1964 Buick Skylark Convertible mild custom project

Nice job Brian!!!

Everything flows together nicely. Very professional looking in every way.
You deserve the award from Kindigit! Enjoy that beautiful ride!

 

Thanks Mike. I wanted to enjoy it today and I woke to rain. :af: Maybe tomorrow.

 

Finished up the OPGI boot and it stinks. Poor fit and the clips scratched the stainless and the paint due to sharp edges. Grrrrrr.

Black steering wheel is finally installed and looks great. Aftermarket horn button keeps falling off so that will need to be reworked. Double Grrrrr...

But... Had a fantastic time sit'n on the grass and talking to a bunch of great car crazed people.

 

Looks great to me! So is your car officially completed?

 

On my way home from the car show the brake pedal went hard and the engine started to idle rough. It sounded like it was sucking air, and it was. The brake booster had failed so I ordered a new one. I tried to install it today and it didn't fit the master cylinder so turns out it is for a 1967. The new one is supposed to be delivered Thursday. There is a car show on Saturday that is one of the largest shows in the West that I want to attend. If the booster doesn't make it I will have to install the master and plug the vacuum because I don't want to miss this show.

Anyway, the car is for the most part finished. :beers2:

My list of items that it will need to be officially finished is:

Brake booster.
Some misc. wires for the alarm system.
Remote control for the air suspension. (came with my system but it is not set up)
Replace the trunk release. The used part only works when it feels like it.
The rotors need to be painted, they are bare steel and they are starting to rust.
The wheels have a clear coat on them and the clear is faded and stained, so that will be a huge job to strip and polish.
And the grand finally will be a complete stereo system in the trunk with an amp and big speakers with a look to match the door panels.

All I need is time and :dollar:

I'm pushing to the AutoRama in March so I will need to get busy this fall so I'm not working in the cold.

 

Car looks great and I can appreciate the time and effort that you have invested. These cars were not built to fit together so nicely as you have accomplished. The close up pics of the nose are just admirable. Whenever you have spare time, I would like to see your deck lid fitment and any description of what you did to dial it in. I have followed this thread off and on but don't recall seeing that. Unless it is just me, the trunk lids fit haphazardly. I have a `65 that I have been gathering parts for and for some reason was jonesing to see a nice done touring set up and to my pleasure, there was recent activity on this thread. Enjoy showing it, you deserve every and all accolades.

 

Thank you for the kind words. Glad you see my car as a pro-touring because that is what I was after. The insurance companies see it as a low rider and that category is expensive to insure. I found Grundy will insure it for what it really is.

The trunk lid on my car was no exception from the haphazard, toss-it-together, overworked, ready to go on strike quality of GM back when the Union had to step in a few years later. The trunk lid could be adjusted side to side but not along the front or rear of the opening. I adjusted it as far as possible to the lead edge and the the tail edge overlapped the right side rear quarter. You can see the right edge hitting the quarter in the photos. The bottom edge of the lid, as it met up with the tail light panel, had a huge gap that you could slide you finders into all the way to your knuckles. The only way I could get the fit they way I wanted was the cut out the trunk floor, pull the tail over to the right (way to the right) and weld the trunk floor in. (after bracing it in place). I added 1/2" to the trail edge of the trunk lip to fill the gap at the tail lights and cut and welded the inside corners of the quarter opening to fill the gaps at the ends.

Hopefully these photos tell the story for you.

 

Here are some photos of the finished trunk gaps.

 

I have always wanted to go to the Peach Days Car show in Northern Utah but timing has never worked out for me. With my car ready, and needing some miles, I made a point in keeping my schedule open. The drive was about 80 miles one way and the car drove fantastic. At freeway speed the RPM was in the 2500 range. The wine in the rear end quieted down and the exhaust drone was minimal. At over 3000 rpm the drone was more noticeable but not bad. I rolled up the windows, due to a light rain, and the car is fairly quite.

The show had 960 cars registered, and several hundred that had not. Cars were set up in classes for the judging and each class is parked in the same area to make it easier for the judges. My car was in the 1960-1964 modified class of about 20 cars. I parked next to a 62 Chev bubble top that I would consider equal to mine. In the end the Bubble top got the win. At that point I wanted to leave but I also wanted to hear about some of the other classes so I stuck around. To my surprise my car was picked for the Mayor's Choice award out of hundreds of fantastic vehicles. I am honored to have my Skylark chosen for this award.

 

Congrats,

You have earned it! Car looks amazing!

 

Congratulation on that award. Not very often a buick wins a award like that. Your convert looks absolutely amazing. One of the nicest I've seen. :TU:

 

Thank you guys!

It's been a crazy busy Fall and I haven't logged in to v8Buick for months. I'm finally getting back to work on the car. As I mentioned in a prior post, I have a small list of things left to do but one of the items on the list is HUGE. I'll be building a full trunk set up with hidden floor and side compartments, a kick'n stereo system, and hopefully a stylish finish to the boring trunk space. I tried to build it before the cold set in but I didn't make it. (Utah has been hitting record high temps for December so it's not bad, for now.)

 

Time to jump into the trunk. I have never done anything like this but my minds eye is playing with me so I have to get it out of my head.

I am very fortunate that my new job works with plywood and has some great cutting and routing tools.

After hours of brain lock up and not having a clue what to do, I started playing with cardboard patterns and cutting up scrap plywood in a framework of ideas. Some shapes started to come together and more brain waves made saw dust.

It may not look like anything at this point but I am really excited that I have a working plan from this skeleton of wood. I'll have to keep it in sections to erect it inside the trunk later on.

(Oops, Looks like I need to reset the date on my camera.)

 

That's a great idea !
it'll keep every thing in its place:TU: and it looks good already
I've got a bunch of old milk crates and heavy card board boxes in mine ...

 

I had my folding chair and a bunch of cleaning stuff rolling around in the trunk last Summer and that is when I came up the the idea. I hope it turns out as good as my dreams, I need to get it done so I can get some sleep. :idea2:

 

Many hours and lots of dust.

 

I almost finished up all the woodwork.

The sub box and side storage is finished along with the rounded rear panel. Still need to finish the lower trunk space.

 

Lots more work and final fitment. Also added the floor compartment cover / lid. It ended up with the same pointed shape as the trunk lid. I worked out how to keep it all in sections that screw together in hidden areas. Man it has racked up the hours. :shock:

I can now start putting the compressor, pipes and lines back in the lower area. This should keep the compressor quite as well. The pump was like a drum thumping on the sheet metal.

 

Car looks great!!!

 

As usual Brian, great looking work! :TU:

I think I see something new every time I look at your pics. Never noticed before, but what is the gauge you installed in the clock location?

Always look forward to seeing your new posts, keep up the great work!!