Wanting to buy a buick, no idea what i am doing, help!!!!!!!

I found a 72 skylark for 7,000 the paint looks good and it has 168,000 however the motor was orig 350 replaced with a 455 ported like stage one, 3 speed auto beefed up for motor and 2:56 gears, tranny and motor have 25k miles on them, had disc brakes added it has ac power brakes and steering. The vin is 4D37H2H234437. what questions should i ask the owner and is it a good deal. I want some power i had a 5.4 f150 i loved, and now i have a 5.0 f150 good in top end but sucks in 0-45 love to have some more power, also i took it to a car show after i got it and won best truck, it's purple love to let my wife drive it while i drive the buick.

 

Not sure on the value because there are a LOT of variables in the value of the car. Pictures and all would help.
Start with the engine. He says the heads are ported like a stage 1 but the big thing on the stage one heads is the valve size, not the flow from porting. Porting is good but not what makes a set of heads stage 1.
See if there are receipts for the work done. If he did the engine himself he still may have receipts from the machine shop and the parts orders. Same with the transmission. If part of the value is the "fresh" 455 and transmission work, I want proof of some kind.
Next, look long and hard for rust. I'm not as familiar with the 70 - 72 cars but look at the core support under the area of the battery, look at the trunk floor, look at the wheel wells, look at the windshield and back window area. Look in the trunk and look up at the filler piece that goes between the back window and the trunk. What may not show much from the top should leave plenty of rust evidence down there.
It's going to be hard to look at the floors so look from the bottom if you can.
You might want to take it in to a mechanic and have them give it a good once over depending on your mechanical knowledge. That part depends on how comfortable that you are with looking it over and what you are willing to do to make sure you are making a good $7,000 investment. If you take it to a mechanic it might be a good chance to look at the floors and give it an overall inspection from the bottom. You will be able to tell if that fresh engine and transmission are leaking.
What's the interior? Buckets or bench?

Purple truck???

 

here are some pics of the car and my purple truck, i am hoping to hear back tonite and wil repost then,

 

it looks like a half decent car. price might be a little high. As 67gs340 said take it to a garage and pay to get a pre purchase inspection. the garage will look at all the mechanics and if there is sometime wrong, better to spend $100 before $7000k do your homework and ask a lot of question.

good luck and welcome aboard!!

johnny

 

just wondering! How does one post pictures with only two post??


johnny

 

Seven grand is a bit pricy to pay for a Skylark. I highly recommend that you watch the boards for a decent deal. Someone is always coming across something on the boards that's in great shape and for a decent price. I picked up my Skylark that had sat undriven for 19 years down in Texas from a board member for about 1/7th of what you're going to put down on that car. I could do a whole lot of magic to my car if I had $6000 to put into it after I bought it, and it'd be *my* work, and not someone else's.

Patience my young Jedi.

 

Case in point: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=201754

This ride would leave you with some cash to spare (preferably to score a 455 BBB) and you could always sell the Chevy 350 if you decide to do a swap.

I wish I had the cash to get it. It just looks "right". I have a Buick 350 in the corner of the garage that'd drop right in, and my 95' Tahoe could use a new engine.

 

Welcome Josh.

 

I don't know. To me for $1500 I would get the one with the 455 in it that I didn't have to ship. If it's a good engine.
Also, this part got me...350 Chevrolet engine, BOP TH-400 trans.
It's got to have a chevy transmission. The BOP won't bolt up to a chevy 350.
I do think the $7,000 is a bit high, but I'm not in the 70 - 72 world so I could be wrong.
You could find a fair 65 Gran Sport for that kind of change.

 

okay just got udate from owner, the block is out of a 73 electra, the heads are 1970 gs455 non stage, they were ported to stage 1 heads and had a 3 angle valve job done to them. I had to order the correct intake to match. the original heads and intake are in the trunk right now and go with the car. Horsepower was est at the original rebuild (he thought about 425) they do not have the receipt for the job the one that did tranny job retired and the motor mech. moved away. What other questions should i ask, thanks guys

 

New price $5800
http://hickory.craigslist.org/cto/1681962997.html

 

Hi Josh - YOU ARE, BY THE WAY, ASKING EXACTLY THE RIGHT PEOPLE... :Smarty:
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Welcome to our place, and over a short while, it will be YOUR SITE. :grin:
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Where you located ? o No: Enter a city in the UserCP "location" so we can know where you are. Someone close to you might be willing to go look at the car with you ? Guys are sometimes a little "skittish" on offering you their personal opinion - if the engine blows up, you might not . . . you get the picture. However, when you offer that you are unknowledgeable, people may respond differently.
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How did you settle in on such a Good Car ? And a 72 at that ? Were you looking for a 72 ? Or just whatever ? And a Skylark to BOOT ?
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Did I read right - the owner dropped the asking price to $5,800 ? :dollar: :dollar: :dollar: And it runs okay, accelerates, brakes work, no odd noises, loud rattles or backfires ? Wheels don't wiggle ? Look like good alloys there. Is there a 5th wheel, tire ? Tires got any miles left ? How old are they ? I mighta told you to Snatch It at the $7,000 pice ?
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Without any answers from you, if it runs, and doesn't give the impression that it's going to be a disaster or basket case - I'd snatch it up. The "Season" to be buying those cars JUST STARTED; and you may right now be the only bidder. . . o No:
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I paid almost the $5,800 for my 53 - a year ago. If that helps. . . :bglasses:
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Good Luck - tell us where you are. The Good Luck might get Gooder ? :TU:
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RipRohring :Comp:

 

$5,800 OBO sounds a lot more inviting. Might have the thing checked out and make an offer after feeling the guy out.
Might get it for $5,000 with it saying "motivated seller" and OBO. Worth a shot.
You are getting into a range where a 455 Skylark is going to have good pay back in fun factor. If the body, engine and transmission are sound I don't think you would be disappointed.
Nothing like having a big block to make a guy smile!
You should be a Buick fan for life after playing with that car.

Always remember.... OBO is code for this price is my dream, but I expect to get less for it.

 

Re: Wanting to buy a buickcan tell , no idea what i am doing, help!!!!!!!

I live in powellton wv, It is close to beckeley. It is 250 miles from the owner, I really don't know much about the big block i have just had small blocks, i know you die hard buick fans can tell me what to expect from this car. It has 2.56 gears in the rear end what acceleration can i expect, Also what do i look for to find out if the motor has been changed and if it has been modified, also how do i check the tranny, anything else i should check, any problems with this car

 

Hard to check for most of the engine mod's without tearing it down. Same with the transmission.
Have it checked out to make sure that it's sound and if it is, the 455 even stock should be a lot of fun to drive.
It is now down into a little better price range especially if you can take advantage of the OBO part.
If there isn't rust and she runs out good with no big issues, you will enjoy it.

 

I was thinking the same thing!.. Twilight zone?

 

That engine compartment needs a little detailing.. Whats under that mat/rug in the trunk?? is it rusted? is the rug damp?? if it is the rear window leaks.. how about the drive and passenger rugs are the worn damp? its not a bad looking car but a little pricing in this market... There are tons of cars out there if you don't land this one.. Good Luck!

 

Re: Wanting to buy a buickcan tell , no idea what i am doing, help!!!!!!!

You're very limited if you don't atleast take a "motorhead" with you to check it out. But you want to do these basics:

Tell seller to leave the Buick unstarted til you get there. If he can't, then wait til he can.

You want to start it cold and see how it reacts, (ie: blue smoke out the tailpipe, Clacking/knocking in the motor.... BUT pull the dipstick before starting it and see how the owner maintains it (full or low).

Also pull the Trans stick while cold to see if fluid is Dark Pink or Red. (If brown, who knows how long before slipping, etc. begins)

You're not checking the Trans Fluid level at this point, just how it's been kept up "so to speak".
Check if it's full later after you've driven the car and it's warm.

After driving it, let it idle and pull the Oil Filler Cap and look for smoke coming out of the open valve cover.
Now put your hand on the carb and race up the throttle a bit while looking for smoke out the Valve cover & Rear exhaust area. (This will give you an idea of how worn the motor is, if at all).
If it has an aftermarket Oil Pressure Guage, great! If it's a used motor, You can be all over the place here, but when it's warm and driving 40-50, and warm and in gear idling at approx 600-750r's, you may see as low as 10-20lbs. Don't get scared. Many variables here, and it may be just the Oil pump/Timing Cover Clearances in the Pump Area.
If motor rebuilt, the pressure should, (key word being should), be higher.

As far as Front End, Brakes, etc. You'll get a good idea after driving it.

Remember, all these things will determine how much you'll offer the Seller, including Bondo, and painted over poor bodywork.

Show no emotions, and try to keep them in check.

Don't go "Ga Ga" over anycar when you're looking at it to buy.
Cash close by is key when offering let's say $4k on a $5800 car. Maybe the friend you travel there with can hold some of the other monies, and offer up $500 or so increments. No big jumps. If Seller says $5500 is his bottom line, tell him you have $4700 NOW. That type of thing.
This is all JMO. :TU:

Now about your rear end question....
With the 2.56 (non posi rear most likely), if motor running ok, it should should fry the right rear tire, and it'll be spinning into second gear!

You'll be able to swap in a GM 10 bolt with 3.08, 3.23. 3.42, 3.55's easy enough later on with an 8.2" (earlier) or 8.5" out of a Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick "A-Body".

Good Luck. I wouldn't lose it for that kind of money.
If you go there and get it for $5g's cash, your doin' ok if it's together and not a RUST or BONDO bucket.
Have a great Journey! :3gears:

"btw, Look this is just a few basics but important ones nonetheless if you are doing this on the blind, with little knowledge and no other help".....

 

2:56 gears:shock: :shock:

 

Looks like a fun car for about $4500. I would look close at that new paint job for hidden bondo.