1970 Skylark sleeper pro touring build

Discussion in 'Pro-Touring' started by breakinbuick11, Apr 1, 2018.

  1. STAGE III

    STAGE III Lost Experimental 455-4 Bolt Main Block.

    Tagging along maybe I will learn something.......sum purrtee smart dudes on here and very cool cars : )
     
    breakinbuick11 likes this.
  2. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    The car doesn’t run or have functioning brakes, so I decided to ignore those problems and start working on the new hood.

    This is a 72 skylark hood that we had from a low miles parts car. It will be satin black with a stage 2 scoop. My new garage still is not equipped with most major tools I need, including an air compressor. I used Eastwood’s Contour SCT tool with an 80 grit drum. I bought it for my dad for Christmas, but had to try it out.
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  3. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    Keeping with the theme of working on stuff that will not make the car run and drive. Bought this gauge panel from @hugger. I’ve always loved the look of Stewart Warner gauges. Figured they would be a different custom look than the traditional Buick setup. If they were good for a GNX, they are good for me. Too bad I cut the farthest right holes too close... I am waiting on the turn signal and high beam indicators to show up.
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  4. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    What's your opinion on the Eastwood stripping tool? I've been tempted...
     
  5. 70staged

    70staged Well-Known Member

    I second that question
     
  6. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    The jury is still out there. That first picture was 10-15 minutes of work. The entire hood took somewhere between 1-2 hours. I didn’t have to change the paper like you do with a DA so that was a plus. I’m really excited to try the wire wheel attachment on the underside of the hood today. My dad does a lot of small body jobs and I think he will make great use of it, but so far I can’t confidently say it was worth the price tag plus the cost of each drum.
     
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  7. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    @70staged @Smartin

    wanted to close the loop here. I got a few minutes with the wire brush. My harbor freight wire brush attachments and old drill were more effective with a little effort.

    Do I think this tool has a place in every commercial body shop? Yes. It’s effective and an alternative to a conventional DA. My dad and I will both make good use of it.

    Do I think it’s worth $290 + attachments ranging from $23-53? No. I’m happy I got it 20% off, but I still don’t think it’s worth it, especially if your a hobbyist and have an adequate compressor to continually run a DA.

    hope this helps, I’ll ask a few pics when the underside of the hood is finished.
     
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  8. Tom Righter

    Tom Righter Well-Known Member

    Car looks great Louie,Keep me posted on the engine and if you need any help let me know. Tom
     
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  9. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks Tom! Will do.

    Got some work in this weekend. I finished stripping the underside of the hood and took it to my Dad’s. He started taking some of the dents out and expoy primed the underside. I got the car up on stands to button the suspension and brakes up. As @pbulski mentioned a few pages ago, you need to clearance the steering stops or they will contact the ride tech lower control arms before full lock.
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    Attached Files:

  10. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

  11. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    With the GN steering box and clearanced steering stops, it’s 2 1/4 turns lock-lock. Once I get it on the road, I’ll see if more will need to be trimmed to improve the turning radius. The 275’s fill the wheel well up nice, but have a lot of clearence left on the fender lip, UCA, and LCA if I need more turning radius.
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  12. Tom Righter

    Tom Righter Well-Known Member

    Good work Louie!
     
  13. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    Removed the interior to add sound deadening using the “quick-roof” solution done previously on this board. There was some surface rust underneath the rear seat. I hit it with a wire wheel and used a paint/primer spray can to protect it. Added a sport steering wheel as well. The bucket seat floor mounts should be here this week. I would like to wrap the interior up by the end of this week and get back to the hood.
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  14. BuickBullet

    BuickBullet Well-Known Member

    In the original post, you mentioned you were going to go with a 6 speed, was this the six-speed?
     
  15. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    Unfortunately, no. This is just a turbo 350 for now. I might end up putting a 4l80 in it instead of a manual, but it won’t be for a few years until it gets a new engine.
     
  16. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    Interior is “done” sans seatbelts, new instrument cluster, etc. I mentioned at the beginning of the thread that I was going to splurge where I could (suspension, wheels/tires) and save as much as I could, where I could. This car will be getting a complete legendary interior with their new bolstered bucket seats in the correct Madrid waffle pattern for a 1970 GS. I hope to have that done by next summer, but who knows.

    For now, I used what we had. I’ll let you guess what the seats are out of. My dad paid $75 for them years ago. I found a build sheet attached, looks like they came from a well optioned a-body.

    I also removed the headers and will be adding manifolds and 2.5” down pipes this week. We are hoping to fire it off soon.

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    Stage 2 iron likes this.
  17. alvareracing

    alvareracing Platinum Level Contributor

    Are you bringing it to Bowling Green in May? Be nice to have a few other pro-touring cars there.
     
  18. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    Hey Fernando,

    It will be a long shot. Right now, we are focusing on getting my other ‘70 there. It’s been a 10 year on-off restoration for my Dad and I. I bought it when I was 15. If that falls through and this car becomes road worthy enough, we might drive it down but it’s not in the plan right now. Do they still do an auto cross there or has that been put on the back burner?
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  19. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    In an effort to make up a little ground clearance..
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  20. breakinbuick11

    breakinbuick11 Platinum Level Contributor

    Redid the Edelbrock finned aluminum valve covers. Still need to polish them. I hope to button up the motor this week and plan on starting it this weekend.
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