Who let that squid in the door?!!

Discussion in 'Wet behind the ears??' started by Displacedhog, Sep 3, 2014.

  1. Displacedhog

    Displacedhog New Member

    Hiya folks! A former sailor, now land-lubber here. I'm looking to buy a collectible, Buick survivor and make a nice cruiser for my son's first set of wheels (not to mention the potential fun I'll have). So, I'm not looking for a big block, manny tranny, or glitz and glamor. An ideal ride might be a 4 door 65-67 Skylark with a 340v8/2 barrel carb. I just want the cool, classy wheels with comfort, comfort, comfort. And Buick is known for taking Chevelle's and adding class.

    I've actually spotted what might be an interesting prospect in my wet search. It's a 67 with what looks like original paint; no evidence of rust in the roof gutters, rocker panels and wheel wells; all the lights and chrome trim (including fender skirts); straight lines and even (parallel) panel joints; etc. I can tell, by looking at the paint reflection, there is no orange peel effect and if it is lacquer with the gloss it still has, I suspect all those indicators suggest the car was kept under cover when parked. I have no clue on the condition of the drive-train. It is listed as having 51,000 "actual" miles and the registration expired in 2012. The seller has lots of vehicles to choose from and this has their higher rating of "runs good" and they guarantee it can be driven off the premises.

    So, here is where I really need to do my due diligence. Let's just say we have a shell on a good frame, and to do this right I need to plan for what should be expected repairs and start setting a budget. Now, I'm not looking for a full restore, but want to ensure the car is sound, safe and reliable.

    If the 340 has to be overhauled because of a worn cylinder or needing a short block, what sort of cost should I anticipate? What costs might I see in getting it sorted out? What about the 2 speed power glide transmission; will it tow a 16 ft bass boat? If it cannot handle that, what is suggested to replace the transmission and at what costs? Other things I wonder about is the refurb of power steering, power brakes, A/C, etc, primarily to replace worn seals, hoses, etc. I also want tight road handling and think about upgrades like sway-bars, better springs and worn suspension repairs. That's just a start and I'm worried about setting a thin budget to cover all the necessities. Cosmetic things like new upholstery and a roof liner can hold off. I'm not competent to do the heavy lifting so some garage is gonna benefit from my wallet. Is there any feel for a starting budget I should set? Is 10K realistic? I see ads for similar cars that are already dolled up with shiny engine compartments and a 14-18k price tag. If I need to budget 10-12 for repairs, including some of the cosmetic stuff, that leaves me with spending under 5 for the car. Uggghhh... this will get my head to spinning. Any advice? Please? :pray:
     

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