1969 Buick Other

400 V-8

Automatic

1969 Buick Special Deluxe Station Wagon 400/400 Eng. & Trans. I really hate to sell this car but I need the cash to help cover some up coming medical deductibles. History: In the summer of 1995 I went to Pueblo, Colorado to look for a car for my wife as a family car. I live in Illinois and most cars, especially old ones rust away fast if you drive them year round so as most of you know the dry West is the best. Just when I was about to leave empty handed my friend encouraged me to take one more pass at the local dealerships and there she was. This was a 45 K mileage car. It had been owned by a retired railroad man who bought it new in 1969. (I even have his Death Certificate). Over the course of time I discovered TWO yes two build sheets. One was for a dealer in California and the other, its ultimate destination, Wilcoxson Buick in Pueblo, Co. I also have the pro-tect-o-plate and all the goodies that came with the car as new and they go with the car. My wife drove the car only three months before she passed away. I drove the car for two more years but only sparingly because I owned another car and a pickup truck. I took it in for a paint job in the fall of 1997 and at that time removed the roof mounted luggage rack. As you may have noticed the car has NO exterior chrome whatsoever and the luggage rack kind of “hurt” that effect. After it came out of the paint shop I had it undercoated at a local aftermarket type shop called Ziebart. In the spring of 1998 I decided I was going to UP the horse power on the car and make a “sleeper” out of it. I bought a same year Sport Wagon with a 340 hp 400 engine and 400 transmission to use as a donor car. In retrospect I should have probably just kept the 350/350 that was in the car but its’ too late for that now. I stopped driving the Buick during the summer of 1998 and both cars were parked in an indoor storage facility while I adjusted to a new life with a new wife, more kids, and the building of a building where I could do all my “car” work. I gradually collected parts, and accessories, and had the 400 engine and transmission rebuilt by local professionals, and in the summer of 2005 “DID” the car. Engine: I have accumulated almost 7000 miles since the rebuild. It starts and runs very smoothly, like new! It was bored out .040 over to clean-up the cylinder walls. I had them put dish top pistons back in the mill so it would run on the lower grades of fuel. Everything like the bearings, cam bearings, lifters, timing chain, etc were replaced with stock items. I installed a TA Performance oil pump back-up plate with an adjustable oil pressure relief valve and garlock type crank pulley seal as the only real “modification” to the engine I had the Quadajet professionally rebuilt too. (see pic) I put a new heat riser valve on the exhaust manifold as well as a whole new custom DUAL exhaust system. The distributor, starter, and water pump were rebuilt and a NOS fuel pump was installed. The alternator and air compressor for the AIR CONDITIONING are original. The AC was converted to R134 but is currently not functioning needing a recharge of freon. The radiator is new and I installed an aftermarket fan shroud and hose brace to go with it. Last year I put on a new fan clutch and rebuilt water pump. All of the hoses, belts, and wiring (where needed) were replaced. It also has a new, this year, battery. I put a new battery tray in and rust proofed the whole engine compartment too. I put a 1970 and later style coolant recovery tank with the correct radiator cap in to help with anti-freeze management. A new fuel pump to carb fuel line would be the only thing needed to make every thing stock. Chassis: I replaced the brakes on this car in 1998 so they are good. When I had the engine out I replaced the upper control arm bushings only because it was easy to do at that time. The rest of the running gear is fine. I put air shocks on the back when I bought the car and they hold air good. The tires are new as of 2005 when I put it back on the road and are Cooper Lifeline Touring SLE 215/70 R14. Body: This car has very, very little rust and only surface rust at that. The real weak point of this car is the paint. After fifteen years of shuffeling around it has accumulated its’ share of chips and scratches. The worst of which is on the front right fender and front passenger door. that being said the roof and hood look very nice. It was repainted with Diamont two stage and was never even buffed out. I did some brush touch-ups on many of the chipped areas but it is what it is. I put the hide away wipers on this car from the Sport Wagon. Two years ago I had the wiper motor and washer pump rebuilt. It still has the T3 headlight bulbs and all of them work. Interior: The interior is all original and is in very good condition. The worst is the front seat and all that’s wrong is a little of the piping is missing on the driver’s side. I converted it to power from the Sport Wagon when I did the engine. The car has the light group which includes courtesy lights and mirror light. The drink tray came from the dealership and was a Buick item. It has a factory AM/FM radio which I had serviced two years ago along with having a new quartz movement installed in the clock. Two more bummers though: I installed the power rear window from the Sport Wagon into this car. I cleaned up all the wiring and eliminated all the goofy safety switches. The outside key switch broke last year but I found a new one and it goes with the car. The correct interior switch works just fine! Last year the heater core started leaking and I just bypassed it. I will leave that fix up to the new owner. Extras: I have lots of extra parts that will go with this car like interior items, Factory trailer hitch, load leveling system, (you will have to put it all back in.). There is an extra power brake tank, power steering pump, brackets and misc. whatever I got for it that you want to take. This is a very nice car and with a little more work could be a GREAT car. I probably have about 15K invested in it but I got about 45K miles of driving fun from it too and now there are many more miles left in it for someone else to enjoy. It is not a really flashy car like a GS or Sport Wagon but my reserve is not that high either. This would be a good tow car with all the power it has or maybe a good old fashioned family wagon like I bought it for.