Little Ole Lady Car

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi everyone, I just scored a orginal owner little ole lady 72 Skylark custom. I had approached her about selling before and left my name and number if she ever wanted to sell.I was in the area recently and drove by and it was in the front yard with a for sale sign.She had passed away but her husband remembered me looking at the car and said she had decided to sale it to me a few weeks after looking at it but had lost my number.Well five years later I now have the car;it is in worst shape because the back glass began leaking and the car has some rust that wasn't there before but with some bodywork and paint it will be a great cruiser because it runs and drives great. Features are 2 door hardtop,AC,AT,AM radio,PS,350 2 BBL,halo style vinyl top,custom trim pkg,upper body peak mlgs,and still has the orginal paint.I was able to get the car for $500.00.Lots of people would make it a parts car but it is way to nice to do that in my book. If anyone would like to post some pics for me I can email some to you.

[Chris Lott]

Rusty, check your PM. Sounds like a killer deal, I can't wait to see the pictures!

[Adam Whitman]

My Skylark was owned by a lady named Mildred Krmpotic (correct spelling) of McGill, NV. Her son bought it new for her in the fall of 63. She was a Czech immigrant and I was told that she was a nice old gal but could cuss like a sailor and didn't mind doing it in a thick Czech accent. She once did it to a police officer that stopped her for speeding on her way to Ely.

She had died before I found the car and bought it from her son.

I'm not the type to name my vehicles, but Mildred seems like a good name for an old lady's car like a Buick. :)

[Rusty Davenport]

Thanks for the offer Chris;I sent you some pictures. I got the car a few weeks back and have already begun to do some tear down.My 11 year old son is having a fit to get it painted and take to cruise ins and maybe some small local shows. I have been to long without a car to participate with;I have a good collection but they are all projects and I have spent most of my free time working on customer cars to pay bills and buy parts for my other cars.Maybe this summer I can get this car painted and driveable [drives now but needs some brake work] My son stripped the deck lid to bare metal,took him 2 hours, and I fixed a few minor dings,welded up some holes from the selling dealer emblem and got it under primer today.

[Chris Lott]

Picture Time! :beer (posting these for Rusty)

[Chris Lott]

the second of many...

[Chris Lott]

three...

[Chris Lott]

Four...

[Chris Lott]

Five

[Chris Lott]

Six

[Chris Lott]

Last one! Nice score Rusty!

[Rusty Davenport]

OK now that everyone has seen the pictures I would like your opinions on what to do with the car. One thing I am not going to do is change the drivetrain,it will stay original. My desire is to not spend a lot of money on this car but make it nice. I will do my own bodywork and paint.I have my own hobby shop and do lots of bodywork to make extra money so that part of the resto will not be to expensive for me.I will rechrome the bumpers and that will probably be the biggest expense.But do ya'll think I should leave car totally stock or remove vinly top,custom wheels or factory buick rally,recover seats original or custom ect???????? Please keep in mind that this is a penny pinching redo.Thanks, Rusty

[TXGS]

Rusty do it to your taste. Original is nice in my opinion. beef up the 350 a little and it will be a fun little crusier.

[Shayne Dillinge]

You could slowly restore it over the next 4 or 5 years keeping your son involved in each step. Then when he turns 16 give it to him (keep the 350-2). Then you'll have all thoughs father/son bonding moments to look back on and you can blackmail him with threats to take the car away if his grades slip.

[Rusty Davenport]

My son will truely be involved with the resto of this car;in fact I am not doing alot to it unless he is present/helping. I am not going to give him the car though as I have already given him a numbers matching 70 GS350 in need of more work than this car;but he said he would rather have the GS than this car.Going to show him some of the ropes on this car before we start on his GS350. He is truely interested in cars at 11 years old so I think we have a true Buick fan coming up in my son;I couldn't be happier!!

[skyphix]

Make it a parts car? That looks to be in just about the same shape as mine... so I'm glad you share my opinion and plan on getting it back going :grin:

Enjoy it, make it yours.

