Well, I guess its the end of the road for me and my Buick. I spent a couple of hours today getting it ready for inspection - fine tuning the carb, setting the timing, and running some Seafoam through it so it'd run a bit better. Still detonates - but not so bad I can't go to the local cruise with it on cool nights, but thats not what is so sad. I've got a rusty hole in my frame - talked to the frame guy and he said it wasn't so bad that I couldnt drive it but I should get it fixed before I put any power to it or before too long. Money was tight and I couldn't do it, but now that I can it appears that the hole has spread beyond repair. It is right behind the jack point between two bolts, and previously it was just up through the bottom and the sides were solid, but now there is a hole through the side and it is cracked down through to where the hole in the bottom is - to me, irrepairable. I will post photos later of what it looks like. The car has just become a good parts car for whatever car I get next. Sad day, since my mom helped me get this car and she just passed away about a month ago. So, I am now on a very serious hunt for a rust free, great running, decent driver... or at least a car with a great frame, 1970 Skylark or GS350. I am extremely partial to the '70's but would be willing to go with a '69 or '71 if it were the right car. Most importantly is that its in top mechanical condition, as I know I wont be finding anything locally so it will have to be driven from wherever it is to Upstate NY. I'd also be willing to take a '65-'67 GS, but I figure for the price Im looking for its kind of unrealistic. My budget is 10,000 dollars, but I'd like to spend less if possible, obviously. I wont be able to get it for another month or so, but will definitely be getting it. So, I've got a good trunk lid and hood for a '70 Skylark if anyone needs either one.
Frames Eric contact "The Parts Place" www.thepartsplaceinc.com 800-442-0411 They carry and sell used frames that have been sandblasted and powdercoated. I imagine they will run you $1200.00-$1800.00 plus shipping. Check them out and the best of luck to you.
Sorry to hear that Eric. I'm sure you've thought it through and all but maybe things aren't as bad as they seem???? 10k will buy you a lot of TLC for your car if taken to the right places :Brow:. I've put about 13k into my car in the last 18 months and while not a show winner it's something I'm proud to own and it's 100% drivable and reliable. That number includes paint, interior, some engine goodies, suspension etc.... I wish you luck :beer
There seems to be an over abundance of decent frame laying around here.A 71 and 2 72's plus a 68 GS 400 frame...How far is Hudson Falls from Williamsport??? Pat EDIT... The car in my avatar was given "new" life as it was installed onto a new donor frame.Car needs some more work yet but I have hope.
I hear ya! Eric, my Mom's '85 Riviera has the same problem, car was undercoated and not washed enough, and the rear frame is gone! I took handfulls of rust out of it, and it sits in there, cause she can't believe it's that bad. Had a new exhaust put on the prior year to the NY inspection, when they said the frame was gone. The interior is gorgeous, yet, and the body, well, it's ok, but sitting hasn't helped it. Still runs great, as the engine stuff, like oil changes and stuff were done, on schedule, but I just don't know why they didn't get the salt washed off, of course being cold in NY and being 'older' to be outside washing a car isn't the thing to do. But they do have a auto carwash in town, and I showed her how to take the '95 Riv Creampuff through it, but not sure that is happening either! Find a welder that might want to fix, or look up the place in PA, that has frames, but that is a job to change! Wish you all the best in replacing or fixing your Buick,ETC!
I have a frame in a 2 door 70 lark here and I have a GS frame bare in MINT condition. I am sure Rick Henderson could deliver it to you!!
Woah! Guess the overwhelming concensus is to swap out the frame! TSGS69400 - I'll check them out, thanks! Rick - TLC is what my car needs, I basically want what you have - a good, reliable driver that is MINE. Pat - Williamsport is about 340 miles from Hudson Falls - a 6 hour drive or so I'd guess? Roberta - 85 Riv's hold a special place in my heart, an 85 was my first car. It wasn't much more than rust held together by paint, but it got me around! Mike - I might take you up on that offer, but in all honesty, Rick should probably be hauling stuff from here to there instead of the other way around. I've got the problem that not only am I not experienced enough to be comfortable to take the body of my car off of its frame, but I also dont have the tools or the space really to swap out frames. With a couple extra hands I might be able to do it, so if anyone happens to want to spend a weekend gettin' dirty, I can accomidate! We'll see what happens - my car also has a lot of rust issues in the body which will probably cost me an arm and a leg to repair as well, so Im not sure if I should start fresh or not. This car does have a lot of sentimental meaning in it, but my mom was also an accountant, and money talked with her. It'd definitely be cheaper for me to start with a better car and make it mine from there. Here are some of the photos that I took this evening. The photos dont show the crack very well but I can stick my fingernail in it And there is basically this in all of the fenders/quarters/doors And here's the car. Didnt mean to cut off the nose but I brought the wrong lens for my camera and was up against my neighbors house... and my house was blocking the rest of the nose
Eric strip that undercoating off and see how bad it really is, any welder with some fabrication skills could patch it for you,at least to hold together for a while anyway,until you find a frame.
Eric, I would not be quick to throw in the towel. My 68 Corvette would have been a parts car until I took a closer look at it. So I wound up doing a frame off restoration!!! After pulling the body I found the frame was super solid, all but the kick up at the rear wheels. A aftermarket suppler makes the repair sections for that car and they match perfect and the design makes the frame even more stronger then before. The frames for you car are available reasonable and there are more then likely repair kit available, but you need to look at the whole picture now.........how is the rest of the frame?......what kind of shape is the body.......how much work can you do your self? And there are many other question, been there so if you need any help on this PM me or I'll look for your posts in this forum :beer AL.
hi eric i have a good frame under the 72 that you can use .also if your looking for a another car chris lott has one for sale.in texas.
Hey everyone, Thanks for the support. CPK - I wasn't sure if, once it got to that point (where there was rust up through the bottom AND the side AND it had cracked) if it were repairable at all. I might have to make a visit to the body shop (only frame repair I know close enough for me to drive the uninstpected car) Al - to my knowledge the rest of the frame is ok but I havent really looked very closely anywhere except there. I knew about the rust hole just didnt have the means until now to fix it. As far as work I can do myself; not much. I'm not very mechanically incline, unfortunately, and dont have very many tools or very much space to work with. The body needs at least one fender and repair in the other, probably two new doors or at least repair there, and probably at least one quarter panel, the trunk floor is rotted out, too, as well as rockers, the filler panel behind the rear window, and the front lip of the roof under the vinyl top. Floors are solid according to everyone thats seen the underside of the car, but it was in an accident at some point and broke one of the front bumper supports and the bumper itself. Todd - I didn't know that frame was good under the '72, I may have to stop by and check it out. If thats the case then it seems like a no brainer assuming I can figure out how Im gonna swap the body off of mine and onto that one. I saw that Chris had a beautiful car for sale - another very serious option as I can fix everything thats wrong with that one with parts from mine (steering box leak, master cylinder). I also should get that engine out of your hands before winter time so its not out in the snow. Hows your car? I saw some burnout marks... does that mean what I think it means?
hi Eric i will check the 72 again to make sure my car is progressing those marks are from my friends mustang with a stroked 302 .i got rid of my truck and got a new blue one same thing and yes it has a hemi.if you want to do the frame thing we came take the one out here at work i think there's a place in albany that will blast it and powder coat for under 500.00 and that's a good deal.
500 dollars for a blast/powdercoat is definitely a good deal. I guess it looks like I'll be doing a frame off on this car after all :grin: Thanks for the support and help everyone... obviously I'll keep people posted no matter what I do.
