Hello from NW Ohio: 1980 Buick Electra Estate Wagon

Well that was allot of work but did turn out good.

I did not want to dismount the tires from the rims that are on it now.
Making the swap back if needed easy.

So I drilled the 15x7 sawblad rims I got with a dodge bolt pattern for the Buick pattern.

Put 1 old tire on a old rim that fits the firebird, and the spare from the S15, so the Firebird wasn't sitting tireless up front.

Dis mounted the Fuzion HRi's from the Firebird rims, mounted them to the saw blades and put them on the wagon.

[I have my own manual tire changer from HF.]

I wasn't 100% sure how accurate my drilling of the saw blades for the Buick bolt pattern went so I didn't go get them balanced before installing them.
Took it for a ride and ran it up beyond highway speed and they felt nice and smooth. Which means I get to take them back off to get them balanced tomorrow as seat of the pants isn't good enough to check that. And easier to carry the tires in then wait all day to have them take them em off n on to balance em. Plus I don't like folks messing with my car.

IM totally worn out.

 

You sound TIREd out!

 

Its nice having my own tire changer, as I have saved $1000s and able to do odd crap like that anytime I want but it broke me down.

almost 4:30 am now but woke up at 3:30 am as my whole body is in pain.

 

I hate pills with a passion, but when it gets too painful from all the work on the house renos, I'll take a Tylenol. They've got a new version for muscles. Mine remind me that they're still there, after about 6 hours of installing new subfloors.

 

I hate pills myself, though should be stock in Tylenol as I keep a bottle of their nighttime cold cool burt stuff around all the time.

better then anti-acid tabs when I eat to much
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Kinda plain without the trim ring but they wont bite well into the rim and hold well, probably from the smooth chrome underneith the matte black paint

would just look goofy to have only chrome on the back. Plus I hate chrome so I might take a wire wheel to the first step of the rim where the trim rings bite into to hold on, so they don't pop off with every bump. I hate having to go back n chase em down..........

 

Welcome... How did I miss this??? I like what you have done to your wagon so far.

 

Just get a dog trained to chase your car and recover the rings...

I like the finish on the wheels too.

 

Either im just a gaudy kind of person or I want to show homage to Johnny Chop and use some Variegated Gold Leaf on the wagon

And I really think it would work with the over all theme if kept to a min.

Might be easier to get what I mean in the old ugly pic of the rear.


Only the thin trim that was used to boarder the now gone woodgrain sticker would be done.

The two thin chrome strips that in said pic above has brown paint donw the middle of it. [just under the handle and just above the bumper] Maybe a hint on the taillight covers and a whipser of it on the grille just to spread it out so it flows.


Then a hugh F'in skull on the hood in variegated gold

 

Also want to work on some other homages to other fallen 2-4 wheeled pirates

Like the Indian Larry question mark

Im almost thinking it could be a replacement hoodornment

A electric train horn for Gary Woodford
[Milwaukee Iron]

PLus others I haven't figure out a way to add into it and have it not to jumbled.

 

Had to defend the old girl today, this was my reply


Its like having a big truck without looking like an a$$ getting 2MPG.
Its looking responsible, without driving a mini van.
Its like a fast SUV that seats 9 but doesn't "literally" rolling over in a turn.
.
Its getting A Holley EFI with twin turbo's

 

Eventful Weekend

Eventful Weekend

On the way home my left side exhaust dropped and was draggin.
Stopped and wired it back up but it was louder when on it, like the donut flange was leaking from being twisted around.

So Im thinking I just need to rehang the pipes and then notice both side have no extra support in the back, hangers rusted through along with the beating of rough roads, so the whole system was just hangin off the motor.
Turned out the left side down turn broke right in the bend, but was also very rusty.


I just have a 90* turn down off the motor then straight pipe to axle.
I like them close to the engine, they sound the best, the muffler is the mouthpiece of a horn, so it comes right after the place that blows.... tail pipe is the horn.

Sort of easier fix then I tight as no exhaust flanges to mess with, they were tight n still sealed. Just replaced the bad section and rehang.

Get that all done, go for the typical ride n such, all better.

Decide to check my trans fluids and stuf bla bla bla


Go to shut my hood and it wants to fold in half on the pass side!!!!

I guess to many of those glue blobs between the skin and skeleton have unstuck over years and vibration that its not as ridged, I also got good new hood shocks that take effort to close it. I did stop in time before I creased anything, I was able to put it back in shape mostly but dam.

Even the skeleton part started folded, I guess them blobs of caulk are more structural then you think.

Hood is going to get coated in rough bed liner for texture so I’m thinking of welding it with a section of small tubing down that side. And probably the other for good luck.

 

picked up a spare ormanent

cut out the trishield as I wanted to build a question mark one like the sybmoly for Indian Larry.

but once I saw the circle empty, all I could think was cross hairs / target sight.

will use the center piece on the back where the plastic bit for the flush mount trisheild logo feel out. will fit nice.

 

........

 

6 1/2in mr gasket n haloween decor mated

 

added a butt plus breathing room, it was chokin on that little 6 1/2 filter.

bored large holes in the lid over the back two.