N-25 bumper Someone had asked to see pictures of the rear bumper when I got it done. This is my version of a 69 Skylark with an N-25 bumper. I cut the holes with a die grinder (and very careful measurements).
bumper The tips are beveled to match the angles of the back bumper (only protrudes 1/4" all the way around). The tips are not square, as the back bumper angles twords the front in the center. This looks really trick!
exhausting The tips are hand made from 2x3 boxed steel, and are different left from right (left bevel is opposite from the right one). I used a tailpipe expander to open up the back end to 3" to mate to the exhaust. Now I will weld a small bracket to each that bolts to the bottom side of the bumper (to hold them centered in the holes and keep em from rattling). This project took about 5 hours each side. But I think, will give the car a little different character.
little mechanic This photo is just in here for posterity. I just wanted everyone to know I am raising my kids right. This is my 4 year old Alex, putting a set of Big port heads on a 455. Gotta start em young!
Looks great, did you change any body bushings. What would be the best for me to take my car to the bare metal, what type of sandpaper did you use, grit wise? 1967 Buick Special
67gsbs, I used Performance Suspension Compontents "Chevelle Converatble" body bushing kit, since it comes with 14 bushings (instead of 10 like a Chevelle hardtop). Just be sure to order for a chevelle convertable, no one carries a kit for a skylark and they have 4 more bushings than our cheap chevelle counterparts. I posted on this I think on page 4. Kit only costs about $100. To go to bare metal is a lot of work, but the only right way to go on something you care about. I have tried all kinds of different methods... sandblasting, paint stripper, DA sanding, ect. Sandblasting is by far the most efficient and thourogh method, but you need access to a portable blaster, a place to spray, and it creates a horrible mess. The easiest method I have found for the average guy is to purchase a gallon (or two) of "aircraft paint remover" from Autozone, or Schucks. Apply it with a brush in 2ft X 2ft sections, wait ten minutes, scrape it with a putty knife. Once You have the majority of the paint loosened up, I use 36 grit DA sandpaper (with the DA sander "locked in") to clean all the leftover paint. You can strip a car in one (8 hour) day by yourself with this method. Couple things to be sure of, Do not get paint stripper on any chrome surfaces (It will strip them too) and second, make sure you mask all the holes in the body (to keep stripper from running in). If you do not, then after paint, the stripper left on the inside edges of the panel may eat your paint around the hole! Hope that helps on your project.
Is what crapola? Tweed? To be honest, I don't know exactly what I am gonna use on the interior. The seats are grey leather. Any suggestions? Where are you from in IA, I'm from Sioux City area.
I'm going to go with Cody on this one, I'm affraid. The seats rock, but the color is a little off for the mood of the rest of the car, esspecially if you change the dashpad to match (I realise it would look terrible if you didn't match the dash, but I hope you see what I'm saying anyway). Is there any will/way to dye leather? The grey is alright, but you can never go wrong with black, or you could really make a statement and go red or something to that effect. Petty color details aside, this is by far going to be one of the coolest modifieds ever built, in any make, model or year. Keep up the good work! :TU: ~Mike '66 Skylark 340-4
My computer must be acting up or something, all I see is a picture with rabbit turds and a dime in comparison? If I could see the pic of the seats I would make a true compliment or comment, but all I see is rabbit droppings? uzzled: Im from Keokuk Iowa, southeast part of iowa.
Now I know im not blind or crazy yet, I can't be seeing things? Tell me im not the only one out there that sees this. It's either my computer or maybe im in the twilight zone and everyone else aint? uzzled: uzzled: uzzled: uzzled: uzzled:
Cody, that definately is not the picture I posted!!! The seats are on page 4 of this thread. I think you may need professional help, (either for your computer or your head)! LoL. Stampy, I agree with you to an extent... The Idea behind this car was all the appeal of a classic, with all the amenitys and luxury of a modern car. I also live in the Mojave desert, so black leather is NOT an option. I really havn't solidified interior designs yet, so I am still in the market. The exterior color is 99 Cadillac "Black Cherry Metallic". It looks black in the shadow, and DARK cherry red in the sunlight. BTW, I REALLY appreciate the compliment on the car. I am truely putting all my heart and soul in this one. And finally, 67 GSBS... Yes, I use 36 grit DA, in fact, I do all my initial shaping and bodywork in 36 grit. Then I use a high build filling primer and dry block in 80. Another coat of primer (just high build this time) then block in 400. One more coat, then block in 600 and ready for paint. I guide-coat every layer of primer, and use ONLY a 9 inch rubber block. The finished product is nothing short of perfection. Remember that 36 grit DA will not gouge like a 36 grit sanding block will. You could just use high build primer, and it would work just fine. The key is to block in 80 dry to kill any 36 grit marks that may be left.
