Projects A ´53 Riviera goes mild

Hello,
just need to start my first rebuild thread about my Buick. The car was standing for more than 30 years in a junkyard and a Dutchman picked it up at 2002 and brought it home. He was an Alfa Romeo Dealer and thought to start a custom to be cool. As he saw the car first time he was scared about the condition and sold it as it was to a german guy. He sold it as a untouched and nice car in good shape that needs about 2k$ to let her back on the track

He bought the car aslo unseen - what´s happened? To much work and to left hands and a call to god told him don´t start working on that car - you can´t do it!
Until now it was 2007 one day after christmas and i checked the lists again to find my first own car. I just was helping my neighbour "Baumi" here in HAMBland. I checked the car one day after christmas and i felt surprised. It had a few owners during the last time but nobody touched the car. Everything stock and unrestored.

Just needed some floor pans and a lot of time to beat out all the dends around the cars.

Here it start´s coming to europe in 2002





Here i picked her up in 2007 Christmas

 

looks like a good solid start to me.

 

Ya know, you just don't think about cars like this existing over seas. And that trailer its on scares the fucking hell out of me. lmao! I bet the wee-waw factor was HIGH on that shit.

 

You´re right, a lot of those guys should stay in jail. But there is a hand full of people who try to bring them back!

I started to make a plan for the car. My plan was to french the headlights and but other rear lights on it. After i saw that the stock engine was gone i decided to replace it with a 401 and a 700R4. I love the nailheads and as long as it is a Buick i need to be fired by one!
I also planed to upgrade the frontbrakes with dics and make a conversion to an open drive system

So in case of that plan i decided to pull the body off

(don´t ask, in that time i spend all the money i hade on her. I didn´t had money to rent a workshop and a lift, so i disassembled it in an old stall







After stripping the body i rewelded all rust spots and decided to spend her some sand and primer

 

In a thousand pieces, but looking better already. You're giving that car what it needs.

Good job. SUPER job!

 

Cool car. The look on your wife's face is priceless. "What the hell has my man done now?"

i am guessing you've done something since you picked it up in 2007?

Oops, looks like I was a little quick on that post

 

Wow, great that you saved this Cool survivor

 

You got skills dude,keep going it looks great so far.

 

Thanks for comments,
@ Clevelandname: That was the previous owners wife, may she looked happy that this project was gone As i bought the car i was 19!


Next step was to upgrade the frame to put the body back on it

I replaced the torque tube and cut the frame to install a dual exhaust like it came from the factory

Here i start the cuts in the X - Member for a symetric dual exaust



Open drive conversion like 67 - 72 Chevy trucks


(don´t worry, i welded u strud on the pick up when the body was back on and i knew the exact drive shaft position)



Here after frame sand blasting and primer



The next was to build the tranny adaper to fit the 700R4 on the nailhead. I know that there´s also a ready for installation kit for sale but this costs over 1000 Bucks until it is in Germany.

Here we go



Don´t ask about the job to get the exact Bolt pattern. I clambed the transmission onto the plate and used a gauge for the flexplate. I used the inlet shaft of the tranny to find the middle. After the tranny was in place i marked the holes and finished the adapterplate.









After i rebuild the whole frontsuspension i could start with the upgrade of the front brakes. I used scarebird adapterplates and it fits perfect. Only problems are the dropped fatman uprights. The steering diameter is like a truck now. The upper caliper bolt hits the upper support pins. But in case of that big steering i decided to lower the car to have a good reason for the big steering diameter
I already relplaced the brake caliper bolts with shorter ones. It´s a little bit better now - but still like a truck. How cares?

Also added a set of shocks to get rid of the original lever bumpers. I welded a braket onto the frame and drilled a M12 thread into the lower outer support bin. Fits well and doesn´t interfere the steering.

 

As next the bodywork could start

I frenched the headlights and replaced the stock taillights through ´54 Chevy lee lenses. Also a lot of dents must be beaten out of the body before it came to the work shop. A friend of mine is a real metal artist and he could fix nearly 90%.
As you see - it was owned by an old lady....

As it left for the dent repair. All bodymods were done. To french the taillights is hard work if you do it for your first time. Made it 4 times until i got as i looked for









And here before she get the color

 

Looking real nice

 

Here she came back home from the paintjob







The rear is still do high. Hopefully it will be straight with the interior. Otherwise i ned do lower her more

 

Astounding job!

 

That´s who she is now. I´m waiting for some trim to install the windshield and the new side windows. After all, it goes to the upholstery for the new interior and i need to mount new bumpers back on (act. at the Chrom Shop for new shine) Need to bring it on the street this year. Took me a long time, a lot of money and a lot of nerves. But to sit in it and drive around is all i need!

 

Sure looks familiar to me, as I am doing the same to a 53 Skylark. Been at it two years.

 

Nice job! Love the rear wheel arch on it!

But one thing i learned - never sandblast a body.....

Damned. I don´t wanna rememeber how long i sucked that f* sand out of all corners and struds....

 

Xxlnt!

 

Great job

Car looks Awesome

 

Good lord thats beautiful!

 

Wow, beautiful, beautiful car. I am jealous. I bet that thing will really turn some heads going down the road in Europe.

 

Nice!

 

very nice job, love the color

 

What a beauty! Turned out great!

 

Thanks guys! I can´t wait to see her with the license plate rollin down the road! Some meets are waiting next season!

Anyone can recommend a good air ride system?

 

She's going to run and drive like a dream...and look beautiful doing it too.

 

In two weeks i´m back from China. They block nearly 50% of all pics here! I need democracy!

 

Hey neighbour! I never knew you have a build thread of your Buick on here!
You have come a long way and the build quality is awesome. When I think back 5-6years , how we picked the car up and how it looks now! Unbelieveable...
And now get a job were they don´t send you abroad for months and months
When are you coming back?

 

Wow! That is stunning

 

Great job.

 

Awesome Job on the Buick, Very Cool!