Cole Here is the link. http://www.oldcarnetwork.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=M1424B It was given to me by someone here actually. Don't remember their name. I plan on just cutting out the pieces that I need, and welding those in rather than using the whole piece.
I'm in West Texas, the great city of Abilene. My wife suggested I try and find a skylark already fixed so I wouldn't have to worry about it at this point this project is on hold until I figure out something to do
Nice, too bad that would only solve some of my problems. A couple of my friends suggested I buy that piece weld it in paint the car and get rid of it and I told them I wouldn't be able to sleep good at night if I did that.
If you are willing to do a lot of grunt work yourself you can replace that entire area in 1 piece. What you do is cut the dash, upper cowl panel and the trough area out of another car and then trim it back to the original weld lines. Then you do the same to the car. What you end up with is a car with an intact naked firewall and nothing else............. and a dash assembly with the cowl panel and trough. Then it's just a matter of welding the single piece back into the car. Everything gets welded on the original seams so there and no visible section lines. I have seen it done and it works great. Even if you do all the grunt work and have someone else weld it in, you should save a ton of cash. Duane
I'd start looking for a doner body. There's one out there somewhere, just waiting for you. My GS 400 body is a real mess, so I picked up a TX car for $300.00, problem solved. Look at the money you have to put into a resto and what it's worth in the end. For me it was easy math.:beers2: Rich
Exactly which is why I'm on the fence with this project. I had everything mapped out in my head. I'll post a picture of some of the parts I have ..... I know you guys keep mentioning a donor body but finding a convertible donor car is going to be challenging since most people will try and fix those don't you think.
Here's a couple of pictures of parts I collected for this project . I had the GS hood,fenders,and trunk lid all media blasted all are pretty nice pieces. One of the fenders had some holes drilled in it so its been repaired they did a nice job on it. The hood had some dings nothing major. If I decide to abandon this project this stuff might be for sale
Here's picture of my parts car this thing is amazing no rust on the floorboards but it does have some on the package tray and driver side trunk floor is weak. Also included is a picture of my 10 bolt posi rear end 2:56 gears I have some 3:42 gears I was going to install
Cole, I'd find a donor car like others have suggested, and maybe just cut out the pieces that you need in addition to that. You might be better off in the long run. The chances of finding a donor that is better than yours might be slim to none. But odds are it won't be rusted in the same places. I'm guessing that some of these cars had some windshields replaced at some point in their lives, and the work wasn't done too good. I could tell by the sealant on mine, that it wasn't factory original. My car is originally from California, and the sealant should have been brittle, but it was soft and thin in alot of spots. Mostly at the bottom. Of the people I've talked to, the factory put in a good amount of sealer, and concistently throughout the channel.
Thanks for the advice guys I did find another 68 Buick Skylark Convertible on the interent about 4 hrs away, but the guys wants $3800. Its messing the top doesn't know if it even works, hasn't put a battery on it since bought it 2yrs ago, he doesn't know if it runs or not, and has no clue about the rust condition. I asked him if was nego. on his price and he says well I might take $3400 depending if I need some money or not. He advertises good project vehicle he claims he doesn't sell junk and has been in business 25 yrs. Some people are just plain wierd.
I'm pretty sure that all that era GM A body are the same as the convertibles all use the same trim pieces and windshield glass. so that opens up your options for some of the parts. I have receipts of that work done on my 70 convertible. and had have proof as i have silica sand covering the top of the AC box under the dash. you get get a nice mig welding setup for about $800 with a bottle of gas. but as others have said take some time to further disassemble and see how extensive the damage is.
Cole, I wish I was closer, I would help fix that problem. I say save it and don't scrap it. Of course that is a body man talking. Put it on the back burner and enjoy the summer, and just pick at it when you can.
Well gentlemen I'm off to serve my country deploying until the end of yr. so this thread will end for now until I return I decided to sell the cars so if anyone is interested shot me a pm message I'll sell everything posted in this thread for $2500 Here's the parts breakdown good running 350 engine w/ comp cam Buick 350 TA headers Bucket seats center console w/shifter (still installed in 68 GS) Posi traction rear uninstalled 3:42 gears/ installation kit GS front sheetmetal Both cars anything else I have around the house Buick related Thanks guys for all the help if the cars don't sell then I probably end up fixing them
Hey guys I found this part out in Arizona will this work to fix my problem fit its from a 68-69 Chevelle http://azchevs.com/images/68_chevelle_rear_clip_001.jpg
the windshield channel will work with your skylark, in fact that whole cowl will work except for the torque boxes or body mounts but you dont need those anyway.
Chris, After reading the threads and looking at the damage I would search for another body as it'll be a whole lot cheaper and the aggravation factor will be a whole lot less. The $2,500 for repairs is cheap in my mind considering the complexity and unforeseen damage there. You need experience to fix this right, save the $$$ and headaches, find a rust free donor like 54Rich did. Your focus should be engine, trans, rear and suspension and paint. Just my 2 cents, good luck. Mike
To all both cars are for sale to whomever will pay the most obviously I can't part them out becuase I'm deployed and my wife is not a part puller. I would like to sell them as a pair but will sell separately as well all there doing now is killing my grass in the backyard. Here's a rundown of parts: 68 Convertible 350sbb with comp cam and springs TA headers 68GS 350carb needs rebuilding has new style alternator engine is good to go 350 tranny shifts good no problems 68 GS350 has complete untouched motor(I assume it needs rebuilding I never tried to start it) the spark plug wires were removed(previous owner) and carb(using it on the convertible). I was told the tranny was rebuilt I can not verify this. I took all of the front sheet metal off and had it media blasted everything is pretty nice and rust free one of fenders had some body work done yrs ago but nice repair. The car comes with center shifter and bucket seats nice floor pans everything is there and nice condition my ideal of taking 2 making 1 nice one has been shattered. All interested parties please reply in the thread no offer reasonable offer refused I have put a lot of personal time and money into these and I just want them gone. Thanks Chris
