Picked up 1971 Sportwagon

[Dennis S]

I just picked up a 1971 Sportwagon that seams quite rust free. Appears garage kept blue exterior over blue interior, paint looks original. 350-2, air car.
with low options ps/pb vinyl bench, am radio .

Down side is a punched in drivers door . A little body work between the
passenger rear door and the rear wheel well where the paint flaked off the
body filler. The owner claims it has a thrown rod( he thinks) I haven't got it home yet to check it out. The old timer claims it ran well until then. Worse comes to worse
I bought some extra parts for my 71 Stage 1 . Hood for a stage 2 hood scoop and a rear for my friends GTO. I don't want to do that ,the car is well worth saving

Here's my questions,

How hard is it to find a door for it?

If the motor is shot how much bigger of a deal is it to drop in a 455 over a replacement 350 ? I'm leaning toward a 350-4 GSized version though.

Was the 455 available in the sportwagon in 71?

If the 455 swap is not that big of a deal would the TH350 work alright with a mild 455 infront of it ? This car would be regulated as a GSized cruising vessel
but, without fear of a thrashing once in a blue moon.

I'll post some picks when I get it home

Thanks for the help.

[GoldBoattail455]

The 455 was never available in the Sportwagons, but it should have been. :Brow: I don't think it would be to hard to find some nice doors, obviously any 4dr post Skylarks will do. They pop up on ebay from time to time and never are expensive. I think its more likely you'll find 4dr skylark doors than another sportwagon with good doors. Im sure someone here has some nice doors sitting in there garage. I'd like to see pics of this beast when you post em. Goodluck, sounds like a fun project. :TU:

[Dennis S]

Thanks for the reply. My bad its actually a 1972 all the rest is the same.

[GoldBoattail455]

Here (http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=103796) are some doors that would fit the wagon. Same year too. :bglasses:

[Dennis S]

Thanks Rob

[staged70]

I have a mild 455 stage 1 low compression engine in my Suncoupe GS clone . It has run 14.0 at 102 and it hashad a th350 in it since the begining ( 1991) I say do what you want but the 350 is a good engine and even tows very well . I spoke to a fellow at the GS NATS a few years ago when 2 of these showed up at BG . One was a all out Stage 1 high comp 12 sec car . The other was just as nice but a 350 that he used to tow a car from floridda to BG. The fast one was for sale for 13k and I wish I had the cash for that one .
JK