1958 Buick Caballero

I just happened to stumble upon your blog. It''s particularly exciting for me because my parents bought one just like it, new in 1958, and it was our family car when I was growing up.
I am attaching the only two still pictures I have of it, which are from 1961.
We all loved that car--especially my late mother.
Thanks for documenting your meticulous and painstaking work.

 

Thanks for posting these photos.
That's so cool; your car was exactly the same color as mine!

 

Not only cool, but all that snow made me shiver! It's nice to see how cars were really treated when newer. With the weather changes and abuse some got it's a wonder any old cars survive.

 

That winter was the reason we moved to Florida. That big house in the background was our home. Ten fireplaces and two furnaces all going full blast, and it was still like an ice box in there.

 

We lived in Illinois. I'm allergic to snow and cold so we moved to Florida for 23 years. Sadly we got old and moved back. Now we don't have to go out until the days are warmer.

 

Poor Buick!

 

I was actually checking out the house a little more than the car. What a cool place! Four chimney?! Looks like it was built early 1900? Cars, houses, heck even my wife! I just like old things. Maybe that's why I'm on this forum so much talking to you good people

 

September 10, 2017 update

No progress on the engine break-in yet; too busy on other tasks.

Moved the body to the paint shop...


Bodywork started!






Floor pans look great; seat belt anchors installed for 6 occupants.







With the body at the paint shop, I've been preparing things for re-assembly.

Headlight switch is surprisingly complicated!


Seats have been disassembled and frames cleaned and painted. Going to the trimmer in the next few weeks.


Vent housings have been cleaned and painted


License plate lamps have been disassembled to replace pigtails and re-plate the housings.


Bead blasted all the dash metal parts and prepared them for plating and painting.


No pics, but all the interior garnish moldings have been cleaned and primed, they are ready for paint.

 

Looking good. Steady progress! It's always great to move on to another big part of a restoration. I'm betting you are pretty excited. Thanks for the update.

 

I keep saying it, but I'm SO GLAD this car found you, and is going to have a second chance at life. It's going to be GORGEOUS!

 

That Buick will be a tremendous example of a '58 when completed. Thanks again for giving us insight into all the detail required to bring one back.

 

October 21, 2017 update

While the paint shop is doing their thing, I've been working on other projects.

Chrome and stainless parts continue to trickle in. These Buick accessory fender-mount mirrors are going to look awesome!



The body is nearly paint-ready; it is looking great. Should have the underbody done before the end of October, then we'll re-install the body on the frame. Then, on to final gap checks and paint.






A local supplier dielectrically embossed the interior vinyls with the correct, 1" spacing between the stitch rails.

Tan and Beige materials in both grains (seats are Haircell grain, doors/quarters/pillars are similar to Madrid grain)



This is the Tan Haircell for the seating areas and the back of the front seat:


Been collecting parts and materials; will soon be delivering everything to a good friend who will be doing the interior.

I am adding back-up lights to the tail lights. I didn't like the look of the coating on the tail light reflectors. It was a little dull and there was very little reflective coating in the lower, back-up light area. You can also see that one of the two reflectors is "duller" than the other.


I brought the reflectors to Vacuum Orna-Metal in Rolulus Michigan. They cleaned and coated the reflectors; they turned out great!


I will add a ground lug to every lamp housing to ensure good ground connections. I've had great success with this technique on multiple vehicles.


I made up a gauge panel to monitor engine vitals during camshaft break-in. I incorporated the ignition and starter switches, ballast resistor and vacuum gauge.




Primed the fuel and oil systems and got the engine ready to start. My friend Larry helped me with the start-up and break-in. I must have installed the distributor incorrectly after priming the oil pump; it took several tries to get the engine to fire. Once we got it started, we had a smooth and uneventful 20 minute run. Changed the oil and filter after the break-in; everything looks great.

Here's a few seconds of the Nailhead during cam break-in, video by Larry:
Nailhead cam break-in by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

The chassis has been delivered to the paint shop. I'll be wrapping the chassis in plastic film and shrink wrap to protect it from overspray.

 

Excellent!

 

Those mirrors are so trick, and I bet they're made of Unobtainium. I also was blown away on the tail light reflectors, that is an excellent job. How much did that treatment cost?