Hi , i'm new to the forum . And also a new owner of a Muscle car. I'd like to know if you know some trouble or things to watch for the 350-2 ... stock in a 1968 Buick Skylark Custom The specs are : V8 - 350-2 = 230 Hp@ 4400 350 Lbs @ 2400 3.800x3.850 9.0:1 rear 3.08 gear , powerglide 2 speed tranny thanx
Yeah, keep an eye out for smoke comming from the rear tires! Seriously, you have a stout engine. I really like the aluminum rocker arms on 68 and 69's. Only thing to look for is to keep an eye on the oil pressure. Our engines have oil pumps that are housed in aluminum, and the aluminum can wear, and loose oil pressure. I personally don't care for that trans. Isn't it a ST300? Look under the dash at the gas pedal. If there is a switch that engages when you punch the gas, then you have a ST300. What is cool is that (I believe) it has a switch pitch converter, but I never liked that trans. I remember way back when I had a 68 like yours and the trans would go like in a temporary "neutral Twilight Zone" when I took a hard corner!
Why should it have a Chevy engine just because its from canada? All '68 buick skylark imported over here from new are built in canada. All have buick 350, 2 speed, 12 bolt rear I suppose the rear is a Chevy part. Peter
Whoa, I had forgotten about the 12 bolt rear! That's awesome. If he's got a 3.08 12 bolt posi it is a sweet rear end! (did that sound funny?) I went through much work and expense to put a 12 bolt in my Lark!
Hey, at least you didn't say "thats a sweet third member" ... I wish I had a 12 bolt from the factory uzzled: I will most likely end up with a f*rd rear... just because I know I can order it and have it "Drop in"... relatively easy. like Andy said, watch out for oil pressure... remember that even Buick 350's like lots of air/fuel (so consider upgrading to a 4bbl carb/intake... which I haven't done to my 350-2 yet), and watch for tire smoke... it can sneak up on'ya :grin:
It's a Canadian car as i decode the v.i.n , I'm not a mechanic and i don't really know the word "posi" in french ( yeah i'm from Quebec so .. a frenchie loll ) Is "posi" mean that the 2 rear wheels are lock ... if yes they are actually lock I'm not sure for the 12 bolts , how can we see it ? is that the inside bolt or the outside one's that count ? Thanx for your answer
I believe you count the bolts on the cover, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Best way to check for "posi" is by doing a burnout on even, dry pavement, and seeing if it leaves two blackmarks instead of one :Brow:
Ok ... it's a "posi" :beer i'll check out later for the 12 bolts My muscle car palace look out for the Skylark Custom 1968 album !
This thing about 10 or 12 bolts is a penis envy thing. Unless you're running a hell of motor the 10 bolt is enough. Just my .02
I always figured if I built/bought a 455 such as the level1 from tri shield, that my 8.2 10 bolt would kill itself the first time I launched hard and actually hooked... or even close to hooked. o No: But I suppose since this is the small block forum that you're refering to holding up under a 350's power :grin:
mine is behind a 462. it hasn't broken yet, but it has all new gears a new rear end is something I'd do after it breaks, not before.
What gears and stuff are you running? If I can retain it (even if I have to get new axles and center section) then that'd be great. I should probably get a posi unit with 3.42 or so gears anyway.
At this stage I'm expressing more confidence than long on experience. The rear end is rebuilt GS350 peg leg. New 3.73 posi gearing behind a hardened 200-4R tranny. Airbags and a set of Mickey Thompsons. Race springs and no hop bars going on in the next couple weeks. So if it's going to pop, it shouldn't take long to find out. Less than a dozen runs on it so far. Here's a pic with the new tires. Wheels are light weight stock car type 15X8" rims. With a little luck, hoping to see some sunlight under the front wheels one of these days.
Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't GS 10 bolts after '70 8.5"? Either way, your car looks awesome... if I ever get around to doing the suspension on mine, those stock car rims are what I was going to use to go Autocrossing (thats right, big car, small track, gotta be fun right?)
I tend to agree with that, but there are some points to consider. Up until very recently, the 12 Bolt was the only A Body rear that a person could buy a new posi diff, axles, and a huge array of gear ratios for. Still, the 12 Bolt wins for aftermarket gear ratio and diff. availability. Yes, they are only a bit stronger than the 10 bolts, but they have a "cool" factor to some people as well. My $.02
12 bolt thing Well at least mine was built in Mass. and has a 12 bolt too...tell me how rare is that :Brow: :eek2: :Brow: . I only have hear of 3 in existance, and I have 2 of them :eek2: ..too bad the other one is shot to hell . So far this is the only custom to have been built that way! :TU: Larry
