1964 Buick Skylark Convertible mild custom project

WOW that's all I gotta say you have SKILLS

 

Thank you, Thank you! for sharing your great work and progress, I'm inspired!

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Thank you, Thank you! for sharing your great work and progress, I'm inspired!

 

WOW and Thank You, Thank you, in return! I very much appreciate the comments and encouragement and I am honored that my experimenting with this build has inspired others.

 

Before I could install the carpet and seats I needed to get a grasp on the stereo system so I could run all the wires under the carpet.

The car originally had a low cost stereo unit in the glove box but I hated it there. I had planned on converting my original AM radio but I have read some bad reviews on those and I didn't want to risk it for the cost. I decided to use a remote hidden system when I stumbled onto a Sony head unit that has an app remote as well as blue tooth for half the cost and all the modern functions I can dream up, it's pretty amazing. I started out setting up the unit in the trunk with the amp when I had a crazy idea to put it under the front seat. It mounted like it belonged there.

I wired up all the components and started playing with the settings and it sounds fantastic. Now that I have played with it for a few hours I think the unit may end up in the trunk after all, the app remote does most everything I want and I set up a remote on / off button that works just fine.

The best part about this system is that I can work all the functions of the Stereo from a smart phone, iPod or iPad and it will charge my device via USB. Pretty cool.

 

I installed switches in the console for my stuff I wanted control over. I started off wiring the angel eyes on the head lights to the park lights but I decided I wanted it on a single switch. The air compressor was on the key acc switch but that was bothersome at times so I put that one on a switch as well. The stereo got a switch too so I can power up the full sound system. And the bottom switch powers the trunk release.



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I had planned all along to hide the front speakers or put them in the kick panels. I bought a set of kick panels with speaker mounts and I hated them. The Foose speakers tie in so well with the finish of the interior that as much as I hate to put them in the doors I think they will look good there (and the doors are already cut for them). The speakers are component type with separate crossovers and tweeters so the tweeters are mounted in the original dash speaker area and aimed at each seat. I struggled to find a place for the crossovers when I noticed a void in the front of the console that stores them nicely out of sight.



---------- Post added at 12:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 AM ----------

Carpet in, seats in, seat belts bolted down, final nut a bolt check is completed. The blue steering wheel is temporarily in place for moving the car around and will take me places for the next few months. It's going to be a while before I can get the back seat and top so it's time to test and tune.
:3gears:

 

It's been raining for weeks so I can't get the car out. May as well start getting the top parts painted.

The top frame had an amateur repaint and it looks like they painted over dirt and all and they laid it on thick. After playing around with the best ways to strip them I ended up pulling the frames all apart and dumping on the remover. One thing nice about the thick coats of paint, very little rust.

I took several photos so I would be able to follow them if needed to put it back together (and I did need to look at them).












In this photo you can see the shiney screws. I think these are painted from the factory but they cleaned up so nice I buffed and cleared them. Almost like chrome.

 

Sweet ride. Please let me know next time you are in a local SLC car show. Would love to show up and see your car and meet you.

Thanks

 

Hey Aggie fan, There are a few car shows left this year that I hope to have the car in. I will post when and where.


I rolled 60 miles on the car yesterday. Adjusted the trans, got the front end aligned and entered a J.C. Hacket car show in Daybreak. First time out and it won Mac Tools "Diamond in the rough". :beers2:

Had a great time showing the car unfinished and pointing out the mild mods. My car was the only Buick but stupid me, I didn't get any photos at the show, I was busy talking. I got lucky and parked by a 67 Chevelle convertible so People could see it wasn't a Chev but they couldn't figure out what it was. The Wildcat 355 really made them stop and look closer. The car show tag on the windshield told the year and make, I loved seeing their reactions when they read it.

 

AGGIES all the way. Fingers crossed for a USC upset tomorrow, but we'll see.

I was hoping there were some you'd be to this fall. Do you ever go out to the Jordan Landing deal? I used to work out there and it seemed during the summer that every other Sat there would just be a bunch of cars out there.

What part of the valley do you live in?

 

I'm out in Riverton. I plan to be at the next Jordan Landing show for the final Diamond in the rough competition. That show is schedules for Oct. 2 but since my car does not have a top it will only be there if there is no chance of rain.

 

Sweet. I'll head out there if it's blue skies.

 

Took the car to another show today and it won a Sponsors Choice award from UtahRides.com.

Two shows, two awards. Very cool! :beers2:

 

Very Nice!!:grin:
Congratulations!!:TU:

 

I sanded and painted the last part for this car. WOW! what a great feeling.

It's hard to put a giant puzzle together alone but with a rope and a lader it can happen.

 

There was a lite rain at the show so I didn't get the car out. I did go without the car and it was a pretty good turn out. But sadly as the cars started to leave there was a fender bender with a fantastic 66 GTO and a very nice 70ish Chev truck. It was the GTOs fault and the truck only had a scratch but the GTO is in need of expensive repairs to the right rear. The GTO owner was not paying attention and that kind of person really scares me when I start getting my car out more. You expect someone that owns a high dollar car to PAY ATTENTION!

 

Time for a new top. I have been wanting a canvas top with a tinted rear window but I have not had any luck finding the tinted window. I stumbled onto a web site a few weeks ago and alas everything I wanted for a reasonable price.

I didn't know anything about the company but their web site claims they have been making tops for GM going way back many years so I tried them out.

The top, window, pads, well, install kit and instructions came a week after I ordered and everything looked great.

The top came from Aro, I am very pleased with the quality, fit and help they gave me. Check them out. http://www.aro2000.com/

I started by covering the car with blankets and card board. Then I set the bow height based on the instructions of 20.5" at the center. One tip they had was to use rope to tie the bow in place and that worked great while I set the pads in place.





With the pads tacked down I set up the rear well liner and bolted it in to make sure it laid down the way I wanted it.



Next, I lightly tacked the TINTED Window in place to the bow height and pulled it side to side to hopefully get it flat and wrinkle free. LOVE THAT TINT!







With the rear window tight with the pads and all the measurements correct I started on the top from the rear tack strip forward.





Once the back tack strip was bolted down the rear sides had a few loose wrinkles so I had to pull it apart, stretch it downward and try again. This had to be done 3 times before it was perfect but a little at a time is better then going to far and splitting the seams. (did that once years ago on a Lemans)











You can see the staples across the top of the rear bow in this photo. I still need to put the cover strip and weather strip on and this is a wrap.

 

It Looks Great!!!!

 

Thanks Bulldog!

Hopefully I can finish the top today then I will start the "after market" power window project.

 

The aftermarket power windows will be a piece of cake not trying to hi-jack your thread but this is in my 67 I just completed all four windows and it took me about 35 minutes



LOVE LOVE LOVE the modifications that you have done so far!!!

 

Your car looks real good. What size tires and wheels are on it?