1962 Buick Special mild custom
+4
Esasky's62Lark
regal81455
woody1640
Flat-Foot
8 posters
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1962 Buick Special mild custom
Glad to find this forum! I have been on the email chain for the last 5 years or so, and while the info is great Yahoo groups is a mess. It is impossible to search and navigate any previous info.
That being said............ here's my project of the last 6 years
What I started with, don't let the pics fool you. It was a mess under that cheap red paint!
First things first, needed to sit lower!
Drove it like that for a summer and then the "just a bit of body work and a quick paint job" began.... It wouldn't be painted for 5 years!!
Things were looking good as I worked from front to back.... and then.............
Bondo as thick as the eye could see it! And some quality metal work and rust repair. (sarcasm)
That being said............ here's my project of the last 6 years
What I started with, don't let the pics fool you. It was a mess under that cheap red paint!
First things first, needed to sit lower!
Drove it like that for a summer and then the "just a bit of body work and a quick paint job" began.... It wouldn't be painted for 5 years!!
Things were looking good as I worked from front to back.... and then.............
Bondo as thick as the eye could see it! And some quality metal work and rust repair. (sarcasm)
Flat-Foot- Posts : 25
Join date : 2016-05-18
Location : Locust NC
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
the hits keep coming! This entire hole was packed full of steel wool and bondo
quickly slapped back together and driven for a little while. I refused to be "that guy" who rips a car apart and never finishes it. I knew I could prevent that from happening by enjoying the car as I worked on it.
The floors were next.... YEESH!!!!
I made all the patch panels and welded them in (i had never done either before). It came out OK, If I redid it today I know I could do better, but it is solid and with a coat of POR15, seam sealer and bedliner I don't think I have to worry about rust for a long time.
After the floors I drove it like this for the summer and fall
Then I started getting brave.. So long door handles!
I decided to take a risk and hack up my stock grill for something a little more "custom"
I saw the grill on this car by Alex Gambino and loved it. So I decided to try my hand at something similar.
So with a cut off wheel, some expanded metal, sheet aluminum and a mess of chrome cabinet nobs from the local habitat re-store I got to work.
The finsihed product! To this day the grille gets more compliments than anything on the car.
quickly slapped back together and driven for a little while. I refused to be "that guy" who rips a car apart and never finishes it. I knew I could prevent that from happening by enjoying the car as I worked on it.
The floors were next.... YEESH!!!!
I made all the patch panels and welded them in (i had never done either before). It came out OK, If I redid it today I know I could do better, but it is solid and with a coat of POR15, seam sealer and bedliner I don't think I have to worry about rust for a long time.
After the floors I drove it like this for the summer and fall
Then I started getting brave.. So long door handles!
I decided to take a risk and hack up my stock grill for something a little more "custom"
I saw the grill on this car by Alex Gambino and loved it. So I decided to try my hand at something similar.
So with a cut off wheel, some expanded metal, sheet aluminum and a mess of chrome cabinet nobs from the local habitat re-store I got to work.
The finsihed product! To this day the grille gets more compliments than anything on the car.
Flat-Foot- Posts : 25
Join date : 2016-05-18
Location : Locust NC
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
Back to work on those quarters. They were rough but I couldn't afford to replace them. I think desert valley wanted as much for a set of quartes as I paid for the whole car.
After welding in some patches and filling a mess of trim holes I got back on the body work
It was long overdue for exhaust. I did a single muffler with a split and in keeping with my early sixties style I put on a set of bellflower tips.
The car had developed a ton of leaks and was smoking like it was on fire. Time to pull the little 198 out and try and band-aid it. I sourced every seal I could find and with help from my mechanically inclined friends we re-sealed everything. Also took the time to paint the engine and get the valve covers chromed. Turned out pretty good.
things got weird.....
replaced the timing chain and had the water pump re-built too
POR15 Oldsmobile gold
going back in
back on the road!
After welding in some patches and filling a mess of trim holes I got back on the body work
It was long overdue for exhaust. I did a single muffler with a split and in keeping with my early sixties style I put on a set of bellflower tips.
The car had developed a ton of leaks and was smoking like it was on fire. Time to pull the little 198 out and try and band-aid it. I sourced every seal I could find and with help from my mechanically inclined friends we re-sealed everything. Also took the time to paint the engine and get the valve covers chromed. Turned out pretty good.
things got weird.....
replaced the timing chain and had the water pump re-built too
POR15 Oldsmobile gold
going back in
back on the road!
