"GATOR", a Father and Son Project

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by 350sky, Apr 11, 2012.

  1. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    1972 Buick Skylark
    Thought I would start a thread on our project car. Just a recap, I have 3 sons that will be working with me on the car (20, 17, 13). My 17-year old has one more year and he will be off to college. He will be my right hand on this project with the other two sons helping when they can. We don't have any experience with building a car, none! But this is also just a fun car project for the time together turning bolts and learning.

    -We are going to make a lot of mistakes! I will share what we learn, just try not to slam the newbies too hard. We are on a steep learning curve.
    -We are not building a restore project! Not important for matching numbers or original parts.
    -We are not building to resell! We will have more money in this car than it's worth, but our time together will be priceless.

    Goals:
    * Build a muscle car that is very fun to drive on the street and has to be SAFE to drive.
    * Build a engine capable of 12s in the 1/4 mile.
    * Build a car that has it's own character that we can show. Not show quality, but still park and show it off at small parking lot shows. It won't be to everyone's taste.
    ... just enjoy our first build!!

    I'll start posting here our progress on the car as we go along. Again, we are new to all this and welcome any help!
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2012
  2. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    OK, so here is the car when we bought it (March 15th, 2012). Sorry, blurry pic.
    Buick_start.jpg
    We bought it from a kid that had already done some minor mods to it (Edlebrock carb, poston intake). Also a fresh Maaco paint job over what I believe was the original color white and soon after a hail storm beat the mess out of the car. Hail dents all over. But it started and drove!! LOL. My 17-year old negotiated the price down $800 from asking and we had our project car. Car was running horrible when driving it home (about 20-miles). Stalling out, too much gas or too little would cut out, found a perfect 30mph would drive nicely! The brakes are original drums and are not power. That was different. The steering wasn't too bad, but the steering wheel (aftermarket) was installed at 90deg to left? Throws you off driving down road and looks like we are making a hard left. Has that typical "floaty" feel when hit a bump. Also has a flowmaster exhaust that was dumping after muffler right under rear seat. You could not hear in the car it was so loud and the exhaust fumes were bad. Interior is shot, smells like 40 year old car and every piece is tore or cracked but the seats themselves which appear to have been replaced not too long ago. The rest of interior was painted black over beige and was flaking everywhere. The dash has a huge hole where radio was it looks like been ripped out. No speakers. All lights appear to work, horn is sad but works and glass has no cracks or chips. NO AC and NO heater. All in all ... LUV THIS CAR!! (also got the thumbs up approval from a couple guys at a stop light)
     
  3. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    Carb Adjusting

    First project: Learn to adjust the carburetor. (Well technically, first was insurance and getting tag current) Found a few vids on youtube and armed with a screwdriver, we started adjusting. And what the heck is this silver knob for under the dash, hey we discovered a manual choke. No kidding, had no idea!

    After following adjustment screw instructions from Edlebrock video, we got the car running pretty smooth! Our first couple runs we had the screws turned rich and could do a impressive burn out (10-yards) from start. Although it would not idle worth a crap and would cut out if you punch the gas at higher speeds (above 30mph). Adjusted the screws lean and wow, this old car running smooth... but sadly, she would not spin the tires. Hmmm, lots more video searching and discovering this website, we tinkered with the carb several hours and just could not find the sweet spot. Run smooth, but less "power" or run choppy but spin tires. I learned the carb is not the best carb for a Buick and I began my search for a QJet. Mark (carmantx) is building me one now. Great guy! Adjusted the Edelbrock to lean, car running smooooooth! But still having choke/idle problems. Pull choke, pump gas, she just a bear to start and just wouldn't idle right. I later purchased and successfully installed a electric choke and bingo, she starts right up with any hesitation! Now starts, idles and drives smooth.
    Buick_edcarb.jpg
     
  4. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    Exhaust / Wheels

    So the exhaust was horrible. Do not suggest ending exhaust under back seat. The smell would give you headaches! Took it to a local muffler shop that has worked on a few of our cars. He sealed up the exhaust leaks from poor weld job (guessing a home install) and then we extended to go out the sides just behind the rear tires. $300 later, the exhaust is MUCH BETTER! You can hear in the car and the fumes are all gone... now just old car smell. The headers are aftermarket (not sure what) and are 3" from motor to muffler. Past the muffler, the guy had to drop to 2.5" to get over the rear axle.

    What I learned was I don't care for the flowmaster sound. I want more aggressive, deeper sound. When I do replace the headers, I'll go with a different muffler.

    My son also works at Discount Tires and all the tires on the Buick were done. So we purchased these 17" tires and wheels. Sorry no pic of the before exhaust but from pic you can see where we took the exhaust tips out behind the tires and of course the new wheels.
    350buick.jpg
     
  5. scott kerns

    scott kerns Silver Level contributor

    Car looks good. You guys will have fun learning, getting frustrated, learning more, getting frustrated, etc. Doing a burnout once in a while makes it all worthwhile and promotes smiles....so what rims were on the car previously?

    Scott
     
  6. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    Engine Electical / Cold Air intake

    We did a mix of interior, radio and electrical over the next few weeks and a few little things. I have a few things on order (suspension/brakes) that we are waiting for UPS. So this isn't exactly the order that we did, but close.

