Hey guys and gals, new guy here just browsing. I've got a 72 Skylark Custom convertible in the barn, rotting away. It was purchased new by my stepdad and daily driven until the mid 80's when it threw a rod. Unfortunately the motor was replaced with a rebuilt one, so sorry for the #'s matching purists. Since getting the new motor in the late 80's it's pretty much sat in the barn and hasn't been touched since the early 90's. I have "dreams" of getting it running, just for fun, but a full resto is probably out of the question since there's nothing really special about it. It was a dark metallic green with a tan top, power top, windows, A/C, P/S, power disk, am/fm radio. Don't know what comes standard on them, but it's just a basic column shift 350/350. Dark green vinyl bench, door panels and carpet. Manual locks. I'd love to do a protouring suspension and wheel look, overdrive lockup trans and some kind of turbo motor. Probably fuel injection of some genre. It's all dreams though. My current never ending project is a 99 Neon turboed, Megasquirt, blah blah, but it might be time for a new project that I actually want to work on. The megasquirt could go on the Skylark and control fuel and spark if I wanted, I could add a megashift and control a GM electronic trans... Anyway...questions would be: How old is this forum? I don't see many old posts or threads. The info in the "New Tech for Old Iron" forum or whatever the name is, seems to be mostly from this year. Are most people here against the new tech stuff or engine swaps, etc/for resto only? Just trying to get a feel for the place and what it's all about. I love restos when they're a special rare car, but I also love unique stuff, sleepers, etc. I'm also about fed up with all of the newer car prices, poor dependability and repair prices. Wow, long post. Anyways, just wanted to stop in and say HI.
This is a well established forum how long I don't know. I don't think people here are against the new tech stuff just a little concerned if it will work for them. If you want to turbo that skylark, we can help. Contact Burton machine for a kit. Also it sounds like you have some experience that you could pass on as well to help bridge the gap. I think you will like it here a lot. Be careful Buicks are very addictive. I started in the 80's with a camaro with a buick transplant.
Yeah, I've got a decent amount of experience with mechanics, cars, electronics, etc. in general. I've read your thread on the Skymaro. Definately looks fun! I'm trying to find pics of the Burton kits and parts. I'd probably be able to use some parts from it, but probably would go with a single charger. The one on my Neon would do with a hotside housing swap, but it's .63ar now so too small for the 350 on a single. It will flow 65lb/min, so it should max the stock block for sure, just would spool a little quick and choke on the top end without a bigger exhaust housing. Who knows, a huge gate and low boost might work out great for a fun street cruiser. My 38mm external gate would be too small by itself though. Thanks for the info and reply though!
Mark(Burton Machine) is developing a single turbo kit if you are interested. That .63 is definitely too small I would think a single turbo 350 shifting at 6000 rpm with the gate set at 15psi should be at least 1.10 ar. Marks number is 509-860-3370
Thanks, I've seen his number, but no need for me to call now. The car would need a whole lot before a turbo kit. It hasn't been run in years, so the whole fuel system would need redoing, as would the brakes and probably the whole motor if it has a bunch of condensation and rust in it. Tires are rotten, top is holy I'm sure it wouldn't take much to get running, but how long it would last is an unknown. I'd really want to go through it to feel comfortable driving it safely. The frontend needed a full rebuild when it was parked, so that would be an excuse to upgrade stuff while I'm in there I was just looking for some pics of his work on various projects.
Thanks! I did forget to mention that my stepdad traded his '67 Shelby GT35O in on the Skylark because his girlfriend wanted more of a family car so they could "settle down"!!!
Her are some pix http://v8buick.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=106099&d=1199147360 http://v8buick.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=116281&d=1213670887
Your car so do what you want with it. My opinion is once your drive a V8 rear wheel drive American car that you have modified and tuned for even more than factory power....you will expereince something calledTorque and difficulty hooking up and no traction...something the FWD 4 bangers rarely experience. Once this happens Im pretty sure you will never play with that Neon again. Good luck and post pics please.
Funny thing about the 2.4L long stroke Neons is they make a lot of torque. Normally wheel torque is equal to wheel horsepower with them. My Neons have normally put more torque to the wheels than my 5.9 cummins has most of it's life. It can definately be tricky putting 500wtq down through a FWD though. I'm just tired of the Neon stuff. It was cheap fun, but I'm wanting something more nostalgic now. I've been trying to find something light I could put the Neon motor in, but it would have to be a Dodge. No crossbreeds. I have thought about a cummins in the Buick before! That would be more work than I'm looking for though, but it sure would be cool, torquey and get great fuel mileage. Sticking with the Buick 350 or similar small Buick motor would be what I'd want for the Skylark, but it's going to be turboed. Turbos go on everything I can find! Thanks for the pics! I was trying to find pics of the manifolds. The manifolds look great to me. Simple, straightforward and pretty robust. I'll be on the lookout for his single kit So far, it's been a lot of good reading! Thanks guys!
Southeast LA, is that Baldwin County, Lower Alabama? If you want torque for your Skylark; Buick 455 or any Nailhead will give you all the torque you want
Picture copied from; http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=178221 Re: Anyone force air into nailheads? <hr style="color: rgb(159, 178, 184);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> Does this look like the monster you'd seen? This was part of the Buick Heritage display at the GS Nationals about five years ago. <!-- / message --> <!-- sig --> __________________
I've thought about the Duramax, but they're more expensive and I don't know as much about them. You've definately got me thinking about them again. Prices may have come down for an older high mileage work truck donor. I haven't seen the Duramax in a GN before though. That looks awesome! I thought I may have seen an OLD turbo setup for a nailhead. 60's era. In a magazine build. It may have been a Pontiac mill though. It made some crazy torque! If I pull the 350 out, it wouldn't be for a 455 though. It would have to be something way different. The 455 is just too normal. I'll leave those unmolested for the restoration people.
I get that. Having something, no one else has. "I'll leave those unmolested for the restoration people." And, when you put it like that, it makes everybody happy.
Welcome to the forum. You could find yourself spending some time here, if you decide to get that Skylark fixed up! There are definitely some longer-term members here, it looks like February 2002 was about the start. You'll see some longer term members like Jim Weise, the board owner and founder (6600_ posts), George Nenadovich (GStage1) (11,000+ posts), Dave Gramlow (David G) (14,000+ posts), Mike Garrison (Racebuicks) (12,000+posts), Jason Cook (buick64203) (11,000+ posts) and lots more from new members like you and all the way in between. More experience, information and parts availability for Buicks is not available anywhere else! Settle in and enjoy. I'm just a rookie!