Flat-Foot- Posts : 25
Join date : 2016-05-18
Location : Locust NC
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
See ya gas door!
new filler in the trunk
filled in the holes where the "portholes" were
then the rear main started leaking like a stuck pig... engine back out..... again! It still ran great so I just couldnt justify a rebuild. I started looking for a 215 for when the time comes.
After more driving and fun I decided it was time. This thing was gonna get painted and get a decent interior.
I took it to my dads house where he made a temporary paint booth.
During this time my daughter was born so the car naturally took a back seat.
back on it! Dad spraying some sealer
the first sign of color! This is a one year Pontiac color from 1957 called "limefire green" It took years of searching before finding this color. I absolutely love it.
The dash all painted with newly chromed trim and delete plate.
Then it was on!
pearl white on the roof
first coat of clear
While we did the body work and paint my good friend and fellow car club member Holly took a couple broken down seats and some deadstock vinyl and whipped these up. I can never thank her enough for these. Right then I knew with all her hard work and the fact that my dad was painting it I could never sell this car. It will be a keeper.
going back together
first drive! I swapped out the 13" wheels for a set of 15's I was lucky enough to find a few years ago.
All done............ for now
new filler in the trunk
filled in the holes where the "portholes" were
then the rear main started leaking like a stuck pig... engine back out..... again! It still ran great so I just couldnt justify a rebuild. I started looking for a 215 for when the time comes.
After more driving and fun I decided it was time. This thing was gonna get painted and get a decent interior.
I took it to my dads house where he made a temporary paint booth.
During this time my daughter was born so the car naturally took a back seat.
back on it! Dad spraying some sealer
the first sign of color! This is a one year Pontiac color from 1957 called "limefire green" It took years of searching before finding this color. I absolutely love it.
The dash all painted with newly chromed trim and delete plate.
Then it was on!
pearl white on the roof
first coat of clear
While we did the body work and paint my good friend and fellow car club member Holly took a couple broken down seats and some deadstock vinyl and whipped these up. I can never thank her enough for these. Right then I knew with all her hard work and the fact that my dad was painting it I could never sell this car. It will be a keeper.
going back together
first drive! I swapped out the 13" wheels for a set of 15's I was lucky enough to find a few years ago.
All done............ for now
Flat-Foot- Posts : 25
Join date : 2016-05-18
Location : Locust NC
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
I plan on doing the disc brake conversion next and eventually doing an engine/trans swap. I have a 215 that needs a rebuild but I am not sure if that's what I want. Other than that I just need to install the headliner.
Flat-Foot- Posts : 25
Join date : 2016-05-18
Location : Locust NC
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
Welcome to the board! Nice ride doood!! Looks gnarly! You've got alot of elbow grease into it that's for sure.
Quick question if you don't mind me askin' -- how'd you go about lowering it? New springs? If so, do you have the source and part #'s or any other info? I'm wanting to replace my springs and shocks here SOON and just trying to figure out how to go about getting the ride height I'm after and not suffer comfort in the process w/o going air ride.
TIA
Josh
Quick question if you don't mind me askin' -- how'd you go about lowering it? New springs? If so, do you have the source and part #'s or any other info? I'm wanting to replace my springs and shocks here SOON and just trying to figure out how to go about getting the ride height I'm after and not suffer comfort in the process w/o going air ride.
TIA
Josh
regal81455- Admin
- Posts : 564
Join date : 2014-12-29
Age : 44
Location : BFE, IL
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
I cut the coils front and back. I did this about 5 years ago but think 2 up front and 2 1/2 or 3 in the back. It sat very low when it had the 13" wheels. Since switching to the 15's it sits at a nice height:
Flat-Foot- Posts : 25
Join date : 2016-05-18
Location : Locust NC
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
That color is sick! Car is bad ass man! Nice work!
Esasky's62Lark- Posts : 154
Join date : 2015-07-14
Age : 46
Location : Jeannette, PA
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
Just saw this thread. Dude- really nice car! Also, nice to see a HAMB member on here!!
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
Thanks for the kind words! Between the HAMB and the yahoo email group I got a ton of questions answered.
Flat-Foot- Posts : 25
Join date : 2016-05-18
Location : Locust NC
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
I followed this build on the HAMB as well. I really like what you've done. Cool car.
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
Nice ride like the old custom look
rt338b- Posts : 107
Join date : 2015-01-26
Age : 70
Location : St. Louis
Re: 1962 Buick Special mild custom
Nice ride. Love the little custom touches (Removed door handles, trim, gas-door) on the body but still keeping the original look.
Awesome ride!
Awesome ride!
doventur- Posts : 6
Join date : 2016-07-28
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