69 Skylark Convertible

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by Skidmark, Dec 12, 2011.

  1. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    With all the 70-72 builds here I thought I'd document my 69 build here for you 68-69 lovers like me! I turned 16 back in 86' and got my first car which was a 69 GS350 California for $500.00
    I absolutly loved that car and drove the snot out of it. So much so, that I blew a head gasket. I had to park it till I could fix it. I wasnt able to fix it and it sat for awhile, my parents eventually told me to fix it or get rid it...or THEY would get rid of it. They ended up getting rid of it...they gave it away to a guy they used to work with. I remember I was crushed...and mad. I always told myself I would have another 69 GS. Fast forward 25 years and I'm looking on Craigslist and happen to see a 69 Skylark convertible for sale. I go look, strike a deal and bring her home on August 26th of this year.
    Plans include a 455/TH400, 2" drop front and rear, factory black interior and vert top and aftermarket gauges in place of the factory gauges, a firm and more responsive suspension/steering and whatever else we decide along the way! Here we go...
     
  2. carmantx

    carmantx Never Surrender

    Alright. Pictures required now so we can see what's going on.
     
  3. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Cool story! If you need help posting pics let us know. :beers2:
     
  4. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    This is how she looked when I brought her home...
     

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  5. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible


    I working on it now...you guys just asked before I got to it...lol
     
  6. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    I wasted no time tearing her apart for a complete frame off restomod redo...I completely stripped the car of everything. I took every nut, bolt and screw off the frame and had it sandblasted. I epoxy primed it then shot it with 3 coats of gunmetal grey metallic and 4 coats of clear...frame looks great now. Here is some before and afters of the frame.
     

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  7. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    and now for the afters.....
     

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  8. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    Now to bolt on some new parts! Woo hoo...:beer
    Originally I was gonna start on the rear and then go to the front but I got a great deal on some tubular A arms and so I started at the front. I got these A arms from Performance Online.They fit like a glove and look great. When I bought the car the PO had already bought a front disc brake conversion kit for it. Its got 11" drilled and slotted rotors which is big enough for me. I wont be racing/auto crossing this car, just beating the snot out of it on the street, so they will do. I prepped the spindles and steering arms and then painted them. I painted the spindles a cast iron color and the steering arms silver. I bolted everything up with new Grade 8 hardware.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 14, 2012
  9. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    A couple weeks ago I bought a new steering kit from PST. It came with a new centerlink, idler arm and inner/outter tie rods. It also came with the standard new sleeves, but I opted for the slick aluminum ones:cool: ...I've read ALOT of good things about Eastwoods Chassis Black paint and even better things about their Ceramic Chassis Black paint so I ordered up one of their Satin Black kits for $99.00 and gave it a shot. I painted all the new steering pieces with it after appling the epoxy primer first. I am very pleased with the results and the ceramic kit leaves a very tough, durable finish.
     

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  10. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    As I mentioned before, I'm dropping the suspension 2" front and back. I called up Summit and ordered a pair of Belltech 2" drop springs for the front and a set of QA1 Stocker Star NA shocks to help cusion the ride. I've had QA1 stuff before and their stuff is top notch.
     

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  11. carmantx

    carmantx Never Surrender

    Looking good Collin. What's your time frame to finish?
     
  12. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    Ya know Mark, I really dont have a time frame to finish it. I just chip away at things and set small goals to get things done. I really enjoy working on it weather its something big or something as small as cleaning up some bolts on the wire wheel. I'd like to think I can have it finished within 2-3 years but you never know what life has in store so we will see.:)
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2011
  13. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    I'm a big fan of UMI Performance Suspension, they make great stuff right here in the USA and their stuff is as good as Hotchkis/Global West and others without the huge price tag. Summit had all the UMI stuff 15% off a couple weeks ago so I picked up a UMI 1 1/4" front sway bar. I installed it yesterday and also picked up a can of Dupli-Color ceramic caliper paint. I cleaned and prepped the front calipers and shot the paint on 'em...they turned out pretty good I think.
     

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  14. 2791 lark custo

    2791 lark custo Gold Level Contributor

    Wow does that look nice. Keep the pic comming, they inspire me to get going on my build.:beer
     
  15. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    I picked up the rearend from the media blaster on Friday. They did a great job cleaning up the out side of the housing. I also had them media blast the rear end cover, the ends of the axels and retainer clips. What I didnt like was they also media blasted the inside if the housing. That was a PITA,:af: but its spotless now! After cleaning it up I added some welds to the the coil spring mounts and the control arm/shock mounts, then wiped it down and shot it with epoxy primer. I painted the axle tubes and mounts with the Eastwood Ceramic Chassis Black and the center section is painted the same as the frame, which is gunmetal grey metallic. I cleaned up the fill plug on the wire wheel and hit it with a light coat of clear. I think it's kinda cool to see the words on the end of the plug after 40+ years, they also have a magnet pressed in the end of them to collect metal bits.
     

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  16. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    a few more...told ya the inside was clean now!!:Brow: :TU:
     

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  17. James P

    James P Founders Club Member

    Wow, beautiful work Collin. Looking forward to following your progress and it's always great to see another stepchild being reborn.
     
  18. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    Thank you Jim and Chuck...very nice of you to say so. Comments like that are great motivation to always do the best you can.

    Im kinda anal about the bolts/hardware. I like em all cleaned up and left the natural steel color that they are. Thats why I always work em over on the wire wheel and then shoot em with a lil clear coat. I think it adds some nice detail to the finshed product.

    Just a couple more pics of if finished.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 20, 2011
  19. Skidmark

    Skidmark 69 Skylark convertible

    On to the rear suspension! I got a set of Hotchkis control arm reinforcement bars from a member here, I also bought a set of upper/lower control arms plus a 1" rear sway bar from UMI Performance. I also picked up new 2" rear lowering coil springs made by BellTech from Summit, which is what's on the front too. In order was new rear coil spring isolaters by Energy Suspension and new upper control arm axel bushings. Man o man I LOVE bolting on clean new parts! All thats left is new QA1 Stocker Star shocks and the rear suspension will be almost all wrapped up.
     

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  20. scott kerns

    scott kerns Silver Level contributor

    Looks pretty! Keep up the good work!


    Scott
     

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