[Rusty Davenport]

OK guys,where are your opinions on how to finish out this car?I figured this would be a fun topic and who knows;your idea may influence how I dress out this car. I am sending Chris a couple more pics to post for me.These pics show why some poeple mess up more than they are trying to fix.On both the winshield and back glass someone had siliconed the glass channels full and covered the outside mouldings in silicone as well.I spent a couple hours just getting moulding off without bending them!!!!!! I guess they thought the front windshield was leaking and it was the heater core that is leaking.

[Chris Lott]

Picture 1

[Chris Lott]

Picture 2

[Chris Lott]

If it were up to me, I'd keep the car 100% original. Keep the hubcaps: you don't see them too often anymore. Keep the "halo" vinyl top: those are also somewhat uncommon. Keep the original color paint: browns are understated but if you have ever seen a restored skylark/GS with rechromed bumpers and a new brown paint job you will see that a musclecar can look good in almost any color, including browns/creams/greens. Keep the stock upholstery: there's nothing as fun as crusing around in a car just the way it was 30 years ago. I'd say even keep the AM (or AM/FM) radio if it has it and get it reconditioned. That's how I would build the car.

[skyphix]

I'd probably do what Chris just said... but with widened steel wheels and some more muscle under the hood :grin:

[Brett Slater]

With the wealth of info and willingness of people on this board to help, I'd do it and involve your son as much as possible! I think it's pretty evident that coming up with parts will NOT be a problem...

It was right around your son's age, maybe a couple years older, that I became fond of the Skylarks and my father was (and 17 years later still is) instrumental in my original car's rebirth, if you will.

Since it seems your new aquisition will be taking up your time, I think now would be a good time to sell me that 72 Stage 1 Q-Jet....:Brow: :Brow: :Brow: :laugh: :grin: :bglasses: :bglasses:

[Rusty Davenport]

Thanks for the reply Brett; I thought you already got a stage1 carb for your 72??? I thought I saw that in another thread on this broard?? I still have the carb but can't sale till I find a 70 Stage carb. Made a little more progress tonite on the 72 Skylark.My son and I took the car to the car wash and hosed off the enigine; cleaned off a lot of grease.

[Brett Slater]

I do have a carb but I wouldn't mind another....keep me in mind...:Brow: :Brow:

[Chris Lott]

posting one more for rusty. Lookin good :Brow: :TU:

[Rusty Davenport]

Thanks for posting the pictures Chris.I have made some progress on the car.Trunk lid is just about ready for paint!! Lots of other body panels to get ready though.

[Rusty Davenport]

I took Thur. and Fri. off from work and got in some time on the skylark.Thursday I took a torch and heated up the undercoating in the rear wheel wells so I could scrap it off,lots of fun.Then my son helped me cut out the rear glass and then I cut out the rust areas on the car in order to have access to sandblast the rust out.Friday we took car to the sandblaster and he let me use his equipment to blast my car.He was doing something else and he said I could have at it!!

[Brett Slater]

a little progress....

[Brett Slater]

and, a little more....

[RNelson '69 Riv]

Love the progress reports... keep 'em coming. I'm with Chris, keep it original. You have some uncommon features on that car that will make it stand out in a show. I feel that driving 'em they way they were built is a treat that you don't often get to enjoy. There's nothing wrong with a good custom job but there are plenty of cars that are beyond bringing back to original that you could do that to. You could visit the nice old guy you bought it from and bring him tears of joy when you finish the car like it was when he and his wife were younger. Now, that's a great feeling!

[Rusty Davenport]

Thanks guys for the encouragement.I was leaning to restoring it original from the beginning with the possiblity of no vinyl top just from a money saving standpoint.But with the feedback that I have recieved I think I will put the top back on.I think I may attempt to install the top myself to save money.The only thing I will probably change is removing the factory bodyside moulding as the door pieces are not in good shape and I don't see many goods ones around.Not going to get to do much to the car for a couple of weeks;but I do have the rear clip in wash primer and then epoxy primer for now.I will then go back and do my welding and bodywork over the primer.My son and I plan on driving the finished car back up to let the former owner see the finished product.I loved driving the car home the afternoon I bought it[about 45 miles] even if it didn't look new it drove great and taking it back restored for him to see will be a thrill I am sure for both of us.

