1966 Skylark Sportwagon

Discussion in 'Chassis restoration' started by ojthornapple, May 31, 2012.

  1. ojthornapple

    ojthornapple Well-Known Member

    I'm looking into buying a 66' sportwagon for a restoration project. What peaked my interest in the car was that it is a manual trans factory three on the tree. The skylark sportwagon was a step up from the special flat top so the factory stick makes it a rare bird.
    My question is in regard to the engine. I assumed the 340 4 barrel engine was standard in the sportwagon. However this car has a 2 barrel and the heads on the engine have been replaced.I can't see the block casting where the "340" should be. Did this model also use a 300 2 barrel, or a 340 two barrel? :Do No: Thanks, OJ
     
    ojthornapple, May 31, 2012
    #1
  2. urbancowboy0307

    urbancowboy0307 Silver Level contributor

    I know for '67 the 340-2bbl was standard on 4-dr sedans and sportwagons, and the 340-4bbl was in the GS340.
    Someone else probally knows the engine options for '66 but I don't have those memorized yet :Dou:
    The cowl tag will also say what engine it was built with.

    Even if the sportwagon you're looking at has a 2-bbl, you can find a 4-bbl intake to swap in (either for the 300 or 340)

    Sounds like a sweet project either way!
     
    urbancowboy0307, May 31, 2012
    #2
  3. Stampy

    Stampy Well-Known Member

    Consulted my chassis manual. Its as vague as ever, and not guaranteed to be the gospel truth...

    But anyway, there are 4 Sportwagons:

    44255 2 seat Sportwagon
    44265 3 seat Sportwagon
    44455 2 seat Sportwagon Custom
    44465 3 seat Sportwagon Custom

    44255 and 44265 both have engine code MA listed as "Standard Equipment", which is a 340-2 with 9.0:1 compression.

    44455 is listed as having engine code MB as "Optional", which is the 340-4 with 10.25:1 compression.

    44465 is listed as having engine code MC as "Export", which is the 340-2 with 7.6:1 compression.

    This is exactly what it says in the book... and it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It looks to me like basically 340-2 was standard, 340-4 was optional. No 300 for the Sportwagon.
     
    Stampy, Jun 4, 2012
    #3
  4. ojthornapple

    ojthornapple Well-Known Member

     
    ojthornapple, Jun 4, 2012
    #4
  5. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    I recall reading Buick made a change in the standard engine.
    I just looked it up, and it was the 4 door hardtop that switched from the 300-2 to the 340-2. That was in March, 1966.
    The Sportwagon had the 340-2 standard.
    The 340 is noticeably wider than the 300. If you can measure across the intake we can positively ID it.
     
    wkillgs, Jun 4, 2012
    #5

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