Passed my last test of the school year tonight, so now im on summer vacation (minus the work portion of my apprenticeship) and can try to prepare everything i need for the skylark to come home, and make piecing the car back together easier than when me and dad built it the first time
Wow Greg, I knew there was serious surgery going on but hadn't seen these pics. This is m/l what I'll be doing to my '70 GS 350 4-sp. & '71 GS convertible although I'm using original sheetmetal and I think will be able to to it in a little bigger pieces. About as shy of a rebody as one can get (@Brian Albrecht). I figured it could be done like that but never seen anyone do it. You're on the downside now! Can wait until mine are at the stage yours is now. Nice to know those bumper cores I saved for so many years are going to such a worthy project. Maybe just me but it's always neat to sell someone parts & then see them on the completed car - Kinda feel an attachment to it.
Im still laughing that i didnt believe them when they said they were going to take everything apart lol dano i cant wait to see your 4spd and the convertible when they are done. They are going to look very nice
Prepping for car to come back. Car will be home july 3rd. Was stripping down my bucket seats to restore. found part of a build sheet (mice got rid of the mojority of it those little Bastards) and the car these seats came out of was charged? to Dino Buick in Stroughton, Mass. Thought that was pretty neat to find amidst the mouse house
Well, it has been over 2 years since i have had my skylark in my possession. However, that all changed today when me and my dad brought the car home. To begin the next phase of the project. I cant thank the guys on this board for helping to get me to this part of the project. Whether it be buying body panels or infinite knowledge and wisdom i appreciate it all. Im sure i will have a metric s*** ton of more questions as i progress. Shootout goes to Iron City Rods and Customs as well for taking good care of my buick while it was away, and doing incredible work. Unfortunately they will be moving to Florida at the end of this year to continue their great business down there and be able to enjoy hot rod season 24/7. Great guys at that shop.
Awesome! For anyone who hasn't read this thread, go back to page 2 and see what was done to save this car. Incredible. Greg & I have kept in touch for close to a year now as I sold him a pair of bumper cores for this project and have a similar type body resurrection coming up on my '70 GS 350 4-sp.
No update pics today. Placed a decent sized order from OPGI and ToddsGS today hoping to start really rolling on the build this weekend. Tonights project is Organizing the garage to make this as easy as possible (knock on wood) lol
Got my firewall pad, roof insulation, ac delete box, and a couple other things for the buick this week. Small "oopsie" with the reproduction inner and outer cowl piece i ordered from opgi that was put in. Book Says it was for 70-72 buick which is 90% true. The 90% is the fitment and look in the GM A body shell. The 10% thats not true is the way the brake pedal bracket mounts into the firewall/ dash which also holds the steering column. That piece on the buicks is different than the piece that comes on the reproduction panel. As shown in pics below. So i am currently fixing this small hiccup, and looking to move way farther ahead soon top picture is the piece from another 72 skylark i found on the internet. Bottom picture is my car with the chevelle bracket from opgi
Got body separated from frame today. Will stiffen it up next sundayand work on a couple pieces through out the week
Finshed stripping the frame of all parts tonight out with the old and soon will be in with the new. Suprisingly came apart real easy. Put a call in for a mobile dustless sandblasting person to come to the house and blast it clean for welding on sunday, that being said i have some fabrication to do...
Got a visit from the sand blaster today. Frame welding tomorrow. Hopefully we have enough gas in the tank to get the majority of the welding done
My co worker who is welding/ stiffening my frame, and teaching me the proper way to weld as well, came over this morning so we could get to work welding. Got the main plates fit up and tacked into place (made a huge difference off the bat) as well as some gussets i made. Welded up the majority of the crossmember, and the bar that will stiffen the spring buckets as well. Hopefully welding will wrap up this week so the frame can get painted
Late night in the garage tonight. Got the driver side rear box plate tacked in, and finished fitting up my rear upper control arm ear braces ( had to make sure the springs wouldnt hit them). This way i can tack them in tuesday night after work, make the final welds on thursday evening or saturday morning