[Chris Lott]

you're moving along quite quickly on this car, how about the GSX? :Brow: :TU: Lookin good, you really know how to put the pedal down and get things done when it comes to body work.:beer

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Chris,My bodywork on my cars normally doesn't move too fast;as I'll have to take in a customer job to pay a bill ect. and that slows things down. My son getting interested in cars has given me a much needed new found desire to get a "finished"car on the road,and bodywork has been going along pretty fast for the skylark.As for the GSX if you look at the picture of the Skylark trunk lid you can see the fenders and trunk lid for the GSX ready for paint sitting in a corner of the shop.The drivers door and rear spoiler are done as well.I think that getting the skylark finished will also boost my desire to work on the GSX.Until a few months ago I was working two jobs and had done so for four years.This left very little time to work in the shop;and I have only had the GSX for 2 years.During that time I have purchased a lot of needed parts,fixed the body parts listed,and rebuilt the 4 speed trans.The GSX's turn is DEFINITELY coming Lord willing of course!

[cjp69]

Chris Lott said:Keep the original color paint: browns are understated but if you have ever seen a restored skylark/GS with rechromed bumpers and a new brown paint job you will see that a musclecar can look good in almost any color,

Here is an example of a nice brown GS from a local show (I know, he needs new wheels):

Have trouble making the attachment work today, have to try later.

[cjp69]

Picture

['77 Regal]

I would definately keep the outside brown with the vinyl top, but I would ditch the hubcaps for some rallyes. In fact, buy new rallyes from Coker, 15x7's up front and 15x8's in the back, would give you a nice muclecar look with the factory appearance.

Brian
http://blowngp.com/scanlon/buick.jpg

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi everyone,Well I labored on Labor day,but at least it was on a Buick!! I have finally got a little more time in on my project car.Drivers side door and fender have been stripped to bare metal,wash primed,and epoxy primed.Also under the vinyl top in right lower corner of rear glass was some rust.After sandblasting around window channel there were some holes in this area[probably were the window had been leaking from] .Today I cut out and welded in new metal.Time consuming keeping contour correct for window stainless but came out very nice;all solid metal now!!! I will send Chris some pictures to post for me.

[Chris Lott]

Sure Rusty, here ya go...

[Chris Lott]

patch welded in

[Chris Lott]

grounded down ready for filler

[BuickGSXJuiced]

now how was that patch made did you make it yourself or cut it off a donar??

[Rusty Davenport]

HI,The patch I made myself;used a piece of doorskin that I picked up from a local bodyshops scrap pile.Not all that hard to do just make a pattern in paper and then tranfer to sheetmetal.Take your time in getting everything to fit and weld in slowly so there is no warpage.I use a mig welder and keep a air hose with a blow gun to cool each spot weld so there is no warpage at all.After filler work [i use duraglass over welds as it is waterproof] and a little work on backside of panel I will have a great repair and no will ever know anything was ever done except you guys that have seen the pictures!! A good quality permenant repair that cost me basicly labor only.

[TXGS]

looks Good rusty!

[BuickGSXJuiced]

sounds like a good idea, post a pick when you get it all filled and primed

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi everyone,I am still making a little progress from time to time.Tonite I finished up the hardest to repair area yet;the right lower fender.It probably doesn't make sense that I spent three nights just to get it welded up and I have a good fender I could have just bolted on.I figured because they do not make them anymore and the fender was super nice other than the lower rust it was worth the effort.The only reason there was any rust is fender had filled up with leaves and that caused the rust to outer skin and inner brace as well.From picture you can see after sandblasting there was no inner brace left and bottom of fender was hanging on by the front section only.

[Rusty Davenport]

This picture is after I built the inner brace from scrap.

[Rusty Davenport]

This picture is after the out side skin has been welded on.Hopefully I will get some more done this weekend!!

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Everyone,I have gotten a few more things done on the car.Did some light sandblasting today and cleaned sand out forever.Got the right fender to bare metal and filler work is almost done on it! Also ruffed in the rear window patch and primed. I had to make the lower corner of the right inner wheelhouse and I got that done this week as well!!! I will get to start on the outer lower quarter panel patch now,and it will be a cakewalk compared to the inner patches I've had to make. Josh here is your picture of the rear window patch after filler work.

