1986 Buick Lesabre Estate Wagon Resto Project

I figured I would post a meet and greet here before I was called on the carpet by the forum gestapo. Anyway, I posted in the general and cosmetic resto sections with some questions and details on my dad's ride. Once I am able to post a few pictures I will give some before, during and finished photos of his beloved dragon wagon.

I was so happy to see some shiny paint lurking underneath the tattered and faded woodgrain decals. It gives me some energy to finish my disassembly this week and send her off to the body shop. My friend is one of the best body guys out there so I know it will return looking great with smooth panels and no runs. Sapphire Dark Blue Metallic, just like GM sprayed it 24 years ago. I hope to have this resto finished in record time, so we'll see. While it is at the shop for the next one-two weeks, I will complete polishing the stainless parts, repainting the matte dark brown on the woodgrain trim pieces, cleaning up the wire wheel hupcaps and itemizing all the screws and clips for reassembly.

Once I get the car back, I will be painting around the door handles and gas tank the matter dark brown, removing the front and rear seats (2nd row), pulling the carpet out to properly clean it, installing a replacement steering column, checking all gauges and blubs for function, replacing the front door window motors, lubricating the regulators and lock assemblies, recoloring the faded headliner while still in the car, touching up any faded door panels and interior pieces with SEM colorcoat shadow blue, then starting the woodgrain decal application.

I have only done this on one panel years ago, so hopefully I can remember the steps I used to make it come out right. I even prepared templates for cutting around each door handle and the gas door. Reassembly should be great as the parts go on and the pile of parts in my garage disappears. I have been hoarding these parts for my dad for over 6 yrs now. Can I do a complete resto in one month? We are going to find out.

I will be posting more questions as well from time to time as I run into issues.

Thanks all,

Ted

 

Welcome Ted!

Your dad's ride sounds like it is in good hands!

(glad you finally did an intro...that gestapo can get rough!)

David

 

Hey Ted! Your wagon sounds awesome! Can't wait to see some pictures! My husband and I have boat loads of work to do on ours, but, gosh, we love her!

Glad you're here..enjoy the fun!

 

Wecome Ted! Forum gestapo eh? Some of us have dogs, some of us are watchdogs.

Good intro though, have fun. We only bark and growl.

Kind of like this!
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10705

 

welcome aboard Ted you sound very organizer...good luck with your one month goal

 

another Ted???.....oh no......

sure looking forward to the pictorial of your escapade

to our world


( i kinda like our gestapo)...

 

** Project Update **

Ok, here we go. Just got the car back from the painter and it came out reaaly nice. He didn't fix every little door ding, but since this going to be a driver I had him fix the larger ones and a majority of the annoying little ones. While he had the car for the last three weeks I repainted all the woodgrain molding trim, cleaned up the stainless trim and tried to organize a ridiculous pile of misc parts, clips and screws. I cannot locate my other post which a Tedy responded to requesting a door handle woodgrain trim cover, so if anyone can direct him to me, I think I have what you are looking for. Don't worry, for all you gluttons for punishment, I took a lot of photos before disassembly and after it came back from the paint booth. I just began the woodgrain decal application last night and once I got the hang of it I was able to do the drivers side in about 5 hours. The passenger side shoul go quicker since there is no gas door to deal with and the fact that I learned what not to do oin the process. Instead of doing each panel and then going back and putting the trim on, I decided to literally restore each thing I needed to as I went. For example, I recolored the headliner and then installed the new courtesy light and sunvisors. Then, I cleaned and/ or replaced the window motors and lock assemblies on each door as I touch them. That way, I began to see some progress instead of looking at a completely unfinished car from start to finish. I can forward photos to anyone who seriously wants to view a 5 week restoration job. I plan on completing the woodgrain application by tomorrow night and then I have thefollowing left to do:

replace steering column and turn signal lever
replace rear tailgate window, motor, dew strip and weatherstrip
shampoo carpets and seats
install underhood flame guard insulation pad
replace rear carpet sections
reinstall bumper fillers and front bumper
reinstall grill surround and headlight bezels
clean up and install the four best wire wheel hubcaps

Should done by Friday, right?

