Convertibles

[qqnick]

I am planning to buy a Buick Convertible and never owning one can someone tell me the pro's and con's. Also I would need a good parts and accessories catalog. Any helpfull hints, ideas
and information on a 1972 Skylark Custom Convertible would be greatly appreciated.......Thanx.......qqnick

[Smartin]

Parts are readily available from Convertible Service at:

http://www.convertibleparts.com

You're going to have more wind noise and leaks with a convertible top.

Pros? You've got the sweetest ride on the block!

[70voom]

qqnick,
Owning a convertible is awsome..you won't regret it..nothing like taking a cruse on a nice country road when the sun is just starting to set.:bglasses:

You need to look out for leaky top cylinders..and trunk rust from water coming in from the convertible top.

Other wise it's a blast

[Rick Henderson]

qqnick,
Owning a convertible is great! I own two. My 70 GS is a blast to take out on those hot summer days and cruise. You would find the top down every summer day up until the late fall.

I don't know about all of them, but mine has a power top, so if you had the top up, it is a matter of just un-latching it and putting it down.

There is some things though that I will change when mine is back together. First, a glass back window. The plastic one fades it seems like over time.

The black interior is killer on the back of the legs when you get into the car after a few minutes in the hot sun. I always put up the top when I left the car in the summer for that reason, or used a towel first.

With a darker colored car, and black interior, it gets pretty hot in the summer time, so a white interior, or light interior would be better. My other car has a tan interior, and it does not have the burn factor like a dark color does.

I would like to have a/c on the car. Even though the top is down, it feels that much more comfortable on those extremely hot summer days.

The exhaust ended just before the rearend at one time, and it was so loud that it was hard to carry on any kind of conversation. Plus everytime that you went down a gravel road, it would make it so dusty, that it was hard to tell that I had a black interior at times.

Good luck and hope you find what you are looking for.

[flynbuick]

Mud in the 3 piece frame members which will cause rust.

[462CID]

1972 is the last Skylark convertible, and the last of the Skylarks on the Abody style. Handsome cars. Should have a 350 standard. The only real big difference in the cars '70-'72 is emission equipment and little trim items- grilles, bumpers and interior pattern, for instance. I've had my '70 since '89.

Pros:
it's a convertible!
no harder to restore than a hardtop
easier to do interior work (drop the roof)
heavy duty frame
fenders, doors interchange with '70-'72 hardtops (need a two door car for donating doors, of course)
Front seats interchange
tops are relaively cheap and not hard to install yourself
it's a convertible!
rare car

Cons:
Abody frames are known to rust- the heavy duty frame is no different
Rear seat is different than a hardtop
If the roof hasn't seen regular use and/or maintenance, is probably not going to work
more expensive initially than a hardtop
rain damage is a real possibilty
windsheilds do not interchange
convertibles can leak
the Abody convertibles used the same body mounts as hardtops- but have no roof for strength- body mounts can be an issue.
with no roof for rigidity, the floor becomes the primary stiffening member- check for rust and rot


Abodies in general- lower fenders, rear wheel wells, door bottoms, under the rear seat, trunks and floor pans rust out. Par for the course.

Buicks seem to have a bit better build quality in my experience- others may disagree, but I find that I've broken less bolts and had easier time with repairs on my '70 Buick than on, say my '69 Olds or my '78 Pontiac- both of which I got rid of...I really like Buick engines, mostly because the distributor is where it belongs- in the front, where I can get at it. Then there's the power of course...Buick 350 is a good engine. I like the Buick 455 better, but there's nothing wrong with a Buick 350. Buick made their own engines untill '76, BTW. Chevy tranny won't bolt up, but a Chevy coil spring rear end of the correct years will- with the correct u joints. I also prefer the Buick interiors over other GM siblings'. personal preference.


vendors I've used for general parts:

Original Parts Group Inc
Yearone
get these two catalogs

there's others though

For engine parts, the only company I can recommend from personal satisfaction every time is TA Performance. I have only bought one mechanical thing from Poston, a distributor, and they came through for me, but I don't want to give an opinion based on one incident. They didn't let me down is all I can say.

Since the Skylark shares mechanicals with the Chevelle, Cutlass, and Le Mans in regards to suspension, etc, you can get these parts easily

[hpbadger]

Just got 1972 Centurion Convertible today...our first. Certainly was easier doing interior work than with a hardtop. Rear power windows need work which causes some weather issues. Thankfully car is in AZ .

[69GS400s]

http://itnmedia.com/alan/gscal3.jpg

PROS =
Chic's Dig Convertibles (see Picture)

Other than a GSX, its the coolest thing on buick wheels.

Resale Value of a Convert. is higher....so for the same money spent in resto, you get a better return in the end.

Chic's DIG convertibles (see Pic again)

CONS =
Anyone with a sharp object has keys to get into your ride

You cant go under 14.0 at most racetracks W/O a roll bar

-------------------------------------------------------------

If its for fun....as a second car......there is no substitute.

One other area for rust particular to a-body converts. is is along the base of the windshield .....inside. Nasty to have to fix

I have Twins
http://itnmedia.com/alan/allcars44.jpg
http://itnmedia.com/alan/allcars2.jpg

[hpbadger]

I have only had this convertible for 1 week never had so much fun working on a car before. The 72 Centurion is in remarkable shape considering old owner never used top boot, never put the top up and used it as a "safe house" for pack rats.

Drove around the the auto parts store and got numerous compliments on the car even though the back seat and interior quarter panels were yanked!

Cons: Water issue. I scraped out the side wells of the trunk to the very bottom.....no sign of a drain hole but will keep looking.

chris

[Smartin]

I also acquired my 71 Centurion last Saturday and have been under the hood replacing every rubber part known to man...and some metal ones that stopped working...such as fuel pump, heater control valve...etc.

I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am going to have lots of fun with this car!