Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close

New to me car....

Drew Dowdell

By Drew Dowdell
in Member's Rides Showcase

 Share

Recommended Posts

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Rather than buying a car, my friend Dominic is going to rent me his 1996 Roadmaster Estate that he bought at the Goodwill Auto Auction. It has about 60k miles on it and drives great. However, the previous owner ran it into a pole and the inner front fenders are completely rotted away.

We have almost the entire front end ripped off with just the right side inner fender yet to come off. We have the front end from a Roadmaster sedan that will replace the wagon's front end.

My car payments as of January 1: $900

My car payments as of February 1: $456

My car payments as of March 1: $50

:booyah:

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I was going to take some pics last night as I was going to go rip the last inner fender off. But a series of unfortunate events chewed up my whole evening. I may go tonight instead.

GMTruckGuy74 Newbie

GMTruckGuy74

Posted
Posted

That's cool that you're putting the RM sedan's frontend on the Estate wagon. Buick should have done that from the factory, especially to diffeentiate it from the Chevy Caprice wagon. I know I've seen pictures online within the last year of other Estate owners that did this conversion. Keep us updated and post pics soon.

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Some pics from tonight. Had to remove the core support and the right front fender. You'll see why....

with core support

img026.jpg

1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with less core support and sturdier plastics for a stiffer, safer chassie.

img030.jpg

1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with lighter, more flexible, and easily removable <with sawzaw and dremmel tool> core support.

img031.jpg

1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with fender portholes!

img029.jpg

1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with more compact front end for easier parking and better engine cooling efficiency.

img032.jpg

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Some of is is rust, some of it is me beating it with a hammer or twisting it with pliers to break away the rusted, stripped out bolts. The whole front end body of this car is getting replaced. The outer fenders were fine, but everything inside was rusted through. We're thinking the previous owner took the car out sailing in the Chesapeake.

That's a 1957 Century parts car in the background. There is another one in full working order in the garage up the hill.

Robert Hall Veteran

Robert Hall

Posted
Posted
That's cool that you're putting the RM sedan's frontend on the Estate wagon. Buick should have done that from the factory, especially to diffeentiate it from the Chevy Caprice wagon. I know I've seen pictures online within the last year of other Estate owners that did this conversion. Keep us updated and post pics soon.

I always wondered why they used different front ends on the sedan and the wagon...I remember back in the day seeing them and realizing they were different..strange.

Robert Hall Veteran

Robert Hall

Posted
Posted

Speaking of these cars, there's a '91 Olds Custom Cruiser on ebay now (listed as a Buick Roadmaster wagon)... I can't recall when I've seen one of those..

caddycruiser Newbie

caddycruiser

Posted
Posted
Speaking of these cars, there's a '91 Olds Custom Cruiser on ebay now (listed as a Buick Roadmaster wagon)... I can't recall when I've seen one of those..

Yes, those are rare, especially because they were only made in 1991 and 1992, then dropped.

knightfan26917 Apprentice

knightfan26917

Posted
Posted
We're thinking the previous owner took the car out sailing in the Chesapeake.

LOL! That might not be far from the truth.....sadly enough.

That's a 1957 Century parts car in the background. There is another one in full working order in the garage up the hill.

Ohhh...NICE! Any pics of the one in the garage up the hill? Just curious....no worries either way. BUT ... that looked good for a parts car in the background....maybe the pics make it look better than it is?

Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Believe half of what you see" ... Marvin Gaye ... 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It's probably restorable. The engine runs from what I understand. What the picture doesn't show is the missing brake system and the fact that he's already raided the front ball joints which are a one year only part. The interior is a mess and there are windows broken.

Here is an older camera phone pic of the running one.

IMAGE_020.jpg

knightfan26917 Apprentice

knightfan26917

Posted
Posted
It's probably restorable. The engine runs from what I understand. What the picture doesn't show is the missing brake system and the fact that he's already raided the front ball joints which are a one year only part. The interior is a mess and there are windows broken.

Yeah, as I kinda figured, the pic made it look in better condition than it is. Those issues, while restorable as you noted, do seem to make it more of a parts car. I'm guessing that the rest of the car is in decent shape? If so ... he probably could make a fortune off of selling parts to people needing them....

Here is an older camera phone pic of the running one.

Wow ... that one is sweet! Is that creme and black ... or creme and dark green? (Sorry, can't quite tell....)

Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Things don't look too familiar" ... Shelly West ... 'Jose Cuervo'

  • 4 weeks later...
Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Today's Update:

12:00pm Starting point: No core support, no wiring harness, no fenders, no ECM

IMG_0798.jpg

IMG_0799.jpg

3:00pm Core Support installed, wiring harness installed somewhat

IMG_0803.jpg

IMG_0804.jpg

5:00pm Upper and lower fan shroud installed, Left inner fender test fit,

IMG_0805.jpg

7:00pm Left inner fender installed, accessories that attach to fender installed, ECM installed

IMG_0807.jpg

IMG_0806.jpg

The other parts that you can't see: While Dominic was treating and painting the fenders and core support with Rustolium, I replaced the sway bar linkage that had broken.

Donor car... Hood is coming from this, fenders from a burgundy sedan

IMG_0801.jpg

And since some of you asked about Dominic's '57 parts car in the background

IMG_0802.jpg

IMG_0800.jpg

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Test fitting the left front outter fender and finding out it doesn't fit. The core support appears to be bent slightly. We'll be hammering that out tomorrow.

IMG_0808.JPG

Right inner fender isn't on. We're test fitting the outer fender to see if we have the same problem on both sides. The right side doesn't fit perfectly... but it's just shim work.