[Rusty Davenport]

Here is the right side inner lower wheelhouse patch I had to make;time consuming but only way to go to do it right [unless you have nos wheelhouses] I've got to get this bodywork on the skylark done so I can get started on the GSX!!!!!

[BuickGSXJuiced]

hey rusty thanks alot those pictures gave me some ispiration:TU:

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Everyone,Little by little I am still getting some progress made!! I have gotten the rest of car stripped to bare metal and tonite I am spraying wash primer and epoxy primer over that.Waiting for wash primer to dry now;before spraying epoxy.Still have got to do the outer quarter panel patch welding and some filler work and then comes filler primer and block sanding.Bumpers are tore down and ready to go to the rechrome shop.After I get the body worked out I will pull off the front fenders to install one of Mike's rad support kits and replace heater core.Would love to get car painted before 2004!!

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Everyone,Today I finished the welding on the left side of car. All rusted spots were cut out well beyound the rust,sandblasted then primed,and since then metal patches have been welded in as time allows. Glad to have the left side rust free and solid again!!Here is a picture after patch was welded in.

[Rusty Davenport]

Here is the same quarter panel patch after epoxy primed;a little filler and I will be looking good.

[Chris Lott]

Very nice Rusty!!! You do some amazing work!:TU:

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Everone,I have been very busy lately but I did manage to get some time in today on my project car.The right quarter patch is now welded in!!! Lots of work left to do but it is looking better!! I will have to repair the core support and I think I will pull the motor and trans while front cap is off and sandblast the bottom of car and detail motor ect.That shouldn't take that much extra time and the results should be great. Do all projects grow bigger and more time consuming or what!

['77 Regal]

Where are the updates?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi ,Hopefully I will get back working on the project soon.Got a piece of metal in my eye grinding on it and had to take a few days off for that and rested up some as well.Then I got a customer job [make some money instead of spend money!!] and trying to get that finished now.Maybe next week I can get back to the Skylark.

[BuickGSXJuiced]

hey rusty just wanted to ask ya, what kinda welder are ya welding with?

[Rusty Davenport]

I use a mig welder I think the brand is Solar it use 110 current but welds nice.I will get more info for you tonite.

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Everyone, I think I had a small case of overload with the project so you haven't heard from me in a while. I did a couple of customer jobs to make some money and then holidays took up some time.I did have some good fortune this week while at work.I work at a body shop supply store and one of our customers a new car dealer decided to close thier bodyshop division.While I was there they decided to throw away all thier opened body shop materials.I mentioned that it was good product they were throwing away and they said I was welcome to it!!Well after a little dumpster diving I had some epoxy primer,2k high build primer,2k sealer,undercoating,seam sealer,tack rags,body filler,windshield kits,sanding paste,ect. I certainly was glad to get all the stuff as it will go to good use on this project car and will save me several hundred dollars in materials i needed anyway!!! I also decided to get the new year started off right and worked on the Skylark most of the day.The filler work on the rear quarters is just about ready for primer.It is beginnig to shape up and look like something again.

[69GS400s]

Rusty.....you're doing a GREAT job and one that many including me are envious of. I only wish I had the skill, time, and motivation you are showing on this

:TU: :TU: :TU: :TU: :TU: :TU: :TU:

[chryco63]

Rusty,

I'm wondering... is all of this work that you're doing on this car and your customer's cars self-taught, or are you a licensed bodyman? It's really amazing work! I was especially impressed with the rear window patch that you made, and the right front lower brace for the fender! I've done some bodywork before, but it has always been so daunting for me to approach it. You make it look so easy!

Seeing the progress on this car is certainly giving me some inspiration to try and replace some rust on my cars! Awesome work Rusty!

[Rusty Davenport]

HI Everyone,Thanks for the compliaments.I am not a schooled licensed bodyman unless the school of hard knocks counts.About the time I turned 15 I began to get interested in learning to do bodywork,started out painting farm tractors then to cars and trucks.You can learn a wealth of info by watching a skilled worker and that is how I learned most of what I know about bodywork.I do believe where there is a will there is a way so keep at it,ask questions,have patience.

