72 Skylark has arrived. Updated w-pics. This thing has potential, but it's gonna be a long road. Odometer reads 58K, but the title says 'exceeds mechanical limits', but the pedals aren't worn out. So, I'm not sure about true mileage. You can tell that it sat for a LONG, LONG time. The car needs the rear frame section, fenders,front/rear bumpers, grille, small section of floor pan in front of drivers seat,and trunk floor. The interior is shot. The carpet was gone, so it was easy to see the entire floor, which was a plus. It is a power steering, manual drum brake car, bench(BJ) seat, column shift, manual window hard top. Doors, rockers,1/4's are solid-so far. Hood is solid, but has a dent(front end collision with a wall after being pushed off of a trailer). Trunk lid is solid. Glass is good. There is rust around the back window area, but it doesn't appear to be rotted out. None of this is really that big of a deal as I picked the car up for $500...so I could always scrap it if I find more problems. I'll snap some pics later, but she ain't nothing to look at as she sits. lol. :dollar: x :dollar: x :dollar: + :dollar: = :3gears:
Still has the factory radio. Pedal wear... Usually the numbers get out of alignment @ 100k, but mileage doesn't really matter once the work is done. Typical fender rot Hard enough hit to bust the grille and split the front bumper. Dent in the rear bumper
Very nice start. Good luck with the project. I have some good rear frame sections I can cut out for you if you are interested.
Someone needs to be frank with you about this car. For this car, and rusty skylarks in general, you would be better served financially by parting out this one and buying a rust free skylark already done.
You're mostly right, but there is no fun in buying someone else's work. This car's going to be a money pit that will never return the money spent, but it will serve as a project for me and my 2 boys. I'm not building a numbers matching car to trailer everywhere,just a driver. :TU:
Progress! Not too much yet. I've only had a couple of hours after work tonight before it got dark. She did have AC... Front's all torn off. I did fine a couple of spots that need attention that I didn't see with the car together... I've got a tripod setup lined up to lift the body off the frame. Sure would be nice to have a garage.:laugh: Kids are all excited...They keep asking when the engine's going in. o No:
Are you in central Ohio? There was Lark local to me that has been sitting, gone the other day, now. That PS fender looks familiar..........
I agree The fun is in the journey not the destanation.. Good luck, but you do have a lot of work ahead of you.
Yes I do. I'm already looking at a more in depth resto than I had originaly planned. But, that's all part of the fun too. This has become a budget Buick build.
Well, it wasn't exactly an easy feat, but the body is off of the frame. Took me and a coworker 3 hours to do it. The tripod wouldn't go high enough, so we had to teeter totter it a bit. Yes, it was done on the gravel, outside of the shed. We had to let the air out of the rear tires to clear the rockers-which are solid. Now, I just have to pull the rear end and get it ready for the replacement frame coming next weekend. Then I can start cleaning all of the gunk and grease, and rust out from under the body. Someone actually tried to keep this car from rusting. The trunk is not as bad as I thought. It's going to get replaced with all new steel, but we used the 2 drain plugs as lift points and the floor never gave an inch.
Please do yourself a favor. The cinder blocks are not structurely sound on its side, turn them 90% so they don't crush and using the ramps as supports don't look safe either. Make thoses changes before getting under that car! George
I have some pretty good headlight bezels if you need a set. I also fixing up a couple of 72 grilles that will be for sale down the road. Let me know how bad your grille is - maybe we can trade + some money.
The rear is still hooked to the chain on the tripod as well as setting on the jack stands. I also realized the problem with the block this morning when I looked at it. Plan on resetting it before I start the work though-the whole setup is about 3" too low and the frame won't clear. But the first thing I plan on doing is pulling the rear end and prepping it for the new frame.
