A bit less exciting but still some updates: The heater control switch on the car has been broken for a while. I finally got to pulling apart the dash so that I could get in there to figure out what was wrong with the heater controls, clean up some of the wirings, and install an in-dash tachometer. I am waiting on some bulbs that I bought from Summit to arrive so that I can replace all the lights before putting the dash back together, and connecting up the heater controls (I replaced the heater control 4 years ago). While I am waiting for the light bulbs I am tearing down a 1973 big block that will hopefully be installed as part of the 6-speed swap. I Dash tear down Dash without tachometer Dash cleaned up with tachometer The original broken broken heater control switch. The plastic housing was cracked and would no longer accept screws holding the metal plates to the housing. Swapped my faceplate and switch onto a housing I found on ebay Succesful tear down of the 1973 big block, no frozen bolts, and it looks like someone had gone through it before! I still am looking for a way to get the Chrome Passenger mirror printed so that I can install it. I'm looking forward to buttoning up the interior of the car this week after I receive the light bulbs and making progress on the engine. I posted in 400/430/455 street strip looking for some camshaft selection advice: http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/camshaft-selection-for-engine-rebuild.306835/ and would love anyone's input! I have a couple of things which I should be working on soon (the harness bar and relocating the battery), but after that, it should be on to the engine and trans
The dash board is the one thing that when pulled completely apart you swear you'll never get it back together again. Amazing once it's done!
Yeah, it's not a pleasant process by any means, but I'm hoping to do it once, and do it right, and not have to do it again. I think I'll really appreciate it when it's all done. All this interior work I've been doing is nice to change the way you interact with the car, but for me at least it's pretty painstaking haha.
I like the idea of swapping the dash mounted clock for a tach. Unfortunately a 6000 RPM tach isn't gonna cut it. Curious... where did you get yours and what did you pay (if you don't mind)?
I got the tachometer from DieCastMuscleCars. It's a nice piece, I paid 189.99 with ~$10 shipping. I also had to buy wiring harnesses and bulbs for the light-up functionality which was around $12 from summit. I do wish it swung beyond 6K, but as long as I'm sticking BBB I don't think it'll be problematic.
Today was spent continuing to tear down the 1973 block, and mocking up the harness/roll bar. I still have to put some forward arms in and am still working on the design for it. When it's all said and done I'm thinking of either painting the bar in a paint matched body color, or black, and have red 5 point harnesses to put in. On a separate note I found out today that my neighbor has a 1970 Chevelle -- Maybe I'll have to jump on some aluminum heads to make sure to establish neighborhood supremacy
Hoping to finish up the dashboard tonight, but in the meantime, we found the old pistons that my dad had lying around that we are planning on using for the engine rebuild. Figuring out the engine specs is a little out of my depth (I'm a business major lol), but I am trying to figure out the compression ratio, and a camshaft to match, and have been getting some great help and education below. http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/camshaft-selection-for-engine-rebuild.306835/
Good news and bad news with pictures to come: Good News: Dash project finally completed, pretty happy with the way it turned out. Illumination is better (not perfect even after changing allllll the light bulbs), the tachometer works great, and finally, the heater works! Bad News: in a test drive today found something was smelling hot, hopped out of the car, and found that the rear driver disk brake was glowing. Looks like I know what I'm working on next.
Just wanted to say I read your thread from start to finish, while at work no less, and like a good book, could not stop reading. A really great car, the write up and updates are extremely helpful, as well as all the great responses and suggestions - all are to be commended. Definitely look forward to hearing more about your upgrades as I plan on doing many of the same tasks on my '72 GS 350 - I have a '73 Rivera 455 waiting in my garage to be built and will have to select many, many different variables along the way, I am sure everyone is well familiar with: from the rear-end, to trans, brakes, engine build, headers, etc. To start with, I am looking at upgrading the wheel diameter and having trouble finding 17" or larger Buick Rallyes. Do you or does anyone else have tips on where to find? So far, I've learned that a former vendor, Circle Racing, is apparently no longer in business and another I've found is U.S. Mag at $775 per rim, a little steep for the 'ol budget. Thank you for the great posts, hope to see more updates, and wish all safety and good health.
Hi 72GS350, Thanks for the comments! I really enjoy sharing the project on here. Most of my friends (I'm 22) aren't very interested in cars, let alone work on them. I haven't found a Muscle Car community in Seattle, so it's nice to get support online. This is largely a way for me to spend time with my dad. Sounds like an exciting time for you, as you work along on your journey be sure to share it as well. I will have some updates pretty soon here, as I am to take shipment of the Magnum tomorrow! I just graduated last week and had some pretty major set backs with shipping and damaged parts. I'll write up a more complete post about it once I receive all the parts. I also have a wiring short that I need to take care of that blows the fuse for the cigarette lighter, put in the harness bar, and more.
