Retrieving a 59 Fairlane 500 convertible

Beware of dishonest and abnormal engine compartments

"Edge", take off that stupid hat. We know, you're bald. "Bono", shut up and let the band play

 

Thanks Jairus. First order of business after the wheels and tires will be the radiator.

 

"U.S. Radiator" makes a nice reproduction. I had one for a while before moving to an aluminum one in my wagon for half the cost of the U.S. item.
If you're planning on restoring the car then look them up.

But I had a bad experience with U.S. radiator due to a poorly sealed top tank and it cost me $ to get it fixed locally.

My opinion is the aluminum radiator is much better and, it can be painted black to help it blend in.

 

My radiator in my 80 Catalina was bad and I took it to a radiator shop to be recored. It would have cost over $500 IF he was able to find a brass core. An aftermarket replacement was $179. He told me that the 2 row aluminum replacements were more efficient than the 3 row originals. No problems so far but that might change when I put the 455 in it.

 

We have a local radiator shop that we do a lot of business with. We plan to take it to them and see what they have to say.
We'll go from there.

 

Back then when I was repairing radiators, you could practically get 3 brand new entire radiators, for that price. Brass isn't that expensive, to justify such prices, unless the dollar has inflated that much, since 1980. Brass is indeed heavier than steel. So, lifting a core might seem like much. But, it's all thin sheet which looks like there's more there than there really is

Doesen't seem necessary, unless you're adding A/C. Back then when we were dropping larger displacement smallblocks into where smaller displacement ones used to be, we never updated the radiators and never had problems, thereafter. Your 455 block is no different than any other Pontiac V-8

 

Got some parts in yesterday.





Rear side trim, for behind the wheel wells.


And the part I was most excited about, the tri color hubcap centers:


Unfortunately, only one shipped. The other three are on back order.

 

This is actually turning out to be kind of hilarious.
I received a call that the wheels were done at the powdercoater's. I was right around the corner at another shop dropping a vehicle off, so it was perfect timing.
I went in and saw the wheels through the window that looked from the office out into the shop. They looked great.
I backed up to the door and that's when we realized something wasn't quite right...
They had accidentally powdercoated the wrong wheels.
We did find the wheels for the 59 close by on a pallet, but they where not done. So, now it will be tomorrow before I take them down to the tire shop.
I have to laugh though. Keeps me sane.

 

D'OH!

Ugh, I hate the word 'backorder.' And unless there's a huge demand for something, it could be till the Second Coming of Christ before you see something that was on backorder.

 

Yay! ​

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but with the way business has changed, things can get totally set aside, and there's nothing we consumers can do about it.

 

I know. I was ordering a set of rocker trim for the 59.
It said they were in stock, but when I talked to the fellow on the phone he said they had been "temporarily discontinued"
I asked him what the time frame was for them getting more in. He said "I have no idea"
Super.

 

Well, we finally got the Fairlane, the new whitewall tires and the freshly (correct) powdercoated wheels in the same place at the same time.

 

Sweet! Happy to hear it.

 

At this point it will be the first of next week before they get to it.

On a fun side note, the tire shop had a photo on their Facebook page with the Fairlane parked out front.