IMG_0809.JPG

The inner fender is attached and all accessories are bolted down to it. The outer fender is fitted and lightly bolted down. We've marked the space where I need to drill out a hole for the radio antenna. Wagons have their antenna on the front right fender, sedans on the rear right.

IMG_0813.JPG

Though you can't see it because the shutter speed is too high. The LT-1 is actually running in this picture. She's been sitting for about 10 months without being started. She roared to life on the first turn of the key, the engine fan blowing out a huge cloud of dust.

IMG_0815.JPG

More tomorrow....

vonVeezelsnider Newbie

vonVeezelsnider

Posted
Posted

Damn, Oldsmoboi... It ALREADY looks better than a stock Roadmaster Estate! They all should have been built with the sedan front-end.

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

No pics tonight. I took my stupid pills today and left my keys at work so I couldn't get out to the Roadmaster until my BF came home. Only did some wire harness splicing and drilled the hole for the antenna.

vonVeezelsnider Newbie

vonVeezelsnider

Posted
Posted

I just noticed- does the white Hood donor car have "Arnold Palmer" plates, if so, they're hitting the stereotypes up there hard, are they not?

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I just noticed- does the white Hood donor car have "Arnold Palmer" plates, if so, they're hitting the stereotypes up there hard, are they not?

In fact it does have Arnold Palmer plates. He owns a dealer here.

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

No new pics tonight. The power antenna is installed. We found out that most of the horns don't work... we have one in and will be ripping the rest out of the parts car later. The horns are easy to get to, so as long as it passes inspection for now, I'm happy.

Right front fender is now fully installed and bolted down. It lines up decently though the panel gap between the door and the fender is a bit wide.

Tomorrow, discovering the splicing needed to wire the headlights. Sedan and wagon have slightly different headlight cluster layouts.

maybe banging out the slightly bent core support and getting the left fender in.

vonVeezelsnider Newbie

vonVeezelsnider

Posted
Posted
:lol: I didn't know Arnie owned GM Dealers... When I think "Arnold Palmer", all I can picture is those lame, geriatric, Sears-bought golf shirts my grandfather wears in the summer :AH-HA_wink:
A Horse With No Name Mentor

A Horse With No Name

Posted
Posted

Did the 4 door parts car (57) come from Columbus, Ohio per chance? It is a dead, dead, dead ringer for a car that ran around my old neighborhood for years.

I'm jealous of the wagon-came close to buying a few, and you can't beat an LS1. As I said in one of Sixty-Eight's threads, the collector cars of tomorrow are in danger today. I can't tell you how very happy I am that you are saving this wagon!

If that wagon ever needs a home in a warm garage, I might be able to find it a place under a car cover in mine.

Sweet ride, Oldsmoboi!

Chris

Sixty8panther Newbie

Sixty8panther

Posted
Posted

When I bought my '94 Roadmaster Estate last year I said on more than one

occasion that I'd love to install a front clip (nose) off a Roadmaster sedan,

never happened... it's a common idea for us Buick guys. Great project

I wish him luck with it!

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted
When I bought my '94 Roadmaster Estate last year I said on more than one

occasion that I'd love to install a front clip (nose) off a Roadmaster sedan,

never happened... it's a common idea for us Buick guys. Great project

I wish him luck with it!

Him!? I'm doing most of the work. He's mostly supervising or being an extra set of hands. Sure it's his car, but I'm the one driving this project because it's going to be my wheels for the rest of my time in the states.

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hood test fit

IMG_0816.jpg

Hood bolted on and installed

IMG_0817.jpg

IMG_0818.jpg

Looking out over the prow

IMG_0819.jpg

Sedan with wagon hood; does not fit

IMG_0820.jpg

The turn signals were a major bitch.... it took a while just to figure out what needed to be spliced much less doing the splicing. I also want to give a shout out to my engineer friends up at GM....Thanks for making the common wire for the headlight harness different colors on the wagon and sedan...... you rat bastards.

Turn signal test:

th_MVI_0821.jpg

Camino LS6 Newbie

Camino LS6

Posted
Posted

Hurry up man!

We've got a show to see!

J/K :lol:

You are making great progress. Are you going to bother with the paint and details like the woodgrain before putting this baby back on the road?

vonVeezelsnider Newbie

vonVeezelsnider

Posted
Posted (edited)

Looks sweet... Gives it a more mean, and yet at the same time more stately attitude. That being said:

Once more liquid moneys get flowing I'd like to look at a project car, I have a feeling it would be a rewarding experience. One car I've always wanted to have to fix up was a 1994-1995 3.8L Dustbuster, preferably Trans Sport like my dad had so many years ago. :AH-HA_wink:

*Stands Back as Flamethrowers Arrive*

:yes:

Edited by vonVeezelsnider
Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hurry up man!

We've got a show to see!

J/K :lol:

You are making great progress. Are you going to bother with the paint and details like the woodgrain before putting this baby back on the road?

well the woodgrain is staying, however, we're not putting the woodgrain on the front fenders. Dominic's opinion is that original woodies were just wooden bodies, so it's ok to leave the wood off the front fenders.

I am going to drive it for a bit as is because I need the wheels. I plan to go to Germany in late May so I might have it painted while I'm over there.

I expect she'll be whole by tonight and a trip to the shop for inspection will happen tomorrow.

Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Looks sweet... Gives it a more mean, and yet at the same time more stately attitude. That being said:

Once more liquid moneys get flowing I'd like to look at a project car, I have a feeling it would be a rewarding experience. One car I've always wanted to have to fix up was a 1994-1995 3.8L Dustbuster, preferably Trans Sport like my dad had so many years ago. :AH-HA_wink:

*Stands Back as the men in white suits Arrive*

:yes:

fixed.

Sixty8panther Newbie

Sixty8panther

Posted
Posted

My bad dude, I miss-read. Good for you, great project.

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search