So I was lucky enough to find this Skylark 15mins from where I live and was planning to drive it home. I went up today for a second look and test drive (lovely weather today, last time I looked at it, it was misty and cold!) and the front drivers side Drum brake was locking up. The owner said he'd rebuilt that paticular wheel cylinder over the winter, and ran new brake line. What would cause something like that? not being adjusted correctly?
Welcome to the board, Your 67 project makes me want to start detailing. Looks solid and a good wash and polish and it will look like a different car. Locking brakes, I would blame brake fluid or just from sitting. The drums will rust on the surface the brake shoe contacts. Try a few stops and see if it improves. If not, jack it up and pull the wheel and see what you have going on. You might want to trailer it home.
It looks alot better from about 10 feet, you get up close you notice all the small paint bubbles or real bad paint fade. has a couple places might have to replace the skins, but over all the frame and everything looks pretty good! and boy, does this thing drive well (other than that brake drum.) but hey, they don't call it a project for nothing! Luckily, the guy who has it now has offered to let me keep it there as long as I need to figure it out. I noticed it really only locked up when I was in reverse. It would actually shutter and stop the car. In D, it didn't do it, but when you stopped you could feel how how the brake was. I probally will just trailer it home and worry about it later.
Welcome to the board. 4 door land yacts are nice, I wouldn't mind building on of those some day. I love that red and black Buick , http://www.tedvernon.com/ ,that Ted from South Beack Classics rolls around in. I just checked the site, he must have sold it or is keeping it now as it is no longer shown as for sale. He has some sweet looking Buicks though http://www.tedvernon.com/Buick/Buick.asp . But so much for the long winded hello, I like your ride, wish I had one and enjoy. I'm sure you wil get a lot of help and get some friends from here, so welcome again and enjoy :TU: :beers2:
welcome aboard - brakes are nothing to take a chance with, especially since the owner "admitted" to working on that wheel ... you never know the (in)competence of other people so I'd 1) trailer it home, and 2) use its malfunction as a bargaining chip to lower the price ... if even only a little. ... oh, and dont be surprised if you find another Buick in your driveway sooner than later - they have a way of telling their brethern where the good owners are that take care of them :beers2:
wow, sorry about that little absence there guys. So plans for the Buick fell through in May when the wife found out she'd be losing her job next year and we find out she's pregnant. So I thought my plan of having a vintage/classic car was over, but the god(s) decided that was not to be. the guy selling the '67 Skylark couldn't sell it either (guess no one wants a 4-door), so lucky me emailed him a week ago and found out he had reduced the price to half of what he was originally asking if someone bought by 9/16, other wise back up to the original price. It was too good to pass up. So in about two days the Buick will be mine. :TU:
Welcome form Tinley Park! I remember seeing that car for sale on Craig's list, then on Ebay. Nice job. If I remember correctly, he was only asking like $1700. Hey, btw. You mentioned being a member of another truck forum, it wouldn't happen to be Pavementsucks.com? I remember that screen name: urbancowboy......
Yea I ended up getting it for $1000! So waiting a few months saved me even more :dollar: !! Drove it home last night, with a buddy following me. Quite an enjoyable first cruise out with it. Nah, I was on Dodgetalk.com (I only have 2wd so I keep to the pavement. :3gears: ) Can't wait to start working on it.:laugh:
well seeing how this is the first vintage car I've owned I've got a couple newb questions: Fuel: -I'm assuming it doesn't have hardened valves and needs a lead additive? -Any recomendations on what octane to run (87,89,92 seem to pretty prevelant here) Oil: I've heard alot of new oils are taking out an additive the newer cars don't need, any recomendations on what seems to work well with these old buicks?
The rule on nailheads is; Do NOT put hardened valve seats. The danger of compromising the water jacket is too great. I don't know about the '67 and later heads, though.
