Hi guys, Im new to the board. Actually, Im new to buicks as well. Ive always been a GM guy, but Im just now trying out the buicks. Anyways, this week Im picking up a 66 skylark and am trying to figure out some info about the car. Its a GS(at least its got all the proper badging and options), and its supposedly a real GS skylark, not a clone. It would not matter to me either way cause it looks good, runs well and the price is right, so it could be a clone with a 6 cylinder and Id still be buying. Anyways Im told it has a 310 wildcat. Well, I started searching around for more info on this car and from what I have found on the net so far, it seems that a real GS would have had a larger motor than the 300 cubic inch wildcat 310 motor. That may be incorrect, but thats what it looks like from what I have found. Was the buick GS in 66 available with a wildcat 310, or should it have had one of the other wildcat motors? Also, what was common for the rest of the drivetrain in a 66 GS(like different tranny options and rear end, rear gearing options). Like I was sayin, Im buying either way cause its a good looking car for the money, and I have plans to basically build another drivetrain from the ground up, but Im still curious what I may actually be getting. Thanks a lot for any info.
The GS would have said "Wildcat 445" which is the 401 cid engine. It would have cowl tag numbers starting with 44607 (coupe) or 44617 ( hardtop). The car you are considering will start 44407 (2 dr coupe) or 44417( 2 dr. hardtop) which is a 300 cid Buick . The "310" on the cleaner is the torque rating in foot pounds. If so it is a Skylark. Also, it could be a 43407 which would be the base model, a "Special".
The transmission would be the Buick ST300, which is a two speed trans with a switchable pitch converter. While somewhat similar to a Powerglide, it shares no parts with them. Typical Skylark rear would be 2.78.
Thanks a lot guys. Im picking it up today and stopped again to check. So far, you guys appear to be right on. Only thing I cant say is whether the rear gear ratio is also typical for that car. Most likely got the 2.78 ratio like mentioned, but you never know. It looks like it is basically a skylark with the GS badging and everything else. Like I said before though, it dont matter to me, it looks good and runs clean.
