Back to square1 with my 65 Skylark

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Donuts & Peelouts, Oct 19, 2017.

?

What would you put in a 65 skylark

  1. 401

    3 vote(s)
    8.1%
  2. 400

    1 vote(s)
    2.7%
  3. 425

    4 vote(s)
    10.8%
  4. 430

    1 vote(s)
    2.7%
  5. 455

    24 vote(s)
    64.9%
  6. 350

    4 vote(s)
    10.8%
  1. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    You said fast was your main concern. If that's the case, 430/455.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  2. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Your assumption on the cadillac engine is wrong. Chill...
     
  3. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Fast is main concern.
    Reliability is 2nd.
    And I'm learning price is just part of the game.

    Jmos4. I would say I want an old school hot rod/sleeper.
     
  4. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    I got that "watch me" gene too. What stick shift did you put behind the 330.
     
  5. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    If a 350 can do what a 455 can do with turbo or some juice I don't mind
     
  6. philbquick

    philbquick Founders Club Member

    I have a relatively rust free 65 Skylark post coupe, original V6 car AT. I will build a fresh 109 block and put an 87 Gn set-up on it with a 200R4 built for 550 Hp. I not going to go hog wild with it, basically I'll end up with a 65 GN. That is about 2 projects away.
     
    SpecialWagon65 likes this.
  7. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Well-Known Member

    I tried the 3 speed from the f-85, but the car was underwhelming. So, I got a Saginaw 4 speed out of a low mile Vega and it had very nice gear ratios. Night and day. Put a Mr. Gasket Competition short stick in it.

    Very short throw and very narrow gate. I really liked the shifter.

    [​IMG]
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  8. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear Nailhead Ronnie, philBuick, Michael, and V-8 Buick fans,

    Okay, so why did the Cadillac engine not work out? It would help us to understand how your project ended up back at square #1.

    Okay, but what exactly did you have in mind when you say fast? If you just want a bit of fast accelerations on the street any stock big-block, including the nailheads, will give you that thrill. If you have racing ambitions that's a whole different kettle of fish. Today there is a wide range of speed parts for both the big-block and 350. Guys are getting these engines to produce amazing horsepower, but of course with the usual trade-offs.

    That's why I was asking about what sort of a budget you had in mind for this project. Lots of guys take a stock Buick big-block and put it in one of these cars. It is plenty of fun, but that will make only about 2/3s the horsepower and torque that the big-block is capable of. If you are willing to spend the money for speed components you can do better and you get options that you might have not considered. There are big-block engines with aggressive cams that produce a lot of power. However, these engines make the car harder to drive. The engine in my trusty wagon makes a lot of horsepower, but does so using more efficient components instead of an aggressive cam. So the car is much more pleasant to drive.

    You have a lot of choices and thinking about them only costs you the time you spend exploring your options. Even with the best of planning project like this can go very wrong, so do take the time get your ducks in a row as much as conditions permit!

    Cheers, Edouard
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  9. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    The big block Cadillac was a junk block. I got taken for by the man who sold it to me, he was a fraud. It's sitting in my garage now and the only thing good on it is the intake,heads and carb. When I opened up the oil pan can you believe I found pushrods and a broken rod cap and big pieces of the cam
     
  10. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    I want to be fast on the street with ambitions of the track. Thanks for your advice because it's from experience.
     
  11. jmos4

    jmos4 Well-Known Member

    Hi again,.

    If you're looking for old school, my vote would be put a nailhead in 410/425. My car gets more interest than it should just because I have a nailhead in it. As it's a accidental rat rod, as I am still sporting faded and pealing primer, I call it patina. My wife still can't believe the interest it causes at the local shows,.

    Also its fast enough to scare yourself from time to time, it will never be fast as modern cars, but puts a grin on my face evertime I drive it.

    Good luck with the project,

    Regards,
     
  12. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear Nailhead Ronnie, Jim, and V-8 Buick seekers of engine "nirvana"

    Well, if you want advice on how to build an engine for the drag strip you've come to the wrong guy, but alas it is an interesting tale. The first attempt at the engine that is supposed to be in my trusty wagon is described in this thread:

    http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/new-buildup-448ci-stg-2-se-hyd-roller-an-mpg-motor.252771/

    While there is some lip-service to my actual intentions, the truth was that I wanted an heavy-duty tow vehicle engine because I was hoping to pull a vintage Airstream travel trailer that was close to the limit of what my wagon could handle. This poor engine only lasted 3 months before blowing the rear crankshaft bearing. It has since been rebuilt not once but is back at TA-Performance addressing some valve-train issues. This version #1 of my wagon's engine wasn't really a tow engine, but apparently from the interest, a very interesting drag racing engine with very nice driving characteristics.

