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1993 Buick Century
Custom
Wagon |
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March 27, 2025 - The tires were accidentally ordered and sent by me to the OTHER Norfolk Walmart Superstore - only a few minutes away. Anyway, the whitewalls were installed (And yes, they called to know if I wanted them white or blackwall out!) and I also kept the original tires. With the car on jack stands, I cleaned and pressure-washed the chassis, then installed the new tires. The engine bay gets scrubbed tomorrow. Then the interior gets cleaned Saturday. If rain comes as predicted, I have Sunday and Tuesday to get the exterior cleaned and ready for the show. |
| March 25, 2025 - The Buick is riding high - on jack stands. I pulled the wheels off to drop them at WalMart Thursday morning. They are supposed to be installing some new whitewalls I special ordered last week. Although the tire center won't answer their phone, customer service checked and said the tires have arrived at the store and are ready. So I made the appointment online. Although the car came with whitewalls, the real reason for the tire replacement is that the blackwalls are just under then years old and spent most of that time sitting in one spot. With a 5+ hour drive ahead next week, I decided to play it safe. Though I am keeping the blackwalls. Someone should be able to use them. Oh, the radio issue was a blown fuse, probably popped when the headliner was done and the dome light shorted. |
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March 24, 2025 - A big day for the Buick! I dropped it off Friday in North Carolina to have the steering wheel recolored and the headliner done. The top of the wheel was black where color had been baked off by the sun, and the headliner was sagging in the back and held in place by a couple of yardsticks on the side. I was very surprised to get the call that it was done this morning, and Chip went out with me to bring it back. (Hour+ ride one-way). The headliner and wheel turned out great, and I plan to take the truck back soon to get the gray steering wheel recolored as well! Also, the car cover that was sent as a replacement for one that came in too small fits fine. Not so great - the A/C is just cool, so there is a leak in the system. I'll try some stop-leak first, but will probably have to replace the compressor and dryer. Also, the radio didn't work on the way home from NC - could be a blown fuse on the antenna, as the cassette player worked great! No 'Service Engine Soon' light, so the system is probably getting clean. And with the car back, I might get the new tires installed after all. |
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| March 20, 2025 - I replaced the serpentine belt today. Easy job using an 18mm wrench to release the tensioner. I cleaned the pulleys with brake cleaner and it tracks fine. Still have a minor rattle at idle that goes away when I increase RPM. Then I charged the A/C. The vacuum pump borrowed from Fred pulled the system down quickly (I bought a manifold gauge set yesterday) and it held at -30 PSI after I disconnected the pump. So I added oil and R134 (2.5 cans) to the system and have ice-cold air coming from the vents. If it holds, great. If not, I may have to replace the A/C compressor and drier to run the new gas. Fred replaced the R12 in his 1970 Cadillac with R134 and had no issues, so I may also luck out. The tires I ordered are coming in late and WalMart has cancelled my appointment. The car goes to NC tomorrow for the headliner and steering wheel re-dye, so I don't know if I will get the new rubber or not. | |
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March 17, 2025 - Lots of expensive upgrades coming for the Buick. New tires for one. While there is nothing technically wrong with the blackwall tires on the car, rebalance and rotation didn't get them completely smooth, and after sitting in one spot for at least 6 years, driving a long distance could be iffy. So I sprang for some inexpensive whitewalls that will be installed Thursday morning. Then I got set up to drop the car off Saturday for a headliner and steering wheel re-dye. The A/C system vacuumed out to -30 pounds, but my adaptor was bad and I have to replace it. Once I can vacuum and recharge the system using the same fitting, the A/C should work again. And that should mostly finish the car up. I have it registered for Charlotte and the AACA Southeastern Spring Nationals in three weeks, hence my worry about a long trip. |
| March 14, 2025 - Although it worked fine, the turn signal/cruise/ wiper multi-function lever on the steering column was badly worn. A replacement could not be found for the Century, which had a chrome Washer section and a different connector. Using logic, which served me well when I decided the Buick would be a good car, I figured GM would not have made two different turn signal switches, and bought a lever for a different 1993 model that had the correct connector. It looks much better, and probably half the Centuries had black instead of chrome anyway. Better yet, I didn't have to pull the steering wheel! The factory shop manual showed a simple pull-off cover that gave access to the cruise control wire. And I also took the car to Discount Tire and had them balance and rotate the tires. The rubber looks great, no cracking or other indications of trouble. And so far no 'Service Engine Soon' light and the car drives better every time I use it. |
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March 13, 2025 - Pretty amazing that I ordered another key fob the day I got the bad one and it arrived today. First attempt to program it didn't work, but after I replaced the batteries it did fine. So now I have matched remotes for the two sets of keys. I drove the car to Mom's yesterday (40+ mile round trip) and no 'Service Engine Soon' light came on, so I think the gunk is finally clearing out. I have the new turn signal/wiper/cruise control stalk but have to pull the wheel to install it. Since I want to recolor the steering wheel anyway, I'll get the vinyl paint in first. |
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| March 10, 2025 - I got in a remote key fob for the Buick - no batteries and I knew I was taking my chances as it was advertised as 'untested'. New batteries and some searching for the programming instructions turned up nothing - bad remote. My original remote, which works fine, was reprogrammed into the system and still works with no issues. Then I attacked the rear bumper filler, which has been ordered but was really bugging me. First off, I will probably have to cut the repop coming in because the filler in only about 4 inches instead of 6. The filler is curved, which makes replacement even harder. The original plastic filler was broken up so badly I couldn't even use it as a pattern. So I tried a likely wood candidate, but it was too thick. I ended up using some galvanized roof trim that worked pretty well. (Top photo). If I get the headliner fixed before Charlotte, I might take the car down to get judged. | |
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| March 7, 2025 - The shift lever end on the Buick was wrapped in black tape and pretty rough. I was able to get a new knob off eBay and it came in today. I had to clean the shifter lever first, but the new piece on well and looks good. The driver's visor has an elastic band that was totally stretched out and held up with paper clips. I cut the strip and used Velcro to restore function. It even looks factory! I also got in two more wheel centers - they will be a spare and replace one that has a bad scuff mark. The replacement hubcap lock key is in, as is the spare. | |
| March 4, 2025 - The Buick finally got an oil and filter (Castrol 10w30 and a Mobil 1 M10-101 oil filter) change today, and has been cleaned up a lot yesterday and today. Repair manuals and booklets came in from eBay (more on the way), a missing hubcap emblem has been replaced, many of the paint blemishes I thought were permanent came off with polishing compound, and I have ordered a replacement for the broken-up rear bumper filler. The engine still has some minor acceleration issues, but they are clearing up as the car is driven. It looks like I need to evacuate the A/C system before it will take a charge, but being March I still have time before it really needs to be working. The Service Engine Soon light is coming on sporadically, but goes out soon after. I suspect the Seafoam and B-12 in the fuel is throwing off readings. I filled the car up with high-test and will drive it as much as I can. If I can get the headliner done and the rear bumper filler in by the beginning of next month, I may register the car for the big AACA Southeastern Division Nationals April 5th. That is a big if, since I would be driving the car down. |
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| March 1, 2025 - A busy day yesterday - spent a long time at DMV (Friday, last day of the month) but got the Buick titled, tagged, and insured. I tried to charge the A/C system with R12a but the hose I had was in poor shape and it didn't seem to transfer. I took the car over the a Cars n' Coffee event nearby this morning and a friend who is also a professional mechanic said he'd just put the R134a in a 1972 Cadillac with no issues, and the system works. Worth a try! The engine sometimes runs smooth, sometimes has a valve stuck. I'll get her on the Interstate and run her some, and just keep working at it. The car is amazing - I am polishing the paint and most of the marks I thought were permanent are coming off! A lot of items came in today from eBay. This included a new set of hubcap locks for which the key broke off the first time I tried to use it, (The seller is sending me a new one). I also got a factory parts book in the dealer binder and a Haynes manual, plus the 1993 Buick Price Directory which had the car totaling $20,872 MSRP. That is equal to $45,885.32 in 2025 dolllars! |
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| February 27, 2025 - Big news - the Buick is running! It still has a sticky valve, but I drained the gas today and put in some high test and a new filter. Draining looked to be difficult at first, as the filler neck turned out to be a lot longer than expected. However, when I dropped the fuel filter it started a siphon effect that emptied the tank! I put in the new fuel filter and gas and she fired up after just a few cranks. I still have a chuff in the exhaust that sounds like a sticking valve, but I will put in some Seafoam tomorrow and let it run. I also got in new struts. The tailgate works great, but the window strut has loose connectors for the brake light that isn't working. I can test that tomorrow, but I think the strut will have to be sent back. And the shoulder nut for the hood strut fell into the engine bay and I need to find or replace that before I can install the new strut. Even so, major progress! |
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| February 25, 2025 - A mix of things done today. Lots of cleaning and removal of decals, pressure-washing the engine bay, and a bit of a battle getting the wire wheel covers off, but success on most everything. And while it isn't running yet, it is really trying. Part of the issue I had yesterday was crossed wires on the coil packs - now I just think I have some bad gas that is not good enough to ignite. The car sat at least since 2019, and it is likely the gas is even older. I am confident enough that I have ordered new struts for the hood and tailgate, factory shop and parts manuals, and a wheel cover emblem. I was able to get out the only interior stain - the 3rd-row seat carpet had a really bad area that cleaned up great. And I even got the dead bugs out of the 3rd brake light! The wheel cover locks were on so tight I broke the special wrench trying to get them off. I was able to remove then by tapping on a socket, and then coated the threads with grease. New ones coming in. Adding some good gas didn't really help - the tank is half-full, all of which needs to come out. But the gas gauge and the fuel pump are both working. Most of the blemishes on the paint came off with a combination of washing and polishing compound. The spare tire looks like it has never been removed. | |
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| February 24, 2025 - The Buick is home, and so far all good news. First off, the engine cranks! So much for it being stuck. When I picked it up this morning, the lady at the counter said all that had been indicated wrong was a dead battery. It took some repeated cranking to get it smooth, but the engine turns over easily now. I think some fresh gas (It has been parked since 2019 and the gas probably predates that) will get her running. The tires look great, the brakes are solid, and so far everything works. Power seat, windows, remote fob, lights, fan, electric antenna, cassette player (!), rear window wiper. The car looks to have every option you could get, and the paint and woodgrain decals have no fading. No rust, and even the original carpet mats are great. Next step is to see if fresh gas will get her going. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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February 22, 2025 - After three years I finally succumbed again to the charms (?) of a late-model GM Station Wagon. I had my Dad's 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass wagon more than 20 years ago, then bought a 1988 Chevrolet Celebrity wagon in 2021 that I kept for a year. So today, when a 1993 Buick Century wagon of the same style showed up at Eggleston Auto Auction looking like it has always been garage kept with 88K miles, I ended up paying $700 for it. The engine is reportedly stuck (or at least that is what another bidder said), but even if that is true it may be from light rust or a bad starter. If the engine is toast, I already have a buyer for the car (the other bidder) who has a good engine available. I should have it home Monday, and will start diagnosing. |