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi everyone I have not posted anything in a while so I thought I would fill everyone in.The Skylark was put on the back burner for a while but I got it moved back into the shop a few days back.My son and I cut out the winshield and cracked it on the last two inches of removal !! Also found a real bad rust out section after removal of windshield;so looks like I will have to build a two foot section of the windshield channel. Not happy about that but glad I do have a welder! I just came back from the junkyard this morning and while there I scored a real nice set of 4 Buick 14" chrome rally wheels with excellant chrome for $40.00 including I new tire on one of the rims!!!!

[Brian Albrecht]

Congrats on your junkyard score. It does appear you have some work there. Keep those pictures coming as you bring her to life!:grin:

[armyguy298]

I love this thread, Id like to hear and/or see more about it!

[Rusty Davenport]

I can not seem to get any time in on the car the last couple of weeks since getting it back in the shop.Working on my taxes now and as soon as that is finished I am going to put some time in on the car.All filler work on the panels I welded in is done. As soon as I get around the front windshield repaired car will be ready for fill primer and block sanding.Bumpers are back from the chrome shop and they look great! I also have all the supplies to paint the car with already.

[Rusty Davenport]

Well I finally got back to work on the Skylark.Can't believe where time goes sometimes, but it is good to have the Skylark back in the shop and spend some time on her.Made a channel to weld in the windshield area that was rusted out.Took the metal to a friends shop and bent it on his sheetmetal brake.Because the channel had a slight bend or curve to it I hade to heat it with a torch as I welded to get it to bend.The repaired patch channel is one piece 22 inches long so it should not have any leaks after solid welding in place.After some grinding welds and test fitting moldings I will weld studs on to attach the moulding clips to;This is the final welding on body before sealing again and fill primer to block.YEE HAW!!!!!!!!

[Rusty Davenport]

Needs a little primer and block sanding.My 12 yr[almost 13 yr]son is in the background working on his 1970 GS350 hood.Got to bring'em up right ya know!!!!!!!!!

[leo455]

I am so jealous, I have a 20 year old who cares nothing about cars. Girls is his kraze. Keep up the good work, I am learning alot from the pics.

[GoldBoattail455]

Man i should've done that to my car, now its ditched in some Pep Boys parking lot waiting to be parted out.:(

Looks awesome!:TU: :beer

[Go Buick Go]

This is an awesome post!:grin:


leo455 said:I am so jealous, I have a 20 year old who cares nothing about cars. Girls is his kraze.

I'm 22 and have a dad that doesn't care about cars at all. He likes TV.

Anyhow, I have just about no experience with body work (other than bondo) and my dad isn't a car guy. I'm going to take a welding class this fall, and hopefully learn how to do it right. I messed around with a cutting torch in the army, but that's about all.

Keep up the good work!:TU:

-Romy

[Legendary]

Rusty,
this is an awesome thread! Your welding is really something!
Wait till you have the car on the road and can tell everyone that you paid $500 for it!
I have two sons 12 and 8. The 8 year old loves old cars. The 12 year old just recently caught the bug.... prefers computers and video games and says my GS needs help from "Pimp My Ride".
Your son is a lucky kid. Dad has a GSX, a shop and some awesome skills to pass on.
Wish I could come over and wetsand for a few hours.

Please keep the updates coming.

[Rusty Davenport]

HI,A wet sanding party sounds pretty good!! This week I have managed to get in some time on the car.Got all the filler work finished;so today moved the car up to the house and wet sanded her down for a coat of epoxy primer to seal everything down and after that a couple coats of high build primer to block with.Here she is after wet sanding.Looks kinda bad with different color primer,body filler,and bare metal spots right now.But lots of hard work behind us now.

[Rusty Davenport]

Here she is with a coat of DP90 epoxy primer.I think she looks good in black!!! surprising how a coat of solid color helps the looks department so much.

[Rusty Davenport]

After waiting a hour I put a couple coats of filler primer on.After that I guide coated the filler primer with some flat black aerosol paint to help find any low spots while block sanding.My son did quite a bit of the guide coating.He is getting excited about the car getting closer to paint time.

