Well we are finally started.....Phoenix Project aka...

[dwall]

Its the little things on a project like this that make me smile

The door strikes on the tub have been removed but are in perfect shape - complete with nice original bushings and clean unbattered posts and star type (torx maybe?) drive. Thats one less trip to the 'Help' display near the NAPA front window. :redface:

I'll try to remember to get a picture. They won't help me go fast or anything but they do make me grin. Maybe they add a little class? :wink:

 

[charlief1]

Flooding hasn't been bad yet, thank God. The worst we've had happen is rain and snow mix together for long enough to let me get stuck in my driveway. For 3 days I had to park at my neighbors and walk home in the rain/snow. It sucks. Ok, back to your car now.

 

[dwall]

The rain/snow mix IS ugly.

Flooding hasn't been bad yet, thank God. The worst we've had happen is rain and snow mix together for long enough to let me get stuck in my driveway. For 3 days I had to park at my neighbors and walk home in the rain/snow. It sucks. Ok, back to your car now.

Makes me think of patchy driving conditions, fogged up windows, slush and cold damp clothes. I'd rather have it colder/frozen and dry - its easier to stay comfortable.

I have a few pictures to add. The tub is back on the frame and nearly buttoned down. The underside, firewall, rear end panel and door jambs done base and cleared. Interior cabin and trunk are shot with bed liner/lizardskin coat.

Next the fenders, hood, & doors go to get bead blasted on Wed.

 

[supercrackerbox]

So when you're lifting the body up with the engine hoist, are you just hooking it to the trunk latch?

 

[RobG]

Trunk latch in back and there's a couple points in the front you'd lift it up from.

Lookin' good Bob, I'm jealous :smile: The color looks like a dark gray? Is that correct or am I getting more blind?

 

[dwall]

Yea like Rob says - Dan also had the frame up on some shop racks.

So when you're lifting the body up with the engine hoist, are you just hooking it to the trunk latch?

The racks are a heavy duty and probably at least a step or two up from the usual door/panel support like this one.

They enabled him to sit up under the body when applying the base & clear.

Trunk latch in back and there's a couple points in the front you'd lift it up from.

Lookin' good Bob, I'm jealous :smile: The color looks like a dark gray? Is that correct or am I getting more blind?

Thanks Rob - you must be using the good eye as my brother used to say - so you're not blind (why would you think that?) - it is a metallic gray/charcoal with a little blue/orange in it. Hope it works out - will have blackout trim and haven't settled on bumper/grill finish yet. I like chrome but body color may be better.

I need to visit you if you can still help on the box. I will PM for info/directions.

 

[turbonut85]

Not sure I would use the trunk latch to lift with...it's not as strong as you think. Just my .02

 

[usetaboost]

Not sure I would use the trunk latch to lift with...it's not as strong as you think. Just my .02

Pu$$y Mine hung from the trunk latch for almost a month:biggrin:

 

[dwall]

Thanks for the backup Jesse!

Not sure I would use the trunk latch to lift with...it's not as strong as you think. Just my .02

Agreed a little caution is a good idea Keith - but I think we we would have done it anyway.:wink: Even without any liquid inspiration.

It's 'rural enginineering' - WI style - I guess after we used four fully extended jack stands (on rocky ground) and some square stock (dirty shop rags kept it from sliding) to hold the body about 3' in the air while a Craftsman rider pulled the frame out from under.... we figured we could do anything.

The tub had been totally stripped of anything that was stuck on or fastened down so it was as light as it could get & the trunk latch was checked & deemed solid when we separated the body & bushings. Most of the time the tub was supported in at least 2 other places, altho' I do kinda like the picture in my twisted brain of the tub hanging from a single strand like an old shoe on a fishing line.

 

[jdpolzin]

Mine has dangled a couple times! A little to the right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[usetaboost]

You know you got balls when you are underneath the car while it's dangling by the trunk latch and jackstands under the rockers

 

[dwall]

What the hell am I doing in here on a day like today?

Mine has dangled a couple times! A little to the right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kinda like a compass. It provides direction til you get old!

