Hello guys I live in Tennessee, I'm almost 40 and this is my first car a 1980 LeSabre I have owned this car since 1990. It's been a long time coming but I have finally started working on it some more this year. I have cleaned up the engine bay and painted it and just recently my brother and friends helped me set my new Olds 455 in and broke the cam in last saturday. Here are some picks hope you enjoy! My plans are a resto mod sleeper.
My first car
- Thread starter mrfixit
- Start date
thanks it won't be too bad, already got the new motor in and all new air conditioning parts minus the compressor in which is getting tested first,the transmission works great the body is pretty straight except for the doors, i have had the power locks and windows fixed in trading work with a buddy, put a modern map light rear view mirror and dome light in, the headliner is still great, just changed the trunk lid and left fender this past summer, already has new brakes all around, put on a power trunk release and trunk light, have a set of 15in wheels for it i got on the cheap and reconditioned myself. needs a new windshield, front coil springs,tires,carpet,bumper fillers, the hard part is gonna the paint job and floor and trunk pan fix. later on i'm thinking of putting in power leather seats and console from a cadillac 17 or 18 in rocket racing wheels and a hochkis kit from a 96 impala ss and maybe a brake upgrade also. i also have three other project cars i keep jumping around from one to another maybe i can stay focused on my lesabre and finish it.
The first two pics is what the body and engine bay look like now, although i need to take a new pic of the big 455 olds now that it's running. The 3rd pic is what I started with in the engine bay. My best friend Bill from way back in middle school, my brother and myself have done 95% of all the work. The power windows and locks,exhaust, headliner, tank sending unit, and shocks were all that I have paid others to do, most of that was done back before I had the tools and experiece to do it myself, other than the power doors and I traded work for that a couple years ago, I don't like working on the insides of doors. All of the work I have done has been outdoors I do not have a garage, with the exception of the engine build, Bill and I done that in his garage.
Last edited:
This is a hobby and a passion not a job to me. I like to take one thing at a time and not get or feel rushed. To me getting in a hurry the quality of the build and hard work is lost if I rush things and just get it done. I'm by no means a pro builder I'm a learn as I go kind of guy. Money is also an issue, a family of 4 is'nt cheap to raise and take care of these days, and the rising cost of parts and everyday living in general. But one day I'll finish it and look at it with a smile on my face knowing me, my friend and my brother spent endless hours working on it all in fun and fellowship.
It's been a while since I have posted here,this is just a list of some things I have done to my Buick. Made my own transmission crossmember to clear true dual exhaust, also made solid engine mounts, made my own valve cover nuts, swapped out the old hood-trunk struts,new door jam switches,160 degree thermostat,put my old 2 1/2 in exhaust back on,new rear springs, new front coil springs gonna have to swap them again it's too high,new shocks all around new brakes all around,my "rattle can paintjob",had the 400 turbo rebuilt,driveshaft shortened with new u joints,I previously modified the 307 ac brackets to fit the 455 to run the smaller compressor, installed a modern rear view mirror with maplights,modern domelight,pwr trunk release,swapped to power doors, new ac components condensor,drier,evaporator core,hoses,belts,nos cigarette lighter, I stiil can't wait till it's finished with everything fixed, painted with new wheels, tires and stereo. But getting there is half the fun I guess.I also have other non Buick projects and really too many, but I love cars.
Attachments
Last edited: