Another 1958 Caballero

New brake shoes/wheel cylinders/hoses and Cokers all around. Master cylinder/booster up next on the list. Rebuilt fuel pump, new water pump and recorred radiator/hoses installed which finally allowed me to crank again. Runs pretty good for only firing on 4 cylinders (every other one in firing order??) - will start sorting that out shortly. Power steering seems to work and I got forward/reverse out of the trans for a just a few feet each given no brakes.

 

Have also come to conclusion rear axle radius rod (panhard bar) is 3/4-1" short. Mine was bent and I thought straightening would fix but I've still got tire scrub on right wheel well and ~ 1.5" on left. My understanding is there were two different Buick part numbers in '58 so guessing mine was replaced with wrong one or from different year at some point. Wasn't as obvious with old bias ply tires with narrower tread. So I'm in the market for a correct one or at least the correct center-to-center length so I can make one.

 

The engine's purring nicely. Hopefully, jmt455 will see your post above, and be able to help you with the Panhard bar.

 

Fortunate to have a neighbor that was a professional auto mechanic for most of his 81 years. Came over this morning to help diagnose. I replaced dist cap/rotor/points/condenser/plugs first thing a couple months ago (and will do wires shortly) so he went straight to vacuum and it was fluttering badly. Compression test revealed stuck intake valve and broken push rod/lifter apart on #2. Got the valve unstuck/retrieved broken parts and neighbor had push rods/lifters saved from the past so once I can get it all back together we'll run another compression test. Two steps forward, one step back!

 

Uh, I guess that purr was a bit rattly....

 

Much better. Maybe third time's the charm!

 

Looks like it's running pretty smooth.

 

That is a lot better. I thought the rattling was an exhaust leak.

 

The freeze plugs in the right head were weeping after the first crank and one of them finally gave way with subsequent runs. I've been dreading tackling those but managed to get both replaced today. No amount punching/prying budged them but luckily I was able to start a 1" bottom tap, thread in, and pry out. Driver's side plugs look good but I'm worried about those on back of heads/block/other places I can't see/get to without pulling heads/engine.

As soon as I can get the booster/master cylinder back in operation and correct radius arm, I should be ready to test drive.

 

I'm sure I can find an exhaust leak for you!!

 

I don't doubt that....

 

Ugh. Freeze plugs...

 

Picked up another radius rod same length as mine but it let me experiment a bit and ended up extending one 3/8" which got my axle centered left/right sitting on the ground. Also got the booster/master cylinder rebuilt but haven't had time to get it back in yet. In the meantime, a day in the sun while moving other stuff around in the shop.

 

What a beauty.

 

I am not a GM guy and I know GM like to do some 'odd' things with their parts/engines. But being a buick engine are parts hard to come by? I am asking because of the exh manifold crack in the ear. I mean I know 50's car partsare generally hard to come by normally.

Mike