Project Build_Finally got the Skylark Home.

[patrickth]

They look like stock aluminum rockers to me. They went to stamped steel at some point, but from '67 to some point in the '70s they were aluminum ones that look like those.

Thanks, so nothing special on engine so far. I did get it looking better though. It was latex pink.

[STINEY]

Something looks seriously NOT right with that hood hinge...... hopefully its just the camera playing tricks?

[patrickth]

Something looks seriously NOT right with that hood hinge...... hopefully its just the camera playing tricks?

Good eye. It was bent like a pretzel, which in a round about way is how I got the car. Went over to look at it months ago, hinge was bent, but I focused in on rear driver quarter and decided car was too much work. Passed on it. Told P.O. hat I had some left over hinges and a power disc brake setup from one of my 71 Montes that I would sell him for $100. He never got back to me.

Months go by and saw it again on C.L. about $500 cheaper so I went over and looked again. Asked him why he didn't want at least the hinges, even if he wasn't going to upgrade brakes. Said his wife wouldn't let him put a even a $1.00 in it. But they wanted a trash hauler (they live one block outside city limits). I said I had a 78 Chev 4x4, ugly as a Yokohama whore and would talk trade.

He took me up on it. With towing, now have about $700 into the Skylark, new hinge ready to go on car.

This thing might be beat, but most of interior is new, so might just use that for Impala and field strip it.

[Huskinhano]

Too bad the frame in wonkey. I was digging it.

[patrickth]

Too bad the frame in wonkey. I was digging it.

Yea. I had a guy over today who thought it could be fixed. I have an old Marine Corps buddy I was in Nam with who just retired an had taught welding for years at a vo tech school. Might call him up and ask him if he wants to come visit for a week and take a shot at it, maybe drink some beer and talk trash about what bad asses we used to be back in the day. :-)

“So that’s the man I was … but now’s the time for the younger men to lock in rough encounters, time for me to yield to the pains of old age. But there was a day I shone among the champions.”

The Illiad

[Huskinhano]

You're probably better off with another, solid frame. Like working on old pluming, you touch one part and something else breaks. I'm sure you'll find many other rust problems on that frame.

[SuperBuickGuy]

You're probably better off with another, solid frame. Like working on old pluming, you touch one part and something else breaks. I'm sure you'll find many other rust problems on that frame.

common misconception is that we have rust problems in the PNW.... not really, yeah, if the water can pool (like on the channel style window frames) and can't escape then there's going to be rust in 20 or 30 years....

[patrickth]

You're probably better off with another, solid frame. Like working on old pluming, you touch one part and something else breaks. I'm sure you'll find many other rust problems on that frame.

I just look at all this stuff as "fixin's. Like gathering ingredients for that day I find something that really rocks my socks. At the moment, have the Skylark, could get the Vista Cruiser over here in hours with the 455 in it and have the 70 Electra sitting in my garden. Kind of looking like I would indeed rather have a Buick, just not sure which one will spend the winter in my shop.
I will survive this if I limit my search to 1970-1972.

[patrickth]

common misconception is that we have rust problems in the PNW.... not really, yeah, if the water can pool (like on the channel style window frames) and can't escape then there's going to be rust in 20 or 30 years....

For sure we don't have to go hunting for it. Quick look at trunk, floor boards and rear window framing and you know if it was from around these parts all its life or not.

[SuperBuickGuy]

if you find a 78-81 G-body wagon in your travels; let me know. I have plans which require that body.... preferably just a body

[patrickth]

if you find a 78-81 G-body wagon in your travels; let me know. I have plans which require that body.... preferably just a body

Not sure if these are 78 or not, but both run, negligible rust, ( didn't look to hard, but didn't see any obvious rust except on hood of blue one. no broken windows. $700 each. I probably want the blue one. Blue has AC. tan has Cruise Control/ Both have 305 engines, didn't look at tranny option.

Both stock under hood.


Could probably drive either one of them home with a couple extra spare tires just in case.

[SuperBuickGuy]

nope, next size smaller

[patrickth]

Oh well. It was a good day of spotting anyway. Found these 2, a Ford f150 with freshly rebuilt engine, a Suburban with fresh tags and runs perfect and a 92 Caprice 9c1. Now I have to make some decisions.

[patrickth]

I think I might have gotten lucky. Posted on v8 buick and someone local to me has a donor car. Going down monday to see if we can make a deal.

Note to Arron, its in Arlington.

[SuperBuickGuy]

nice.... snag that bumper for certain.