[Rusty Davenport]

I thought I would give everyone a update on the car's progress.I block sanded the filler primer coat down and found the car to be fairly straight;just a few places that the guide coating showed some more work needed.I used some catalyst spot putty to fill those areas and then applied some roll on primer over those areas.The roll on primer came in with the free materials I got from the body shop that closed;it worked very well.For guys who do not have a shop or lots of tools the roll on primer can allow you to work on your car.This weekend I sprayed the final fill primer coat and the outside of car is ready for paint.I still need to weld in a section of the trunk floor and weld in one of Mike's radiator repair kits.I also have talked myself into pulling the engine to detail it and sandblast frame and floorpans of the car.I would post some pics but my home computer is still down at this time and I cannot post from work.I also have repaired and primed several of my son's 70 GS350 body panels with his help.Progress has been slower than I hoped for but has been done at a "as time allows pace" and between other paying jobs as well.This thing will see paint someday I hope.

[Rusty Davenport]

Well my car has been in the shed since my last post.I have been busy with some side jobs to make some extra money.My son and I have worked on some of his 70 GS 350 car parts at the same time.Today it was warm enough to prime his hood and I let him do the priming.I thought he did a nice job.Hope to get back on my car soon.

[Motor400]

Rusty, you're a credit to both gearheads and parents. Keep up the AMAZING work. My first Buick was a 72 Skylark Custom. Those cars have soul and obviously so do you.

[1967 Big Buick]

Takes a longtime doesn't it? I should post the pictures of a car i'm doing but it's not a Buick and i'd probably get tossed off the board.

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Jarrod,I think finding or taking the time is the biggest drawback.Seems like time is harder to find the older I get.Money is also always a problem but this has been done so far with very little money spent on my part.Hope it will continue to be low budget.

[GoldBoattail455]

Rusty,

I thought up a few questions while looking through this inspirational thread. I am planning on doing something of the same caliber/scale, with the main idea being low budget with work being done be myself.

1. Is the welder expensive? Something an average joe like me can buy, and along with a grinder put in patch panels?

2. Were all your patch panels old door skins? If so, do you think any body shop would let you go through their "scrap" pile?(or maybe make a trip to a junkyard)

3. Since you do bodywork, are wheelwells hard to replace without replacing th whole panel, just the lip? Could someone like me, learn to do this on his own with some effort and plenty of time?

4. Do you need a large air compressor for the paint gun? I know paint guns are lower psi than tools, but what size do you have?

5. Besides respirators, what kind of air circulation do you have in your shop/garage?

Thanks Rusty :TU:

P.S. I got more questions, but they are still stuck on my tongue. :laugh:

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Rob,I will try and answer your questions.1) I recommended to buy the best quality tools you can afford on Major items.My hand tools are Craftsman which work as good as Snapon in my opinion.My Welder plugs in to 110 outlet and can be bought for around $250.00 to $600.00 you will also have to lease or purchase a bottle for the welding gas as well.2) All my patch panels were made from metal from bodyshop scrap piles.you can purchase sheetmetal new from welding supply and bodyshop supply stores but that is a added expense that is unneeded.A scrap doorskin or bedside from a late model vechile has all the modern primers already applied to them front and back of the panels.I simply cut out my patch to size needed,grind off paint along the edge I will weld on and install and then prime were I welded.I like the idea the cost is free as well.I would think that if you tell a shop owner what you need the scrap for they would be glad to give you what you need;I have never had a problem.3) Making the lip on wheelwells is tricky and time consuming for sure.But don't rush things and get everything to trail fit before you start welding!!! 4)My air compressor is a industrial grade 5 h.p. unit that cost about $1650.00 but I do lots of work in my shop not just hobby stuff.Buy the best you can.You can purchase a pretty nice compressor for around $450.00 to $600.00 to do the job.5)Besides wearing a paint respirator I also have a exhaust fan to exhaust overspray while painting.It is mounted in the wall and has a shutter on outside that opens automaticlly when fan is turned on.I found it at a farm supply store it was designed for use in a hog house operation and cost around $150.00 which was much cheaper than units from paint shops.You can use a $15.00 home fan sat in a window opening and do just fine in a smaller home shop to get the job done.Get the paint mask at a body shop supply store and be sure to get one for PAINT a dust mask is not good enough.A quality paint mask runs around $20.00 and will last for a good while(depending on how much you paint) if you keep it in a zip lock bag when not in use.