Hey Skymangs, sorry to ask more questions but I wanna do this right. What year Chevelle Conv did you order the bushings for and did that include the rad support bushings?
Cody, Skyman Photos of the front and rear seats, and interior appear at posting number 168 (on page 7). I, too, see the rabbit pellets surrounding a dime on snow rather than the dash photo. SKYMAN -- I know you have heard this from over a dozen posters and I can think of no new superlatives to add to the mix, but I simply had to express my admiration and more than a little jealousness at the fabrication, modification and vision that combine to create what undoubtedly will be a simply phenomenal car. That the car is a Buick, well -- that simply puts frosting on a seven layered masterpiece of a cake. I envy your ability to make a drawing (or a vision) into reality and to seamlessly weld; mostly I begrudge you your determination and (youthful) endurance. Many (m-a-n-y) others would have quit, run out of steam (and/or money) or simply would have moved onto other less demanding projects. You must truly have an incredibly patient, understanding and loving wife to give you the unfettered time to enjoy that which you do so well. And factor in 3 young children whewww. Do her a favor: tomorrow or sometime soon, swing by the PX or a flower shop and just get her something simple a single rose, maybe (if the budget will stretch) a necklace; for no reason at all. Shell know why. And, on top of all that, I know better than most of the posters here how demanding your day-job is. I know that your day job often involves more than 18 or 20 in a day (we do more before 9 AM than most . . . remember than recruiting theme?). except when you are in the field then the hours really add up. Dont quit. Dont think about quitting Whenever you do, recall your vision of a Black Cherry Skylark that will out-run 99% of the crap on the street. Visualize the finished project that will universally evoke a sharp intake of breath and an almost whispered wowwwwww look it that; even from those not in the know about the level of restification you are involved in. You do us all proud -- -- -- Craig Balzer LTC, US Army (Ret) Watching from Kabul Afghanistan and waiting impatiently for the next step
Craig, Thanks sir, You don't know what that means coming from you. I get a lot of crap from my co-workers on "when are you ever gonna get that thing done", and "I don't see how you can afford it", ect... I know that in the end, I am going to have 30K invested in a $12,000 car, but it doesn't matter. It is everything I ever wanted in a car. My wife is VERY understanding... Sometimes more than others of course. But since that wonderful day 7 years ago, she knew that cars were a way of life for me, and marrying me was marrying my hobby too. Funny you should mention tokens of appreciation, I just took her to San Francisco to see Bill Cosbey (stand-up) for her birthday, had a wonderful time! On work, normally there would be no way I could work on a project this size with any amount of progress (the long days, and months of field/deployment). My present job is an OC, fortunately it gives me a little freedom between rotations to "tinker", and work twords my Degree. I have been very fortunate in both my career and life in general, and I take none of it for granted. I'm not sure what's up with the rabbit turds and dime in the snow. I have never taken a picture like that. We don't get much snow around here! I will take a minute and post a new pic of the dash later on today. Thanks again for the kind words.
And GSBS, bushings were from a 68-72 Chevelle convertable (all the same for those years). If you are planning on putting them under that 67 in your avatar, you will need 64-7 Chevelle convertable bushings. They do require some modification. Nothing special, I had to trim 4 of the bushings out a little, skylarks steel sleves are thicker than the chevelle's. I just used an exacto knife. The kit did come with radiator support bushings also. Make sure you get them from Performance Suspension Components, and no one else. They are the only company I know of that uses graphite impregnated polyeurothane. Normal (non graphite impregnated) bushings need to be lubed, and will squeak after awhile if you dont. PST bushings won't squeak for the life of your car. And, dont worry about picking MY brain, if I didn't want that I wouldn't have started this thread!!!
