim and seats...
There some trim on the door that needs new weatherstrip,
Needs new
speedo cable, the wiper motor needs to be replaced (kind of a critical
safety item there)...
Still haven't got the lifters broke in so it is still hard
to cold start.
I have a small drip from the trans (over long period
of time), sorta ate up the nice new asphalt we have. Never knew ATF
would do that so severely.
I redid the exhaust a bit by adding an H-pipe ahead
of the mufflers under the driveshaft. Boy did that make a difference.
Gave it a slight flowmaster chambered sound, is quieter, doesn't have
loud rap until you really get on it. It is still louder than your
average pickup with flowmasters and tips out by the hitch or a muscle
car with stock cam, manifolds and glasspacks. We'll still have to see
if it is too loud for my taste, I think it will be liveable though. I
also painted it with engine enamel so it should last a while.
I did the
freeze plugs over spring break, just had to do the one. Ended up
cleaning out the radiator in the freezing process, broke loose all that
built up crap. Flushed er out good, and filled up with
antifreeze/water.
Hooked up water temp gauge and oil press gauge too as well as fuel
gauge.
Here a helpful excel file for understanding
the torque ouput at the wheel due to gearing and tire size. It has an
RPM calculator for different highway speeds.