 

Update Part II

so I was a little overzealous in my statement that the "finishing touches" on my dads wagon would be completed by this Friday. Between me catching a slight cold, clients at work and my son teething and keeping my wife and me up during the night, it looks like next weekend will be the new delivery date. I did get the entire driver side completed with the exception of the wheel well moldings, door edge guards and hubcaps. Next is to tackle the passenger side this weekend and end (appropriately) with the tailgate. FYI, for those of you looking to replace the tailgate window inner sweep, I recommend using a small drill bit to drill through the sweep and then through the thick plastic lip on the inner tailgate trim panel. There is metal inside the window sweep that no matter how strong your staple gun is, the staples will just bend and not pass through. Just measure the approximate distance between the staple ends and drill through both pieces, then insert the loose staple by hand through the holes and crip them with a pair of plyers. Make sure the upper lip on the window sweep butts up against the upper channel of the tailgate panel bbefore you drill for a nice tight fit.

It's starting to look like a wagon again. I also want members to know I have plenty of decent hard to find parts that I will end up donating to the local bone yard if I am notcontacted shortly after the car is complted. So far, I have only had a request for a door panel trim piece (Tedy where are you?) and the roof rack air spoiler. I have a complete front bumper and complete set of wire wheel hubcaps along withseveral woodgrain molding strips left. Let me if anyone can use these parts. Ted

 

Tfv, this sounds like it's one gorgeous Estate wagon. Get them pics up so we can all throw a whole bunch of compliments your way.

 

I'm dying to SEE this box wagon.

 

W A I T I N G

 

Yeah, me too. HOW YOU DO DAT IN 30 DAYZ EVEN LENO'Z GARAGE TAKEZ LONGER DEN DAT TOOK ME 22 YEARZ AND I AIN'T GOT THAT KINDA TIME LEFT FUR 'NOTHER ONE

 

Ok, I see that plenty of you want some photos of my project. I have many (over 25) photos from day one before my initial teardown up to the current state saved on my computer. If someone can direct me on how I can upload the photos as a file instead of me taking the time to upload each one, that would be greatly appreciated.

I am in the home stretch -- just have to apply woodgrain to the passenger rear door and passenger quarter tonite and then complete the rear end of the car: tailgate window motor, tailgate window rubber scraper, tailgate opening weatherstrip and then outer tailgate woodgrain and moldings. If I have the time, I will be pulling the entire steering column and replacing it and the turn signal lever. Then, its just clean up/shampoo interior and detail a little outside.

Let me know the "how-to" about the photos!!

Ted

 

I know there are several members who were asking for detailed photos of my world wind restoration. I tried to upload a few photos, but the site says they are too big. Go figure, big wagon, big photos.

Anywhoo, does anyone know how I can convert the photos to a smaller size to upload them? I just snapped them with my camera, loaded them on y computer (iMAC) and did nothing else to them. How can I edit them and resize them to fit so I can upload and share them?

Please let me know asap. Sadly, the resto project is coming to a close. I just finished the woodgrain on the passenger side and just have the tailgate to put back together, swap out the steering column and install the front bumper, grille and bumper fillers. I can't say I had a blast, but it has been worthwhile so my parents can have a decent car to drive around in and tow their boat. I can say honestly, it did come out better than I expected, but I am not inclined to do another one anytime soon. Too many friggin parts to track down over too many years.....

Ted

 

Update III:

Completed the woodgrain decals (yah!!!!) and installed the remaining trim strips. Replaced the tailgate window motor, rear window dew strip and tailgate opening weatherstrip. Then, I started in the back and worked my way forward, cleaning and detailing as I went. Finished the interior shampooing and detailing. Here is what I have left on my "to do" list:

Replace steering column and turn signal lever
Install front bumper fillers, grille, headlight bezels and front bumper
Apply "Estate Wagon" emblems to the front fenders
Install passenger side wheel well moldings, wheel covers and undercoat wheel pass. wheel wells.
Light underhood detail

Wash and dry car!!!

Woo Hoo!! I can't believe I was able to finish this land yacht in just under 6 weeks from initial disassembly to finished product. Too many long nights and weekends though....

Like I posted above, I have many photos I want to show, but the site won't allow me to upload them because they are too large. I will look into how to share these detailed (and painful!!) initial photos through my resto journey and hopefully they will give some members some bit of hope on their seemingly endless project.

Thanks to everyone for their help and kind words.

Ted