1964 Buick Skylark Convertible - Turbo LS6 Swap Build

Project VerTTigo - 1964 Buick Skylark Turbo LS Convertible

Warning: If you're a Buick purist, you might want to click the X to close this window now...lol.
Figured I'd start this build thread now that I've got the car in my possession. It's my father-in-law's car, which was purchased just under a year ago.
He found the car up in Hurley, WI. It was supposedly originally a New Mexico car, and aside from the 3 coats of different colored paint, and some holes in the trunk floor, it's a very, very solid car.


Plan EDIT 12-15-2015...bcuz scope creep. lol : The plan is to swap a forged iron 383" LS into the car, backed by a stalled 4L80E, 12 bolt posi rear, and twin Borg Warner S360s. My father-in-law wants something that is unassuming looking to cruise around in, but packs a sucker punch when you flatten the loud pedal. He's also got a 2012 Camaro SS convertible, but this will be a whole different animal.











My FIL got it home, cleaned it up and fixed a few things, and then drove it the rest of the summer. It has a 310 Wildcat V8, and an ST300, 2 speed auto trans. It is NOT fast, but it's a sweet cruiser.

 

Welcome i also got a 64 vert and i will be watching your progress, let us know where your at, there may be members close by that can stop by and help you on the car or the very least help you drink your beer Good Luck Chris :TU:

 

Thanks Chris. I'm near Peoria, IL.

The biggest challenge will be learning about A-bodies and Buicks in general. Never really messed with them too much.

Other than that, I'm not at all worried about this project....I've LS swapped a whole bunch of other stuff before.

My 69 C-10 with a turbo 5.3L....then an N/A 5.3




1975 CeeBee Avenger Jet Boat with a cammed 6.0L





1988 Monte Carlo SS with a cammed and sprayed 6.0L


72 K/5 Blazer - 825 rwhp Turbo LSx

 

LS engines fit into everything, even saw one in an airplane. With your skill levels that swap should be a no brainer!

 

great swap! Send me a PM if you are interested in a manually shifted electronic computer for the 4L80E... The guy who built mine could build another one... Paddle shifters on the steering wheel control the up and down shifts and the column is still used to select, park, nuetral, drive etc.

 

I'm a bit of a purist with these cars, but smart enough to know that your swap will indeed catch many by surprise. Check out speedtigger's build on his 65 Skylark with an LQ9 engine. He's running 10's on spray. I think he also has a build thread on his car too.

 

Should be an interesting project. I've seen your other stuff on Pro-Touring.com. Nice stuff.

 

Have a look at this thread. i think this one makes about 800 HP

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?174791-Cruel-Intentions&highlight=turbo+ls

 

Thanks.

Yeah, that's a very similar setup to my Blazer, same cam, nearly the same cubes and compression, but my turbo is bigger and my heads are flow more, and I'm on E85. However the blazer is a few hundred lbs heavier, and his suspension looks to be dialed in real well.

Shooting for a low 11 second, drive it anywhere, pump gas deal with this buick. Not looking to set any records...just lots of grins.

 

I'm in to watch this build happen......damn those LS swaps throw down!!

 

Sweet project,it should be lots of fun to drive when its done!!:TU:


Derek

 

This will be one cool build to follow!!!
Love the blazer with the 68 front clip!!!
Chris

 

Ah! Someone who knows their old Chevy trucks! Good eye.

 

Great car to play with and you will find great people on this site to help you (if you need any parts, list your needs in the wanted section). The 64 - 65 is hard to get sheet metal for so you are lucky to have one with little rust to repair. The look of the car as-is with the look you have under the hood of the Blazer will leave others with the what the?, look on their face. I'll be following your sleeper build.

 

Cyber monday was good to me. Picked up a complete Stage 4 handling kit from UMI. Planning on tearing into the car later this week to get the old drivetrain out.

 

Very cool, I am subscribing to this thread! There are a lot of people who want to go fast without buying a $7000 Buick block...

 

Thanks Sean! I almost puked at the thought of a $7000....BLOCK?? Jeez. I got a 1200 hp capable forged bottom end 370" LS shortblock for $3800 for my Blazer. o No: lol


I also forgot to add that since I love the Holley EFI so much in my Blazer, I picked up another Dominator EFI setup for the Buick. I'm done jacking around with tuning stock LS ECUs...
Built in electronic boost control, 2 and 3 step rev limiter, low-Z injector drivers, closed loop WB02 fueling, DBW support, 4L80E transmission control, LS coil near plug support, tune on the fly...etc etc.

 

Smart move, I asked Santa for that EFI system since the new 350 intakes are MPFI ready.

 

That's awesome, but the intake having injector bungs is only part of the equation. You still need a crank trigger of some sort, and if you want to run sequential, you'll need a cam sensor also. Most guys convert the distributor to a cam signal. Very worth it though, IMO.

 

Game on!



Needs a bath...bad.



The good news is that the old engine is sold and gone already!! Only sat on my hoist leaking for about a half hour before the new owner came to grab it.