Buinicorn my 1964 wagon

Discussion in 'Drag'n Wagons' started by superbuickguy, May 21, 2017.

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  1. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    1964 Buick Skylark, Special. No glass top!!! I'm basking in the new car smell....
    I've almost pulled the trigger on another 1965 wagon several years ago - I didn't, we were $200 apart on price and I could see it in person.... then I found this one. I have always wanted one of these - non-sportwagon but they are hard to find, most save the loaded ones, this one didn't come with a radio... perfect.

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    this space will be filled soon
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    plans is put the 455 from the a 70 Skylark I owned along with a turbo 400. dream is a GNX motor or a turbo-flat-crank that I've considered building with a 215 Rover block.... the outside gets paint, the inside gets an indian blanket and rubber mats. The rust is only on the very lower corners of the quarter panels (that's it). Stock hub caps....

    oh, did I mention I paid $300 for it? I caught the seller as he was checking brake lights to leave. I convinced him to follow me to my house with it on his trailer.

    I also forgot - the rear end has been rebuilt with 4.10 gears and a posi... has drag-legal studs.... :grin:
     
  2. cjeboyle

    cjeboyle Gold Level Contributor

    It's so Roadkill. Love it!
    Cliff
     
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  3. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear superbuickguy, Cliff, and V-8 Buick longroof fans,

    Congrats on landing a mid-60s Buick longroof that is also a flatroof! :)

    Sounds promising, but you could get even more assertive!

    Keep us posted!

    Cheers, Edouard
     
  4. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    My options, right now, for the car. I have a twin turbo 430 (455 sleeved) that is tentatively scheduled for the car in my avatar. If I didn't put it there, I could do something in a 320 straight 8 and a turbo or two. I also have a 300 from a 65 and a bunch of 215s including the Rover one. The 455 is basically turn key - so it makes it driveable in a couple weeks, which given my extensive list of immediate (read, anti-divorce projects) projects, is likely going to be the starting there and creativity will come later. That said, I'm smiling more over this car then any of the new cars I owned....
     
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  5. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    It will be a sweet ride when you get 'r done! You should have it road worthy in no time with your 4 legged garage buddy helping you. I love those '64s!

    If you want something different later for it you can throw a sbb 350 crank stroked an extra .140" in the sbb 300 and get around 364 cubes using nascar take out rods that you can throw a couple of turbos on! A set of TA Rover heads and a custom intake would be nice as well. If in you would be interested in building one of those feel free to PM me with any questions after that honeydo list is done.


    Derek
     
  6. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    I have a whole bunch of speed parts from a SBB 350. It's possible, the issue is the block. I bought the entire motor for $50, with ARP bolts and studs, ported heads (with larger valves), forged pistons.... and a very spun crank. The builder didn't properly pre-lube the motor before he fired it... a brand new anchor. I dunno, I'm not against it... I think what I'm realizing is I have a bunch of Buick parts - not sure how this happened.
     
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  7. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    You can also do a sbb 350 stroker that has more aftermarket support as far as intakes go and soon supposedly aluminum heads for them. You need to take it apart and see what kind of work the crank needs when you're ready for that project. Did it spin until it seized? While its apart would be a good time to make sure the oil mods are done. If you want to go with a stroker build with a set of nascar take out rods, you won't have to mess with the factory spun cast rods. Of coarse you'll need new pistons because those are more than likely pressed on and the wrong wristpin for the take out rods.

    If the bores are still pretty good you can just do a touch up with a ball hone to save a few bucks. From the sound of it the bores should still be in good shape if in it wasn't ran to long before its demise. You will definitely want to have the block checked for cracks though before you spend any $$ or time on it. And if the mains are the spun bearings, then it may need the main housing bores line honed or if its really bad the block could be scrap? You won't know until you take it apart.

    A lot of power potential with a couple of turbos on a sbb 350 stroker, here is a great thread that proves that point but only with a super charger;

    http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/the-dyno-numbers-are-in.200499/

    Here is just one of the sets of the nascar take out rods that are available for a stroker;

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/181969787105?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

    Like buying them on sale for 90% off!


    Derek
     
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  8. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    I threw the block and crank away... it took a torch to get the crank out. My guess is he drove it until it seized - seems kind of dumb, but I've been that mad at a project that didn't go as planned so I can't be throwing any rocks at that guy. The car had a 350 SBC in it prior to my ownership.... which is actually a pretty common theme for me. I buy, make Buick again, then eventually sell.
     
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  9. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    I may have just bought a GN motor and transmission. Total investment in car plus engine/trans. $700. Motor has 60k miles and a turbo with loose bearings. Now I finally have use for the extra turbos I have
     
  10. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear superbuickguy and V-8 Buick longroof fans,

    Hmm, . . . . . . very interesting! There is one 1965 Buick wagon 2-door clone that also uses the Grand National V-6. If you plan to tow heavy loads that might not be the best choice. For fun driving though it should be a blast!

    Keep us posted!

    Cheers, Edouard
     
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  11. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    This is just going to be an innocent, little grandpa car. poverty caps, blue paint.... nothing to see here, no sir, nothing to see here but taillights.
     
