Showing posts with label Buick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buick. Show all posts

Monday, March 3, 2008

Putting Humpty together again - Part II

Test fitting the left front outter fender and finding out it doesn't fit. The core support appears to be bent slightly. We'll be hammering that out tomorrow.













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Right inner fender isn't on. We're test fitting the outer fender to see if we have the same problem on both sides. The right side doesn't fit perfectly... but it's just shim work.













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The inner fender is attached and all accessories are bolted down to it. The outer fender is fitted and lightly bolted down. We've marked the space where I need to drill out a hole for the radio antenna. Wagons have their antenna on the front right fender, sedans on the rear right.










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Though you can't see it because the shutter speed is too high, the LT-1 is actually running in this picture. She's been sitting for about 10 months without being started. She roared to life on the first turn of the key, the engine fan blowing out a huge cloud of dust.










The Begining

In an attempt to simplify my life and make myself more mobile for a potential move to Germany, I have gotten rid of both of my cars. No more car payments! YAY!

However... that leaves me without wheels.

Almost two years ago my best friend Dominic bought a 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate wagon from the Goodwill auto auction. The car had around 49,000 miles on it and was in excellent shape except that it had been run into a pole... so the front bumper was all smashed up. On closer inspection the inner front fenders and radiator core support had rotted away to nothing.

Dominic acquired the front end from a Roadmaster sedan. Those of you who know these cars will know that the fenders, lights, hood, grill, and bumper are all different. While the wagon looks like a Chevy Caprice, the sedan has a much more distinctively "Buick" look to it.

Dominic has decided to let me borrow this car and in exchange I'm helping him restore it and paying him a bit of money for it's use.

This is a picture of a 1991 - 1993 Roadmaster Estate. Externally, it is no different from the 1996 other than the side mirrors.



This blog will document the progress of rebuilding the wagon.