[staircasesurfer]

hey rusty, whats going on with the car, do u have another thread? if not lets see some pic's of your car as she is now

[Rusty Davenport]

Hi Alex,Sorry I didn't respond to your question but I haven't looked at this thread in a long time.Just after you posted this I was in a accident and was unable to work on the car for the summer of 2005 and since I've been back working in the shop I have been mostly working on some side jobs.I did score a decent radiator support in a junkyard and was able to patch it with scrap metal and it came out pretty nice but was very time consuming to do.Also sandblasted and painted it and the bumper brackets as well.

[Rusty Davenport]

Lots of hand sanding here!

[Rusty Davenport]

Painting outside in Feb. hard to believe.

[GoldBoattail455]

Wow, looks awesome Rusty! Great work! :TU:

[paul c]

good job, keep this thread updated with more work in progress pictures.

[KevinsBuick]

Hey Rusty, have you done anything on the 72 Skylark or you sons 70 GS lately? Post up some pics I'd like to see your progress. Thanks, Kevin

[Taylor Davenpor]

rusty's son taylor here. I've just signed up on the board a day or 2 ago. stay on him about posting more pics and working on the car more often it could be ready to paint in a couple of weeks if we worked on it a couple hours every day after work. :rant: :grin:

[BuickGSXJuiced]

hey taylor i just had an idea for you name, you coulda left the space out

ex. TaylorDavenport.........just a susjestion :Do No:

then it would all fit in there

[chryco63]

Rusty or Taylor... any updates? :Do No:

[Rusty Davenport]

After not getting anything done on my car in forever it is now back in the shop and I've cutout and welded in the LH trunk pan,ground the weld,body filler on the seam,worked out and primered the trunk pan.All welding on the body is finished! Now I'm rebuilding the driver's door hinges with new pins,bushings,and roller pin.Also sandblasted door jamb while door was off.Haven't installed the gas tank back on car so since it doesn't run it will stay in shop and maybe I can get everthing finished up and painted by fall.

[killrbuick66455]

Great job Rusty and Taylor !! :TU: :TU: :TU:

[philosphrstone]

Great thread. Sweet to see all the stages this car is going through!

Wanna do the body on my 4 door granny car when you are done?!!!!!!

Good job on scoring the rally wheels... Mine are relatively rusty and yet I get compliments on them all the time. I was lucky and managed to find 15s though, which are a lot easier to find rubber for.

In case anyone is interested, I have the stock wheels with hubcaps that were on mine when I bought it. One of the hubcaps is dented, but the other three are all pretty nice. I should probably keep them, but honestly, I just love Buick rally wheels... always have, always will.

No forklift tires for my ride!

[garybuick]

Hi Everyone,Today I finished the welding on the left side of car. All rusted spots were cut out well beyound the rust,sandblasted then primed,and since then metal patches have been welded in as time allows. Glad to have the left side rust free and solid again!!Here is a picture after patch was welded in.

what kind of sandblaster do you use?

[BuickGSXJuiced]

what happen????

[Rusty Davenport]

Well I've not really done anything to the car in a while other than rebuild the door hinges.Car is basiclly ready for paint after one final blocking of the primer.I live out in the country but someone turned me in for having too many cars out back and I've had to have a new storage building built 30x80 this past summer $$$$$ shortage has caused me to have to do alot of side jobs nights and weekends to get $$$$$.On top of that I'm only working 4 days a week at my day job since Nov. as well.My son and I have just started to build a 24x32 building ourselves over the new year 08/09 holiday weekend.Someone I had done alot of bodywork for started building a 24x32 polebarn and got in a property dispute with his nieghbor and lost so He gave me the wood and trusses he had already put up/built and so I'm getting a pretty much free 24x32 building if we do all the labor as I had some left over metal/wood/post from the 30x80 building which was 2 each 30x40 packages that I had built end to end to get the 30x80 building[this was cheaper than having a 30x65 building built?] Seems like I NEVER get to work on MY CARS and when I get all this done I'll have some nice buildings that cost me a bunch of $$ full of project/junk cars; I must be sick in the head.