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  12. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    So as many of you know, I don't buy or sell Friday night Sundown to Sat. night sundown. That meant that I had to 'wait' to pick this up - yep, it does mean at times I miss deals - but not this time (at least I hope this was a deal).... needless to say, the anticipation was kind of killing me but it's a priority thing so there we go.
    the tl;dr is I'll go through the motor, it seems a bit stuck hopefully that means just a ring job. The trans smells funky but not burnt, so I'll pop that apart too for a refresh but overall the spend bill should be pretty low comparatively. I'll also move the turbo so that I can run an intercooler - easy and I already have 2 new turbos that are perfect for this.

    rusty but ready to pull
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    so what it is. an 84/85 "hotside" turbo motor. No intercooler, but that's easy to fix - the important bit is the block and the crank-fired ignition. I'm thinking MS3x to run this...
    the transmission is what I really am stoked about - it's a 200r4, yes, if I wanted overdrive for my 50 Buick - this would be an excellent starting point... but no, the wagon needs it
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    I also grabbed the steering box. On G bodies, they had a quick-ratio steering for the GNX, t-type and Malibu SS... rare as hens teeth and bolts right up to the 64 Buick frame.

    home time to pull spark plugs
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    the turbo is quite loose - but condition-wise, it does look like a 60k motor.
    plugs
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    rust rocker too... which may be the reason the motor is stuck
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    driver's side look awesome, the first picture above is interesting because of the rust on the threads but the tip looks good
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    and let's define good. No water in the cylinders, there was antifreeze in the block, nothing looked like it was knocking - but it certainly was burning a bit of oil because of the turbo looseness.
     
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  13. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    So here's the plan:
    Current the cylinders are filled with Kroil to try to protect the bore and salvage the pistons.... it moves a bit but not much (which to me suggests valve-train lockup) - but Kroil won't hurt and can certainly help.

    Re-ring the motor and do whatever necessary inside (which could be new pistons).
    Have the pistons coated with heat-resistant coating
    Port and polish the heads
    Move the turbo off the intake manifold and weld the adapter to the collector on the passenger side (which also would probably delete the a/c pump)
    Run lines for an intercooler
    Use the turbo I mistakenly bought for the 455 - and really, you might convince me to get a different turbo, but it won't be an easy task because it just needs to work. The current turbo is bad.
    replace the injectors to 60 lbs
    Use either my Holley or MS3x computer to run this.... probably the MS3x because it's the same computer I'm going to use on the 430 build for the 50 Buick and learning it will only make the other motor better.

    Simply rebuild the transmission and perhaps put a 2300-3000 rpm stall converter in it to match the 4.10 rear gears.
     
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  14. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    got rolled back in the shop
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    looks like the steering box is going to work great
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    can you believe how terrible these floors are (heh)
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    plan is to set the motor in it and eyeball it on the lift....
     
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  15. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    So here's the plan... painting season really isn't that long, and if I want to use this next year, I need to paint it this year. Seems backwards, but I can do motor builds, suspension work and all the rest during the winter.... so that's going to be the mainstay of this for awhile
    this kind of explains the rear gears
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    this is not stock
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    looks promising
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    even more so
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    a Buick in a Buick... whodathunkit?
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    flat hood achieved
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    and now for the body work
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    I'm so torn on this - I should fix it right with a pan, but they're so small that I may do good enough
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    lots of little holes around the windshield
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    I did spend time vacuuming it out - apparently I didn't photograph it. The floors are in such good shape - I'll get it up on the lift in the next day or so and mount the motor along with fix the lower bits.... perhaps even widen the wheel wells in the back
     
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  16. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Cool Project, I'll be following your progress!
    If you can still get to the Regal parts car, the large diameter front swaybar will fit the wagon.
    The 8.5 inch 3.42 rear is desirable too, although it won't bolt into the wagon.

    I modded a 79 turbo Regal in the late 80's. It was a fun car. Been wanting to put it back together with a better turbo setup and intercooler.
     
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  17. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    Full assessment time
    floors
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    they're good even for here....
    quarters... not so much, but I think I'm going to channel my inner M&P ... who am I kidding, I'll hack and mud
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    this is the worst - I think it's been pre-hacked and pre-mudded
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    at least it has a 7 pin plug for my trailer pulling
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    but those floors
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    I'm pretty sure I can easily hook the column shift to the new trans :D
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    and I think I'll be eliminating the spare-tire well (at least eliminating what's left).... though bonus is there's a brand-new, bias-ply studded snow tire in the well
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    fenders look good
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    I can get new inner fenders
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    the motor fits(ish). I need to move it back or up a bit because the pan is against the cross member.... still, this is not hard stuff so I'm kind of looking forward to doing it (as much as I can look forward to bodywork).
     
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  18. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    I'm going to to the full-monte to the suspension (though steering it around the shop with the non-power-steering box may yet change my mind)

    I built this
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    and would routinely go out and beat up on the autocross with it. 4 speed, torque for days (455), B-body spindle, largebyhuge sway bars, boxed lower, adjustible upperss along with lowering quickor springs and it would eventually understeer but it was so easy to correct with the 455 that it made a believer out of a lot of Kraut and chopstick lovers..... plus, it had a presence that a Miata just can't pull off :)
     
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  19. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

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    this is a problem...
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    notice the missing seam?
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    the right corner has issues
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    lots of issues
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    ah well, easy enough to fix
    though I may try to find a couple doors
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  20. superbuickguy

    superbuickguy Well-Known Member

    not sure anyone is actually watching this thread - but if there is, and that person knows how to get the rear window down - that'd be awesome if they'd share
     
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