HOpe the deck lid & windows worked OK?

You know you got balls when you are underneath the car while it's dangling by the trunk latch and jackstands under the rockers

In my case it more like too dumb to know better. More like a Norske who can't even blame alcohol - it seemed like a good idea at the time??? And it worked!

Enough.... I am going back out :redface: .. if I can get past the TV & fridge - State BB tourney is on. Later.

 

[dwall]

The neighbors are saying, "There goes the neighborhood!"

'Cause I unloaded the tub in the front yard this afternoon. It went on grass as the driveway is freshly coated for winter.

My son came by, he says he likes the new lawn ornament. He's funny but like always tell him "Looks aren't everything!'

Then the first walker that came by asked if it was a Grand National or a T Type. Not bad!!! Congratualations to you Mister you win a prize. He must be the only one left around here that didn't go to see Obama on the UW library mall.

I guess a thread update is due - its been a long time. Thanks to Jeremy and the Turbo Farms I may soon have a 3.8 for it. And maybe a whole drive train soon!!! Woohoo!

 

[jdpolzin]

Figured I would bump the threas some now that The Pheonix has landed at Turbo Farm West!!!


Bob nad i built the motor this past summer and now that the car is here, it's time for some motor/trans installation and wiring. I hope to have this car running by the end of the month.


Here are a few pics!

 

[jdpolzin]

And more

 

[jdpolzin]

One more. I need to get my other computer working becusae this cell phone just doesnt have the picture quality to show the work on this car.

 

[dwall]

My German uncle used to say, "So soon old and so late smart - so we better have one."

I think he was saying 'enjoy it when you can.' In my case two out of three ain't bad.

This car just wasn't going to get done without lots of help. Anyway thanks to Jeremy & Turbo Farm West maybe we'll be whining up this machine sooner rather than later. DAMN... that sounds good.

Thanks too for resurrecting the thread!

I can add a few pics and dig for some more. The first two are the engine and Lonnies Stage 2 tranny waiting to go in. And a couple more that hopefully haven't been posted ... a shiny engine, the metal flake (and dust) on the rear end and the refurbed AC box (I made one nice one out of three busted up units) with high temp VHT'd headers.

Here's to ya. Cheers!

 

[dwall]

It's been a long time since I updated this ....

Sometimes feel bad about that .... but that goes away right after the first sip of a cold vitamin 'B.'


I'll try to cover some of the stuff that's been done. All the body panels were stripped and primed. Most of them media blasted. Fender liners were epoxy primed & painted the final metallic gray body color. Exposed surfaces on them were also clear coated. Here goes - a few pics from this past winter:

1. Hardware was soaked in paint stripper & "Evapo-rusted.' Then rinsed, primed and shot with 'Martin Seynour Chassis Black.'
2. Fenderwells were cleaned and treated.
3. Fenders edges were taped.
4. Fenders need to be blocked again as you probably noticed - blue X's locate dings

NEXT - off to Turbo Farm West.

 

[BEATAV8]

Hey Bob looking good! Looking forward to seeing it all done!

 

[dwall]

More pics @ Turbo Farm West

Hey Bob looking good! Looking forward to seeing it all done!

Thank you sir - me too. It's been a trip into a journey. I now know why that wise ol' fart said, "If I had known the stops, starts, turns and changes it was going to take to get here I might have gone a different way."

The truth is I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. Well almost anything.... :wink: I don't want to slobber all over myself but lots of skilled car guys, Buick people on the boards, friends, acquaintances and strangers have helped out.

The Boss at Turbo Farm West has been great - NO DOUBT about it!


So some more pics to keep the story moving:

• Hydroboost installed
• A freshly painted reassembled core support with a F body radiator & Dorman fans and a new condensor
• Fenders, wheel wells and fender liner get hung
• Wiring harness installed
• Intercooler installed and plumbed
• Used repainted gas tank (boiled-out), used rubber cushions and regretably, my new stainless steel tank straps (that I know must have set the bar to a new high for profanity @ Turbo Farm West)

More pics tomorrow.