Well ok, let me introduce myself. I'm 28 years old Finnish old-car-freak... (guess that ain’t any kind of a word..?) I was 14 yrs old when I first time read magazine 'bout old american iron and, gotta admit, I'm still on that same road. I've also been into rockabilly ever since I was thirteen years old and it's still my musical main-attraction... and just now I realized it's been more than half of my life. Hey, where did all that time go..? I' ve been readin' this forum for a quite a long time, but now I’ve registered and finally also written an intro. I've had a few cars, come n' go, but at the moment I'm driving '57 Buick Riviera 2d ht. During the summer, it's my daily driver. Last summer, in four months, I drove 9000 km (ca. 5600 miles) with it. It's been mine for four years now. I've been working on it quite a lot (in- and outside), 'cause it had been standin' still for 10 years when I bought it. It has the original 364cid nailhead engine, which I've repaired. There’s also new brakes, electric system partially, many little things here n’ there, and of course some new steel, ‘cause my wife’s shoe went through the floor... There is an Offenhauser 3x2 under the hood of this Buick. Polished the intake, rebuilt those carbs, and assembled the whole thing myself, 'cause this ain’t a ready setup. Airbags should be installed during next winter. All the stuff is already collected because this ain't ready setup either. It’ll be built of individual parts, stuff that is used a lot in industry. Last winter was first winter, that I haven't been working on Buick as much as before; my '31 Ford AA also needs attention. Here are few pics of that “Old Faithful Buick” (These pics are here behind links, so if you are using wireless internet, it is easier and faster for you to use this opened page) http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/Buick%20Super%20-57/?action=view¤t=BuickiKevat05.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch16 http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/Buick%20Super%20-57/?action=view¤t=Tienvarressa.jpg&refPage=20&imgAnch=imgAnch23 http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/Buick%20Super%20-57/?action=view¤t=170_7085.jpg&refPage=20&imgAnch=imgAnch22 Yeah, that Ford... It was kinda accident that I started to build this project. Been dreamin' 'bout my own hot rod for a long time, and especially '31 pick-up. Well, there was local swap meet here, where I saw pics of this kinda project cab. Went to look at it but, oh man, that one was in bad condition. And compared to that condition; very expensive. Same day someone told me ‘bout pick-up doors and cowl that were for sale in another city. Well, just had to buy those. I didn't do anything for them until year had passed. I just collected more parts for my becoming project and worked meanwhile with Buick. Once again one cowl passed on my way, this was from same cab that I had seen year earlier. This time it was 10 times cheaper, but had also lost doors and top of cowl. Got to buy that pile of s**t to get more parts for this pathetic project, haha! So now there was poor cowl sides, firewall, A-pillars and a vizor, plus also two doors in good shape, for that pick-up cab. A rear wall for that cabin was something that seemed to be hard to find (Tudor would not), so I decided to build it myself. Then just had to start welding. I’m sure you’ll believe me, there is a LOT to weld! 'Cause I'm kinda freak into Buick Nailheads, you maybe ain't surprized that my p-u will be equipped with that. It's '57 364cid 250hp engine that waits at my garage. Carburetors are my another perversion, so there will be enough ‘em over that engine. There is also lots of other parts and goodies that are waiting at my garage to be bolted for that p-u. At the moment all parts (such as frame, new front axle stuff, spindles, brake stuff etc etc) are everywhere around my house and garage (we just moved to another city, therefore I’ve got another garage also) so it is not easy to give good or even reasonable pictures at the moment, so I’ll post them later. Sorry ‘bout this. But hey, I ain’t gonna tell about all my treasures yet, gotta keep a few secrets... this way there are more surprises for you guys! Haha!! Other stuff I've done; Pinstriping, lettering and airbrushing; bought my first brush '97 but forgot that hobby when my son was born... This plate is painted with brush. http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/OttoOnTheRoadAgain/DDOBW2006/172_7244.jpg This funny looking old man is Finnish president U.K. Kekkonen ’56-’82. This is one of my airbrush works. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/My%20Other%20Works/148_4816.jpg Haven’t had time to draw anymore for few years now... http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/My%20Other%20Works/?action=view¤t=Sysleri300c.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch7 I’ve also kustomized few bicycles for my son, here is one. (sorry ‘bout low-quality picture) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/My%20Other%20Works/25082006304.jpg Furniture and wooden toys: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/My%20Other%20Works/164_6403.jpg You can buy them only at Platuart: http://www.platuart.com/shop_muksuille.htm Oh yeah, and I have also taught my son how to weld!! (He was six years old by that time) http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/OttosGarage/MiroHitsaa.jpg Now is this intro long enough? Or even too long..? Can’t believe someone really read all this?
Wow! What don't you do? That kid's bike is cool. Thanks for swimming out of the shallow end. Welcome, Kurt
Welcome from an Emigrated Swede, I live in the US now... Mmmmm, nailhead powered 31 Ford, what a concept I like... Look forward to the build up pix... Cheers,
Thank you everyone for these kind words... Oh, you found that page... Here it is again: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/OttoGambler/Self-Made%20Tools/ Those tools are mostly made out of junk, stuff that was found from scrap-pile. Here is one more helpful "tool", made of plywood and bolts: http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/OttosGarage/Self-made%20Tools/168_6836.jpg It's easier to work with (and store) carburetors when linkage moves freely and doesn't lean into the table.
The Jalopy Journal
