Hey guys this is my first post, looks like a pretty cool place to hang out:beer I just picked up an original but semi rough 67 GS California Skylark. It's a pretty nice old ride though! The body is straight and still has the original paint job. Lacquer check and fading. All the trim is there with the factory rallies and GS emblems, Grill and bumpers won't need to be replaced. The Chrome is good! Dash is uncut and back seat and door panels are clean. Mechanically the car is sound drives straight and brakes good. Could have less then a 100k miles. I guess the down side is the California is basically a post Skylark with GS trim and no options. Just the way I like em! So it has the 340-4 with TH300 and one legger, so a 455 swap is in order! Let me shoot a few question at you guys. What does it take to install a 455 TH400 in this car? What does this car weigh now, 340 TH300 post with no options? How quick (1/4) can you go with a stock 455 and stock valve sizes with just a cam upgrade? Can I find a 8.5 10 bolt corporate rear end for it? Will a big block radiator fit my core support, the rad looks small? Thanks in advance! :grin:
67 NorCal GS, I did this swap about 5 years ago. Found a very clean 67 CA GS & threw in a 455. The engine is a 76 455 (lo comp.) w/ standard valves & no porting whatsoever. It has a Lunati Cam & lifters. When I first put it together I was using the stock exhaust manifolds. The trans was a T-400 with 3.42 12 bolt posi. The car ran 13.20's at 104 mph in 98 degree Sacramento heat w/ street tires. I've since installed headers & 4 speed. Last time I was down it was turning in the 12.70's. As far as radiator I'm using the Summit brand alum., with manual fan & shroud. It is the 25" x 19" which is the same dimensions as stock. On a hot day I won't see above 195 - seems to work well. Also pick up some T/A or Poston frame mounts - makes the swap much easier. The T/A mounts have two sets of holes for header clearance. You will also have to use the early "short" water pump (70 & older455, 430, 400). The tranny mount just needed to be moved on the frame. There was already existing holes to line up - put the bolts thru & tighten. The rearend I used was a 64-67 Chevelle / El Camio 12 bolt. It is 1 3/4" narrower than the original 10 bolt. I can now fit 8" wide rims in the rear w/ a 275/60/15 tire. A 71-72 8.5" 10 bolt will bolt in but is the same wigth as the original. I never did weigh it with the old 340 & st-300, but with the 455 & T-400, manual steering, alum. wheels it weighed 3575 lbs no driver. Lastly, what is your first name & where in Northern CA are you from? I'm in Diamond Springs - between Sacramento & Lake Tahoe. Thanks, Wes
Hey Wes this is John In Orangevale, small world man! I'm just down the 50 from you. Orangevale is next to Folsom right of the Hazel exit. That's pretty cool you got a 67 Cally GS! Nice ET too! What are you doing on July 5, check this out http://www.pscaracing.com/ncraceinfo2003.html I'll be there and maybe run the 340 down the track! Would be nice to have the 455 in by then but that would be pushing it a bit. Have you ever heard of Ken Schmidt and the Buick Bonnery? How many different pistons did Buick put in the 455? How many different CC heads did the BB have? Would it be worth it to put 430 heads on your combination? What gains would you have? I was thinking about that option myself. Since we have three Pick-N-Pulls in Sac, I pretty much have my pick of what combo I want to run. Is your engine original? What converter are you running? Do you have the stock intake? Is the 71-2 third member a corporate or BOP only? The corporate was used up until 1990 in 70's Camaros and Cadillac Seville and many others. If the 71-2 BOP takes the same carrier as the corporate that would be sweet! Know that I think about it, I don't think they use the same carrier??? John
John, You're right it is a small world. I've got a couple non-Buick buddies in Orangevale. I remember about a year or so ago I saw a 67 CA GS running around in Citrus Heights around Sunrise mail area. As I recall it was white w/ a black vinyl top - is that yours? Looked like a decent original car. The PSCA event looks like a good time. I've got to get out again & see if I can break this thing. As far a heads Buick has 66, 71 & 76 cc heads. Not sure about the 75-76 heads. I'm running the 71 cc, but I've got a fresh pair of 70 Stage 1 heads sitting on the shelf, just haven't found the time to bolt them on. I think if I bolt on the 70 heads it will boost my compression to about 9:1. With my setup now I can run 87 octane with lots of total timing & no pinging. Buick also had 2 possibly 3 different pistons. 70 (higher comp.) 71-74 (deeper dish) & once again 75-76 (could be the same as 71-74). I'm running the T/A intake (SP1). I think in the future I will be going to a B4B for hood clearance. Except for cam , intake & headers my engine is pretty well stock. When I was running the t-400 I was using a cheapo 2500 stall. It could have used a better setup, like something that would really stall at 2500-2800. Now I'm running a Muncie 4 speed, so I can stall at whatever I want. I think the 71-72 Buick takes the came carrier as the corporate 8.5". My buddy put one in his 72 El Camio & grabbed a posi carrier out of a 78 Z28 (3:73 gears) So yes, they are the same. Hey if you're looking for a 8.5" rear I've got an extra one. It's out of a 72 Skylark - gears are 2.56:1. It complete & cheap. Anyway John, got to get to bed - here's my email address if you want to contact me direct: gswes@inreach.com Have fun, Wes
Wes.....Wes.... why do you want to mess up a good combo and put those stage 1 heads on? I can do ya favor and lets see.......um .....trade you some FORD heads. There really just boat anchors but there good for practicing porting on! ha...ha....ha..... Actually my GS did come from Citrus Heights but it's real ugly, white and USE TO have a black vinyl top. Paints faded bad with some rust burning through but it's all original and all there. It's in a lot better shape then my chevelle was when I got It! Now on the B4B that's out of production, right? Old school Edelbrock stuff? John
John, The heads should give a little more comp. than I have now. Right now the combo works OK, but could use a better pair of heads. I'm getting ready to put together a new engine, just waiting on T/A to finish the machine work on the alum. Stage 1 heads & I'm ready for the shortblock to go to a machine shop. The B4B is a vintage speed part for the Buick. The performer is just an updated B4B. Most all guys agree the B4B is just a hair better. The performer isn't bad & still available new. The B4B will have to be found second hand. Your 67 sounds really cool, love to see it some time. Not to many running around. I, like you enjoy the fact it is a stripped down model - pure Hot Rod when your finished. Wes
Thought I would revive this thread to get some opinions on my upcoming swap... Approximately how much front end drop can I expect.? The car is a 340 auto w/air going to 455/400 turbo. Don't mind if it sets a little low as the car will have factory manifolds. Will handling suffer much from the added front end weight. Should I go ahead and swap in new springs? possibly 67 400 GS? Already have new frame mounts and plan to run the same radiator and fan shroud (clean). I think someone here stated being a 340 with AC, it's the same as GS 400? I would love to here from those who have done this swap on a 66/67. Any thoughts?
Thanks for the info...the springs in the car are new and were put in when the front was rebuilt... the GS 400 Spring is probably the safest bet........guess I'm just lazy thinking I could get away without pulling the springs again.:grin: Any other opinions??????
The standard GS400 springs are of the heavy duty variety and should be more than sufficient. If you are happy with the heighth of the front end then I don't think you need to bother to change the springs as long as the shocks are in good shape.:grin: :grin:
