1958 Buick Caballero

Thanks.
My parents were very proud of that car. Unfortunately, once we moved to Florida, about two blocks from the Gulf of Mexico, the car began to rust at every rivet point from the roof strips to the trim on the sides. It was tragic.
They sold it to the junkyard for scrap in 1966.

 

Damn. Yeah, that salt air was murder on cars back then, and is still prettybad these days, no matter how much the bodies are dunked in primer when they're built.

 

All I can say is..........WOW!

I was reminded of this thread this A.M. by a FB friend (RatMaster on here....) who is involved with the project. You've come a LONG WAY, Joe! The finish line is in sight........

 

Hi KK!
Yes, it's come a long way.
RatMaster is helping out...big time!

I hope to have the car together this summer.

 

I always look forward to your updates and get excited when I see this thread pop up in my email IN box.
Keep up the good work.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

This pic was taken on January 14; temperature hovering around 15F.
Spent 2+ hours removing the power brake pedal, booster, master cylinder and associated parts from this 58 Super.

20180114_154157 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

I had previously acquired a few odds and ends from this car, nmost importantly a front door window frame that I was able to shorten to fit my car. This visit, I needed the power brake master cylinder in hopes that it would have a useable vacuum cup retainer. The retainer that came in my master cylinder was disintegrated so badly I couldn't even get dimensions to make a replacement piece.

Thankfully, this retainer was slightly pitted, but serviceable.
I used it as a pattern to fabricate a new retainer.
20180118_161855 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

20180118_170204 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

Here is the master cylinder, finally complete and ready for assembly to the booster unit.

20180125_142306 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

The booster housing on the Super is much nicer (no pitting) than the one I planned to use in my car, so I am going to get the housing plated and use it in my car.

Interior metal parts are all painted, so I have been able to begin re-assembly of many parts. Here, I have installed the steering column shift lever into the selector housing.
20180116_115112 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

Almost all of my chrome plated parts are back from plating.

Here, I am drilling and tapping the inner liftgate handle to attach the inner portion of the assembly.
Originally, these two parts were peened together. The peened surface had to be machined off to enable disassembly, so re-assembly will be an old-fashioned threaded fastener with a drop of threadlocker.
20180116_173303 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr


Moving along with steering column assembly. I had to take it apart 3 times before I got the correct gap betwen the fixed column cover and the rotating shift selector.
20180121_103020 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

Here, my helpers are working with me to test the Park-Neutral safety switch and the horn circuit:
20180121_144404 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

Also, recently got to the heater/defroster controls. Here's what the inside of the damper housing looked when I began to clean it up:
20180117_081937 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr
20180117_082000 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

I thoroughly cleaned the housing, repaired some small cracks and fabricated a new gasket. Here it is, ready to re-install:
20180118_073451 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

20180117_225603 by 2manycars2littletime, on Flickr

Stay tuned...more updates coming!

 

Assembled the new heater core into the housing and fabricated a new gasket.
Here's the core and outer housing ready to be installed:
20180117_225417

I started installing a little bling:
20180118_173605

And another layer...
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After all the hours of cleaning, polishing and detailing, it feels good to be putting these parts together.
These are the light and blower/heater/defroster controls.
20180121_194626

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This is a "work in progress" picture, showing the heater and vent control cables. They looked quite rough to begin with, but cleaned up very nicely. A little bit of cable lube and some time and they're all working smoothly.
20180126_154552

Here's one of the vent control cables, along with the ignition power switch and the lighter installed in the lower control panel:
20180126_161247

The lower control panels with lettering painted and all controls and indicators installed, ready for installation to the dash:
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The main dash panel is going to be pre-loaded with the wiring harness, speedometer & gauges, clock and most of the bolt-on components before installation into the body. I've begun installing the harness and some components, but I have to wait for the front chrome panels before I can proceed much further.
20180126_173154

The fuse block is one of the few parts that had to be "re-cycled" from the original harness. I purchased new harnesses from YNZ Yesterdays Parts http://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com/ early on in the build, when I realized that the insulation on every wire in the car was brittle and crumbled when flexed. So far, the new harnesses appear to be perfect.
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One more shot from the garage, showing the latest stainless additions:
20180125_163833

 

It actually looks like one of your 'helpers' is fiddling with the radio....

 

Those kids are going to be car addicts, one day. That's the best way to get them hooked

 

Stunning attention to detail and work, keep the puctures coming

 

Yeah! They look like good kids! Mine are never that still or focused! Every time they’re in my garage they’re breaking something, fighting, or crying... wait a minute... i just realized... that’s all i do in there too

 

Maybe, you should build them a mini-garage and decorate the interior with stuff you were intending to break yourself anyway, including a scale model of a '56 poly-engined Chrysler 4-door and a Voodoo doll modeled after its owner, equipped with HIV-laced junkie syringes for the stick pins. That way, they won't need to be messing up your stuff. Kids love it, when you make them think that they have their own turf

 

Hey Joe, I just found this old film this morning. We're returning from vacation in Florida in 1962. (That's my late parents narrating the video.)

 

Thank you for the update with the great pictures! I'll be over in 5 mins to see this car in person! Oh wait..........you're in MI and I'm in Ga, nuts!

I'll have to wait for your national tour in it!

That pic that has the VENT/BRAKE/ACCESSORY controls, is that possibly the case of a 40 pc. Buffalo brand Made in Taiwan 1/4 and 3/8 Square Drive S.A.E. and metric Combination Socket Wrench Set?

 

Progress is looking great.
Looks like you have some good help in the garage!