Yesterday,my step-son,Dustin and I made a trip to Poughkeepsie,New York to fellow V-8 member Mike Littlejohns(Beamer) house to get a 72 body shell that was put on the Pay It Forward thread.We loaded the Toyota with a rearend,tools and wheels and had the dolly hooked and ready to go.I was a little worried that it was a long way to pull a car home with my truck.We left bright and early at 4 am. I knew that it might be a long day when immediately the low beams went out on my truck.We still proceeded on and as we got around 65 miles away it began snowing.Hard!I started to get worried and was debating turning back but we pressed onward.As we got more toward NY it started to look like it was going to turn out to be a nice day.We arrived at Mikes house around 7:30-8:00 am and began talking strategy.We had to remove the front disc setup on thre car and replace it with a drum setup I brought with.Then we took the engine,tranny,headers,seats and rearend out.After that was done we put the rear I had in it to tow it home.All this was done in about 5 1/2 hours time.Until we came home,Mike threw in 3 bumpers,and we bought 2 sets of 350 headers and an exhaust and a non tilt floorshift steering column.We said our thanks and then Dustin and I started for home around 2:00 pm.I was totally impressed at how the car followed behind my truck and that my Toyota did such a great job.This truck pulled the GS up a 1250 foot elevation in 5th gear around 55 mph!We cruised most of the way home on I-84,I-81,and I-80 70-75 mph.We only had one incident that really scared the h$ll out of us.We were about 1/2 way home and I was passing a slow truck (A Chevy:laugh: ) and the car started to sway real bad.After we got it to a halt we noticed that I was a bonehead and forgot to tighten the lugnuts totally.We tightened them up and had no problems after that.The return trip took about 4 hours and we were blasting everyone with the high beams. I would like to thank Mike for the freebie and to let everyone know that he is a real cool dude to deal with.He went out of his way to help us and jumped right in to help.We even met Santa in his front yard.Guys like Mike is the reason Buick people are so special.He even threw in some Bourbon balls for the trip home.Thanks,Mike Pat:beer
Jeez, with this much Buick activity going on despite the cold and snow I'm feeling like a jerk for not driving the measly 55 minutes up to my shop to start my Skylark todayou:
Good job Pat!! Mike is a "prince" isn't he? Real nice guy with a passion for what he is doing. Did you get a glimse of the suncoupe? Gotta be close to being finished. Gee, want another '72 for the project? Have one sitting in my driveway.
Bill, He tucked the Suncoupe away just before the the last snow there,so we didn't get to see it but,we did see the Garrison motor and theTH-400 that goes in it I believe.Also seen the white interior in his house too.He is a real nice Buick man and we really enjoyed meeting him.Too bad we didn't have a little more time for socializing though. Now about that 72 you are offering...........Are you serious?Any pics?We are trying to get enough parts around to try to make something so my other step-son may get a GS someday.We are trying to piece things together so we all can enjoy them.This car we got from Mike needs TLC and several parts.We aren't too much worried about it being show quality,just a cool driver. Why is it that I have to cross all them darned bridges to get to NY?I told Mike and he just laughed when he informed me that I had to cross the Hudson River.I have a big fear of them big bridges and Lord look out when I have to cross one!Its floorboarded and I'm in the center lane all the way.:laugh: Pat
Good to hear that thing didn't fishtail out of control! THose things are hard to stop once they get going. Just ask Mike Garrison!:eek2: :eek2:
Pat, It's snowing here again so I'll get some pics as soon as I can. I live on Long Island so there will be more bridges to cross. ( sounds philosophical) It's a '72 Skylark Custom, bamboo cream, 350-2bbl, TH350, has both bumpersw/rubber, just about a complete car. What parts you lookin' for?