Also in terms of the wheels, I got mine from circle racing years ago, and the price has skyrocketed since then. The US mags are an interesting alternative, but the prices are insane. I have been seeing them pop up from time to time on the parts for sale posts around here, so I'd keep your eyes peeled on that. There is, of course, this option, which I've seen done well on Chevelles, and would be one hell of a cost saver: https://www.jegs.com/i/Year+One+Whe...UjUYvCeHMDhHCdHZC_92Pau39qJSdIEsaAmW5EALw_wcB But I'm sure you've seen it as well. Sorry I can't provide more help on those.
After about a month of shipping issues (damaged items, lost return shipping, and a delayed second shipment) I received the transmission yesterday! I'm going to be a little cramped timewise, as I start my full-time job on the 22nd. Fortunately, I will be working remotely, so I'll be able to live with my parents while I finish up this car project. Today I took out the interior and tonight I'll be working on dropping the Turbo 400 tonight, and will hopefully be working towards the install tomorrow. I've got ACC Raylon carpet arriving this coming week as well as some Kilmat sound deadener. There's a lot of work ahead, but when I was able to run the shifter through all 6 gears it put a mile-wide smile on my face. The Buick 455 block is still at the machine shop. The plan hasn't changed, and it should be a pretty simple, iron-headed, stage one valved, big block, but I still need to pick out a cam and would love some input. Here were some photos of the first shipment https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5ey0kuid...YmVKxCda?dl=0&preview=2020-05-11+14.50.05.jpg It arrived and there were fluid leaks, and the input shaft had punched through the side of the box. Naturally we rejected the shipment, and when it was returning to Silver Sport it was lost in Chicago. Noone realized this so I had to wait 2 weeks till the claim was submitted until receiving another shipment. The second one was packaged much better per my request and arrived in one piece, along with the Chevy/BOP Aluminum Bellhousing, Buick Flywheel, Hydraulic Clutch, Tunnel Sheetmetal, Cutting Templates, and a myriad of other needed parts. I, of course, had to attach the handle and the ball and run through the gears, and it felt really good and tight. More pictures and progress to come! While I'm taking the interior apart, I am wondering if 2 door Post cars have different door panels than normal coupes? Thanks, Thomas
Nice! I’ll definitely be picking your brain. After trading in my daily that was a 6 speed, I decided I need another manual trans. Good luck!
Got the interior all out, and getting ready for that transmission tunnel cut. You can also see why I need new door panels, the driver side is even worse. And we got the Turbo 400 yanked from the car. It's a short shaft with a higher stall converter, and we have enough BOP 400s, so you may find this in the parts for sale section. That's all for today, and hopefully tomorrow I'll have updates with the cut and fitment. Unfortunately, the engine is getting delayed at the machine shop, so It will take a long while to get everything done, but I'm trying to make some headway now, and I can take care of some of the little things while I'm waiting for the engine.
We had picked up shorty headers on craigslist a few years back. They were intended for a Wildcat rather than a skylark, and we thought we would have to modify the driver side, but after trying to bolt them today, we found that they tucked right in! It looks like we are going to have to reroute the brake line on the passenger side which is a bit of a pain, but that's better than chopping up the headers. Passenger side, and notice the close proximity of the brake line and the header. Driver side We'll be taking them to a local shop to get powder coated, and then they'll be ready to go for the new engine in a few weeks!
When you get ready to cut that tunnel feel free to IM me if you'd like. I definitely learned some things when I did mine. Recognize the trans tilts toward the drivers side. If the template doesn't seem symmetrical , it's because it isn't. Locating it in the proper place is really important and not obvious. I ended up cutting a lot more toward the front of the tunnel for additional clearance and didn't need to cut out as much as I did near the rear. Here are a few pics if it helps anyone
Great question! I swapped the bench seat for racing seats primarily for safety but I never tested to see if the old bench seat would've fit afterwards. (and I've since sold the bench seat so I can't even verify for you) The T56 Magnum is a beast but my guess is that if you really wanted to you could fabricate the tunnel to still work with the bench seat. A little odd... bench seat and stick, but you may be able to pull it off.
Buickbullet, stay with that two-tone look, love that, I get sick of mono tone interiors. Great job! pbulski, I like your tunnel there, nice work, wish I would off raised mine by an inch or so for a little more rear clearance on my 4L80E. Great job guys. Fernando