    We replaced the battery which we found dead the next day after we bought it. I felt with the stereo, amp and speakers that was going on, we should upgrade the Electrical a bit while at it. Purchased a Optima Yellow top, new batt terminals, cables and a 1-wire 100amp alternator. When we replaced the Positive cable that runs to the starter, we made the mistake when we torqued the not on the solenoid, actually made contact with the other terminal (see my post on Engine Run On).

    Also got this double cold air intake, thought it looked pretty cool and was different, cork valve gasket (others leaking) and installed a MSD ignition. Easy install for MSD ignition module (except we thought it was initially causing the engine run on).

    Engine Pic now (sorry no before)
    buick_engine.jpg
    One Wire chrome Alt (note upside down)
    buickalt.jpg
    Optima Batt with New Terminals (w Volt Meter)
    Battery.jpg
     
  7. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    Radio / Some Interior

    Installed a pioneer stereo that I got for my Bday a couple years ago and never installed. Added Kicker front 6" and rear 6x9 speakers powered by 400watt Kicker amp. Kicker 10" square Sub powered by 500watt Kicker Amp. There was... is a huge hole in the dash where the radio is located.

    We built a temp console that to hold the head unit and have a small cubby hole. It looks a little off on the top, but thats the dash cover (just sitting on and not installed yet). I will build a more secure fiberglass console using this as a guide later. If you look below it, also installed new CARPET, the old one smelled bad.
    Radio.jpg
    Front speakers. Came up with a brilliant idea I would install these in the kick panels, fiberglass and install. Sounds easy... BUT... I didn't account for the emergency brake pedal being so close to the panel. So after I built these, I noticed the problem. Oooops! So these are temp too.
    FrontSpeaker.jpg
    New Grant steering wheel and if you look.. emergency pedal is not installed :rolleyes:
    Steering Wheel.jpg

    When all done, the system sounds fantastic. Very clean for my more classic rock taste, but gives the boy some "bump" for his craziness he plays!
     
  8. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    Coming Soon...

    The BRAKES on this Buick suck A$$! The disc brake conversion kit and master cylinder i ordered came in this week and expect the new suspension will also come in this week, or maybe first next week. I also have a rebuilt steering box and new pitman arm. This all looks like it may be a bear to install. I'll update as we go along. And just in case anyone is wondering, NO the radio was not that important to be one of the first mods... just something I can install while waiting on the other stuff to show up. Little packages coming in just about everyday, like Christmas around here :)

    Working on a deal currently to get a 455 engine and 400 Transmission for the rebuild. Going to use the 350 until the new motor is ready. After brakes and steering done, we may get it out to the track just to see where the 350 is and see if we can "tune" it better. At least that is the plan today. May get a chance to do a little interior work on the door panels, they are a mess, in between the bigger projects.

    Mark is building the QJet for me, so it will replace the Edelbrock carb, but for this motor, we are going to leave the Poston intake. Free a bit more on the funds side may see a order for NOS kit :TU:.

    Need to also start a bit on the body work. I have a few questions what may be best option for us that I'll ask in Paint section. I don't think I mentioned it here, but the GATOR name is because we are thinking Lime Green paint (probably stay with black and not Gator theme! Dang Florida gators :cool:)

    ---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:00 PM ----------

    Scott, I'm not exactly sure brand (crager maybe). It's common rim you see on muscle cars. You can kind of see them in the start pic thats blurry. 15" rims, we wanted a bit bigger. They were in ok condition. Maybe 6 out of 10 with scrapes and scratches. The tires were bald ... hmmm slicks ... lol, and the lug nuts look like they came from 3 or 4 different sets. Couple different wheel locks. We just replaced them all.

    Although they were probably worth a little money, I gave them away to have them out of the garage.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2012
  9. scott kerns

    scott kerns Silver Level contributor

    OK where to start....I like the Gator thing especially since I graduated from the University of Florida...I did see Sean mention the intake briefly, but I'll reiterate find a stock intake manifold unless funds are available for a TA manifold. (difference between these two is weight and money). Get that Quadrajet on there and make sure it is tested on one of their cars after the rebuild. It will make a difference in the amount of time for making adjustments to suit your car. Are they rebuilding it to performance specs or is it a stock rebuild? Cam and ported heads are certainly where anybody will tell you changes need to happen. I am undecided on which cam I will choose, but it will definitely not be stock.

    Now Sean or someone can chime in here....there was a member who is a mechanic that recently posted 1/4 mile times with a relatively stock 350, but tuned it so well that he was in the 13's with certain shift points and a stall converter. Anybody remember this?

    Good luck with your build and I will be following this one.

    Scott
     
  10. 350sky

    350sky Gold Level Contributor

    Hmmmm for that reason alone I may need to change my project name.:Dou: We are big OU fans in this house.
     
  11. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    First off, great progress! Seems like you guys are having a good time! Just wait till you get that Q jet on there, you will be surprised!

    Yeah, Artie did a nice job with a stock 350 at 80,000 miles, headers, and a TINY cam. Still no head porting and running mid 13s:

    http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?187641-Getting-there&highlight=artie
     

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