    Now this is one possible recipe of an engine that really allows you to go fast. If you check out the various Buick big-block builds there are a lot of different ideas on how to go fast. As Jim mentions, the nailhead is also a perfectly reasonable platform to get a lot of speed. Given my goal (that I'm still seeking!) I thought a more modern and reliable engine was the way to go, but that isn't your criteria.

    It goes back to how much effort you are willing to put into this. I'm really trapped in this situation. My family bought this wagon in 1968, and my Dad and I dreamed of having this car towing some substantial loads. I'm trying to live out that family legacy. You need to decide how much speed you want and how much you want to pay for it. New speed parts are expensive as are the engine builders who can put them to best advantage. If that's too rich for your needs, you might have to try some other recipe. Certainly there are many way to have a fast Buick. You need to search around to find the one that fits your lifestyle and budget.

    Cheers, Edouard :)
     
  13. marxjunk

    marxjunk Well-Known Member

    500+ for ex maifolds..500 ish for motor mounts... 150 for an oil pan, if ya want to stick shift it another grand++ for that stuff... to put a nail head in a skylark...

    .i think theres better ways to skin that cat...lay low..keep an eye out..buy a running 455 someone else spent a bunch of money on, LS1 swaps are rampant around here..ive been buying olds motors and pontiac motors for cheap..just be ready to jump when someone yells frog and wants to dump their motors..a guy thats ready to travel and has cash is gonna score...

    i bet in 15 minutes, i can find a great running buick 455 for dirt cheap around here...or at leas a couple hundred miles from here...i just dont look for them...i bet they are out there though..ive had 5 in the past 3 years, including 2 70 motors for 250-400 each in cars...i like to buy whole cars..part them down and get my stuff for free...
     
  14. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    I do, as I'm sure others, but I missed the quoted in original post. Put it in another thread, with pics, and I'm sure it'll be a different story.
     
  15. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Dear Mark, Jerry, and V-8 Buick fans of "more!"

    You are 100% correct. The more you want to custom design an engine using speed parts, the more expensive the project will become. In addition, the more desirable an engine combination is, the more expensive it will end up in the used market. It isn't that hard to find a working Buick 350. Lots of guys swap these out for a big-block and have a working engine lying around. On the other hand, any big-block is likely to have been used up and need rebuilding, or the engine has been recently rebuilt which will increase its value.

    The other important question that anybody wanting to drag race needs to ponder is: "how fast is fast enough?" There are guys with deep pockets that can easily out spend most fellows, so "winning" has be achieving a personal goal. There will always be another guy out there with a faster car than yours. This isn't at all my cup of tea, but I do get the sense that speed is a difficult goal to satisfy. It appears once you get to a certain speed, you build up a tolerance and soon have a need to go faster. In that case, sooner or later you'll want to go faster than you can afford.

    My objectives were utterly different, so none of these issues apply to me. However, these might be the sort of questions a potential drag racer might want to ponder before starting to spend even a modest amount of money for more speed.

    Cheers, Edouard
     
  16. SageSenior

    SageSenior Well-Known Member

    This is my 65...put a 455 in it...
    Tony Saggese
     

    Attached Files:

    wkillgs and Ant Legrand like this.
  17. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

  18. superlark

    superlark Guest

    Honestly I'm not sure why someone would choose a big-block, except for drag racing. The small block 350 can be built very powerful, especially with all the power adders. And then you don't have a humongous heavy engine up front.
    Of course this also takes into account nostalgia, like the 401 nailhead.
     
  19. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    http://www.carnut.com/specs/engdim.html
     
  20. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Well-Known Member

    I bought a 430-4 st400 from a 68 Wildcat to put in my 64 Skyrat pervertable, then while cyphering the cost of rebuilding the BBB, I spied a guy selling off a 65 GS project and decide to buy the engine/tranny with rebuilt 0 miles 401 for $4k as a better deal and more period specufuc, (as a likely swap in the day). Pulled the 300 drivetrain in November last year, and hope to fire it up in the next few weeks.

    So, ditched the 300 2bbl Sst400and pegleg 2.73 for a 401 2x4 T-10 wide ratio, Strange 3.54 True-trac and complete replacement of the suspension and brakes, all new wiring and hope to be driving within the month.

    But do what makes you hhappy. Life is too short to regret doing what you want.

    If a man has taken care of his family and life's obligations, he has earned his reward if that which pleases him.
     
    SpecialWagon65 likes this.

Share This Page