Bride of Young Frankenstein - 1957 Buick Super

[knomadd]

[JJorgensen52]

Is there a bushing, or some kind of metal sleeve, which will go in there to locate the mount? I understand your plan of attack, just curious what's going to bear that crosswise loading.

[drewskiren]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Is there a bushing, or some kind of metal sleeve, which will go in there to locate the mount? I understand your plan of attack, just curious what's going to bear that crosswise loading.

Metal sleeve is my plan, but I am at a loss as to where to get them, I can cut them to length, just need the dang thing. I went to Active Bolt today to get my longer bolts but they had no sleeves. They've been around since 1959. Any ideas?

[jbclassix]

What size bolts? What about DOM tubing? Say you have 3/8" fasteners... you could get 11/16" O.D. DOM tubing with a 1/4" wall and that would give you a 7/16" I.D.

[drewskiren]

Originally Posted by jbclassix

What size bolts? What about DOM tubing? Say you have 3/8" fasteners... you could get 11/16" O.D. DOM tubing with a 1/4" wall and that would give you a 7/16" I.D.

Something like Diiiissss?

(said like Meg Ryan in the movie French Kiss when she flashes the diamond necklace around her neck)

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by drewskiren

Metal sleeve is my plan, but I am at a loss as to where to get them, I can cut them to length, just need the dang thing. I went to Active Bolt today to get my longer bolts but they had no sleeves. They've been around since 1959. Any ideas?

I usually use McMaster-Carr for this sort of thing - have a look at this section of the catalog here - it shows what they have for structural tube stock. There's a pretty good selection of ID's available in 0.188" wall and some in 0.25" wall under the "Easy to weld 4130 Alloy steel" section

Not affiliated, of course, but they are super handy

[drewskiren]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

I usually use McMaster-Carr for this sort of thing - have a look at this section of the catalog here - it shows what they have for structural tube stock. There's a pretty good selection of ID's available in 0.188" wall and some in 0.25" wall under the "Easy to weld 4130 Alloy steel" section

Not affiliated, of course, but they are super handy

Oh man, that is perfect, thanks so much for the heads up.

[Advanced Design]

Looks good Drew. I think I am starting to understand how the cage will be clamped.

[drewskiren]

As I am working on my rear suspension mounts, I keep going back to "if thats the way the factory did it, it must be important" I had at first thought I would not have room for mounting "pads" for the brackets to nestle in to like Jag had done it, deciding instead to just let the bolts take the forces. I've reworked my design to go back to mounting pads AND bolts and I'm much happier about it.

I made the pads from qtr inch stock and after many test fittings and reworking, I was ready to weld. I simply laid the pads on the mounts so they would seat perfectly and then welded the pads to my frame rails where they were. I didn't want to be tugging or twisting the mounts to get them to conform where I thought they should go - easy to do since they are rubber.

I know, I know, all day and I only got 4 small pieces of metal tacked in...I'll work harder next time.

[ricott]

I love this build. Thanks for taking the time to document all the steps to make this work. If I live long enough, I would love to use the same suspension setup under a 55 2 door Caddie Hardtop - it would make an awesome cruiser.
Ricky

[oldman3]

When working on something as important as this, time isn't a factor, correct outcome is, I feel you are on track....Jim

[drewskiren]

Sorry I've gone dark, but I've been engineering a Sportclips 3 store purchase which is quite involved. Long story short: I now own them and am in the process of transferring everything into my name, employee changes!, and general upgrading. I'll try to carve out some time for The Bride soon.

[flashed]

Never heard of these stores ,tell us a little about them if you want to ,good luck.

[drewskiren]

SportClips is a haircut franchise for men or boys with a sports themed atmosphere, playing ESPN on big screen TVs throughout the store.

www.sportclips.com

[BC Toy chest]

Hey Drew how about that i am posting photos now of my friends'57 with a complete jag rear end in his truck. You are the only other person I have seen use the cage without using the kit. My friend Donnie felt it was cheaper and easier to go this route. GR8 minds think a like I guess, hahaha. GR8 work. The red arrows in one photo just indicate a temporary jig set up. I'm gona post more up date pics on my page now.

[Russell Ashley]

Hoping for some updates on this one soon. Love this build.

[flashed]

Me too ,where is Drew .

[deejaaa1]

Originally Posted by flashed

Me too ,where is Drew .

busy with his new acquisitions.
subscribed, because i see the level of craftsmanship going into this one as i did with his last one.

[drewskiren]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Hoping for some updates on this one soon. Love this build.

Originally Posted by flashed

Me too ,where is Drew .

Originally Posted by deejaaa1

busy with his new acquisitions.
subscribed, because i see the level of craftsmanship going into this one as i did with his last one.

Sorry guys, earlier I have been wrastlin my 3 new Sportclips franchises. Getting them where they need to be staff and quality wise. This week we have been doing Service Over Self inner city mission work with the youth group - repairing houses in the poorer parts of our city (roofing in 95+ degree heat!) I'll probably be doing a little business catch up next week, but may be able to regroup and figure out where I was on the missus.

[flashed]

Drew ,we will be here when you update again ,I understand the heat thing .My work had been pressure washing a 4 story building by myself in the heat until the lift broke down ,then the pressure washer broke .Probably be back at it next week as a new pressure washer arrived today .

[drewskiren]

Ok, I may be a little crazy, but while looking for better parts for our 57 Super, I stumbled upon another Buick. Not exactly close to home, but as you've already seen, thats part of the fun.

Anyone ever heard of a Roadmaster?????

[flashed]

Cant wait to see this one .

[JJorgensen52]

You're making me want to start working on my Buick again, Drew! Is this one for parts, or another project??

[drewskiren]

Albuquerque isn't really that far from Memphis.... Right?

Don Dulac and his father were kind enough to save this "parts car" from the crusher back 30 years ago. Don's dad has owned the Roadmaster convertible since around 1960 and sometime around 1969 hit a deer. He wound up buying an extra Roadmaster just to swap out the bumper, grille and fender. Fortunately some Buick experts reminded him that his Roadmaster 2 door hardtop model 76A was actually more rare than his convertible so he stopped robbing parts and kept them both. Only about 2800 of this 2 door hardtop Roadmaster were made back in 1957 - our Super is one of about 40,000 - its a no brainer which one to restore! Don's dad bought the hardtop Roadmaster with no engine, so since its going to be a non - original motor car anyway, I figure its ok to continue on the original path we had with the Super on this car.

Don has decided to sell this Roadmaster to fund the engine repairs on the convertible. It is in pretty darn good condition and is 100 percent complete - unlike our white Super. At first I figured at the very least I would buy this car to have everthing that I needed, but after looking it over and considering its pedigree, we will end up selling off the white Super. The floors in this new car are WAY better, but the rockers are worse. Rockers are actually available now for this car so that should be a pretty easy fix. But.... with a car from the 50's nothing is easy. I foresee less metal work with the new Roadmaster and a more desirable car in the end.

More pics to come.

[68Timber]

Are you going to use the frame you've modified or sell it with the Super?