New toy! 1955 Buick Century

[CRittaler]

It's been a while since I've logged onto the forum.  REDRUM has been running very well since I replaced the fuel pump and tank selector relays/wire harness.

I saw this car on marketplace about 90 minutes from me.  I took so PTO and drove down to check it out.  The owner couldn't locate the title before I came down to check it out so he suggested towing it up to me to finalize the sale.  I test drove it down there and was sold immediately.  No money changed hands that day.  He towed it 60 miles up to my neck of the woods on Wedneday Aug 28th and we completed the sale.

1955 Buick Century
322 Fireball V8 (also known as a nailhead)
2 speed variable pitch Dynaflow transmission
closed driveline.
Manual steering
Manual brakes

According to the old owner the interior was redone sometime in the 70's, but there's no documentation to prove that.  It has been repainted, but it looks like it should polish nicely.

Work PO did to it.
- New brakes all 4 corners.
- New fuel pump
- New gas tank
- Rebuilt carb

What it needs:
- Tune up: plug, cap, wires, points.
- The GoodYear VIVA 2 tires are badly flat spotted.  I have some Coker Classic radials on order.
- Vacuum wiper motor is missing.  I have an electric retrofit kit on the way.
- Heater fan is stuck on, still investigating.
- Radio is inoperable (likely a bad capacitor or vacuum tube).
- I plan on swapping the sealed beams for Holley Retrobrights to keep current draw low.  It only has a 30A generator.
- Minor exhaust leak.  Feels like there might be a hole in the front of the muffler, I need to jack up the side and have a look.



















Hoping that I don't end up sinking too much time into this one.  It was purchased with the intention of minor work only.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Congratulations on the addition to the stable, Chris!  

That looks like a fine cruiser and I hope it doesn't take too much to set everything right.  

[Gary Lewis]

Cool!

My folks had a 55 Buick, but I think it was a Special.  However the 57 we had was a Century - the Roadmaster's engine in the Special's body.  Man, that thing would roll!  My father's brother wanted to borrow it so Dad took him out to show him how to drive it.  And that time the Kansas turnpike had no speed limit, so

I'll bet Bill can tell you what the carb is, but zooming in on your picture I'd guess that to be a 2GC.

[mat in tn]

that's just a cool car. plain and simple. I guess you put the tesla dream to the side.  don't tint these windows. drive in style and be proud of it.

[85lebaront2]

A couple of things, radio, should be like my 1955 Packard, possibly two parts and uses a vibrator to generate 12V AC so it can be stepped up and rectified for the high voltage needed for the vacuum tubes.

Carburetor, from the front could be a 2GC or a 4GC, but Buick used a lot of Strombergs, including a 4 barrel.

[CRittaler]

I just opened my shop manual for the car.  The carb looks like a Carter WCFB 4 barrel.

Thankfully this ship manual also has the schematics for the radio.  It looks like is uses similar tubes to my 57 Chevy flatbed so I'll be looking for extras lol.  I still have to check fuses and whatnot.

[CRittaler]

Not planning on tinting anything.  Just fix the couple busted things, replace the tires and drive it

[grumpin]

That's a car!

Nice!

[Clutch47]

Very nice. My friend locally is STILL driving his 58. Great pictures.

[BigBrother-84]

Nice car!!!
And I love the colors!