Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum...I'm in the Air Force, currently stationed in Japan & am wanting to do a restomod to a 70-72 Skylark 2 door when I return. I've been thinking about this for some time, as I HAD a '70 that I was fixing up, that my parents sold out from under me when I was out of town! :af: Anyways, with the lack of aftermarket support for Buick V-8's as far as fuel injection & overdrive transmissions, I've been considering trying an LS-1 swap from a '98+ Z28. I realize a lot of guys are purists, and would rather seen this done to a Chevelle (which has been done) but I prefer the Buick bodystyle over all the other GM A-Bodies. I just want a more modern drivetrain. The LS-1 is a powerhouse (for a small block) and has a HUGE aftemarket. With a T-56 trans, guys have gotten up to 31 MPG on the highway! I wouldn't feel as guilty using it since Cadillac & Pontiac are now using it as well...if Buick still was in the game perhaps they might have too...? I do love Buick motors, but am NOT a fan of $3500 custom fuel injection & transmissions! Roller cams & supercharger kits (as well as turbos) are readily available for this motor & would be relatively easy to install in the larger engine bay of an A-Body. I would get a really clean Skylark with a bad engine or sell all the take off stuff, wouldn't be "destroying" a rarity like a GS or other rarer model. What do you guys think? Oh, my little brother is on here quite a bit as well, he's stationed in Japan (up near Tokyo) & has a 68 Wagon with a 455 in it, as well as his little Datsun!
LS -1 Conversion Welcome to the board . Howz' it going over there ? How much longer before you're a "Short Timer" ? You may get some "kickback" on the Chevy Train but I think it's a very good idea myself . i've got a 72' Custom that I'm currently doing . I just got Car Crafts' December Issue and they've done a great feature on the LS1 / LS6 and they're getting some good numbers from them . I wouldn't mind a 6.0 but I'm just dreaming . Good luck on the conversion if you decide to do it . I'm sure it's pretty straight forward , just the electrics and the fuel curves would baffle me . Steve
I've got a little less than 2 years to go...been over here a bit more than 4 years now...I was thinking of fixing up the Capri, which I bought cheap on leave last spring, but have decided to give it to my younger sister for a first car...it's just a bit warmed over from stock, with a rebuilt 302/C-4 combo & open rear. I just can't stop thinking of having a nice Skylark again, especially when I see my brother's wagon next to my two 5.0's! It seems like prices for clean ones have shot through the roof over the last few years...I paid less than $500 for a daily driven '70 with a 350 2-bbl...I put in new front floor pans & fixed all the rust, rebuilt the brakes, painted it '92 GM Teal metallic & put on a '70 GTO wing (which I got for $20!), & put on dual exhaust & an OK stereo all for less than $1,000, with the help of some friends! That was way back in late '92, I don't think I could duplicate that now! I left it at my parent's place when I went there to pick up my '84 T/A I had left there & they decided to sell my Buick without asking OR telling me a few months later! They were worried my other brother would wreck it because it was "too fast"! Then a few months later, they bought him a '68 Riviera with a 430! Still bothers me to this day! :af: I just want a rust-free 70-72 Skylark to fix up & have for a weekend cruiser!
Hats off to you. I was looking at that even when dropping the 455 into my 72 GS ragtop...of course, being a GS I don't want to mod it much, but an LS1 or 2 even with a four speed auto would be an awesome compliment to one of these cars. Don't forget to upgrade the brakes and handling too. I assume if you are planning to do this you have some coin, those engines aren't cheap and you will be doing some fabrication for sure. I think the biggest problem would be physically mounting the drivetrain...you will probably need to fabricate mounts to get it in there at the correct angle, but once its in there the rest should be easy (question, how close is the chevelle frame ot the skylark frame?? Maybe the kit could be adapted) You can buy used ECMs or even new ones from GM. GM also seels a turn key LS1/four speed auto ready to drop in to old cars wiht all computer equipment neccessary. I would think the accessory drives would be the biggest headache depending where they are, you may have frame interference. If you do this, keep pictures and template of everything. You might start a trend.... later Tim
As far as I know, Chevelle & Skylark components should be interchangeable...we're talking suspension, driveline, etc. They are both A-Body GM's. The swap's been done into Chevelles as well as a whole lot to first-gen Camaros. I would buy an entire car most likely to use for a donor...but there are a few places I've found who specialize in LS-1 swaps. A bit of fabrication never scared me! I figure I'll buy a good running LS-1 Camaro when I get back & drive it until I can find the Skylark I want. Get a Painless wiring harness, some shorty headers, good fuel system & go to town. It would be a lot easier to have someone do it for me (which is a possibility, but expensive!) as I could just drop off the car for a few months & pick it up when it's done. I will spend on quality work...I just don't want to get ripped off. I know my brother spent almost $6,000 on his 455 alone, and still has to re-do his tranny...it does have a crapload of power, but in a big heavy wagon body it's going to take a lot more to break out of the 13's...so far it's only gone low 14's. I realize in a Skylark body it would be about a second & a half quicker. I like the idea of 400Hp in a Skylark with overdrive and fuel injection...not hard to do with an LS-1, just a decent cam, head porting, & headers with true dual exhaust. I can run 4.11 gears and still have good mileage! I think that combo in a 3500Lb car should be good for 12's with traction. I would also re-do the suspension & run some good size modern rubber under there. There are a lot of choices as far as that goes. My little Japanese car makes around 400Hp with only 4-cylinders (SR20DET) & 2,600Lbs! Of course I've got about $8,000 in mods to it! Talk about fun! I wish I could bring it back with me!
