The Return of Don's 1966 Skylark GS....The Beginning

Discussion in ''Da Nailhead' started by 66BulldogGS, Apr 8, 2013.

  1. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    And so it begins.......:grin:

    Well as a few of you have seen me mention, we are planning on making the trip to the GS Nats this year. In doing so we plan on bringing the '66 GS. A couple weeks ago we pulled the transmission out of the car due to a serious leak that had transpired over time. When we got it out of the car and started cleaning up the outside of the case we found the leaky culprit. The case was cracked :ball:. So as any dedicated Buick owner would have, Don had a spare. We got the new case blasted and cleaned up and started rebuilding the ST400. It took two really long days to completely tear down the ST400 and clean EVERYTHING, And I do mean everything including valve body internals and all, and get everything back in the car. The new ST400 looks great and seems to be functioning correctly. It was really late when we got it all back together last night so we didn't get to take it out on the street. But we did get it fired up and rolled it around in the driveway to check gear engagement and the switch pitch on newly rebuilt converter. For two days straight I didn't get home from Don's until after midnight. But last night when we popped it off, it was all instantly worth the work and the long hours. Got a few more things to address this week and then it will be off the to track Saturday. The '66 hasn't seen a track since the late 90's if I remember correctly and the engine hasn't been torn down in almost 20 years. But man does she still sound mean and strong. After the event this weekend we will be getting ready to pull the engine to freshen it up so it will be ready for Bowling Green.:TU:

    Here is a little teaser video that I shot with my cell phone last night. Hope you all enjoy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8AmWaaYQCo
     
  2. 66gsconv

    66gsconv nailhead apprentice

    Good Luck:TU:
     
  3. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    She sure sounds mean indeed!! Whats the build (engine wise) in it?
     
  4. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    That is one wicked sounding nailhead! Congrats on your progress, see you at the 'nats
     
  5. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks guys! I love the way this car sounds.

    As far as the build itself, I really can't tell you many details.......It's a secret.:Brow: Lol. Just kidding, I really don't know all the specifics since it isn't my car and my mind doesn't store information like my Encyclopedia Uncle. What I can tell you is that it is a Dual Quad 425ci Nailhead. And if memory serves me correctly, in this cars prime at the track in the mid 90's, it's fastest time was 11.91 @ 113 mph. We are hoping to that the car isn't too far off those times now after so many years, but only time at the track will tell.
     
  6. gsgtx

    gsgtx Silver Level contributor

    what rear end gears? nice looking nice sounding car, good luck at the track.:3gears:
     
  7. scott kerns

    scott kerns Silver Level contributor

    Very cool! Good to hear about the 66 since this was the best looking year for Buicks!! :laugh: But then again I am biased.

    Scott
     
  8. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    There's a couple of write-ups about it in the GS-XTRA from the '90s. Greg Tomlinson did some really good work on the heads if I recall correctly. I'm looking forward to seeing the car and Team Nailhead again.
    Patrick.
     
  9. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks again guys! We are really pleased with how it's doing so far. Just keeping our fingers crossed that it goes as well as we are hoping at the track.

    As for the rear end gears, if I remember correctly they are either 4.56 or 4.96. I can't recall off hand. I should really start getting my facts straight. Hahaha. But I will once we start really getting into the car and start spending time at the track.

    Scott - I would have to agree. I love the '66 Skylarks. They are definitely my favorite. I am hoping in the next year or two that I will be able to get one of my own. Just got a few bills to pay off.

    Patrick - You are correct. Don and Greg Tomlinson have done some great work on the heads. However, the heads were actually never completed. They only began to tinker with them, there is more power there to be had. We really got to get our hands on a good flowbench.
     
  10. JESUPERCAT

    JESUPERCAT No Slow Boat

    Johnny are the Tri-Y headers still on Don's GS? That is one of the many factors that make that car go
     
  11. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Man, you guys are trying to give away all the secrets. :Dou: Hahaha.

    But the answer is yes John. The car still has Tri-Y's on it. The originals rotted out and fell apart. We built a new set not too long ago and even did a little tweaking on them this past weekend. I say 'we' very lightly cause Don did all the work. I just helped with the layout and marking/cutting the pieces. Don did all the fit up, welding, and grinding.
     
  12. doc

    doc Well-Known Member

    ''We killed a bear,,, paw shot him".....:laugh:
     
  13. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Good news! More videos!

    Here is the link to the best one of the 3 new ones I posted last night. You can find the other two in my videos when you go to the link. They are all titled similarly.

    This one even includes a burnout. It was REALLY windy yesterday so the sound isn't all that and I had to hold to phone upright and try to block some wind. I am not as proud of these videos themselves, but the content is priceless. Listen carefully during the burnout and you can hear Don run the ST400 through the gears and roll out down the street in 3rd. Very impressive. And the best part is the ST400 is working great shifting hard and fast. Don says it best when he said "It's tight", and I don't mean in the hoodlum slang terms either. :3gears:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IefGnNDNHc0
     
  14. gs66

    gs66 Silver Level contributor

    Sounds and looks great! Good luck and thanks for sharing.
     
  15. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks Jim.
     
  16. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Well, we took it to the track this weekend. While we made 3 sucessful passes during the Test and Tune, we decided to load it back on the trailer and take it home rather than beat on it anymore and put it through the races. The poor Nailhead is tired. The last time the motor was put into the car was 1991 and has had the snot beaten out of it ever since. The car sounded great, but it just isn't putting down the power it used to. It just confirmed what we had already thought and planned on. It's time for a rebuild. Sometime soon we will be pulling the engine from the car and tearing it down for a full refresher. We are thinking the contributors to the slow down of the car are two main factors. One probably being the valve springs are starting to go weak and secondly the torque converter we had rebuilt. The convert should be flashing around 4500 RPM and it's flashing between 2500-2800 RPM. So back to the shop the converter will go to be worked on some more and made right.

    So until then..........TO BE CONTINUED...
     
  17. 66gsconv

    66gsconv nailhead apprentice

    had to watch it again for some motivation:laugh::laugh:
     
  18. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Hahaha. I love it! Yeah I need some motivation too. 169 Days until the Nationals. Lots of work to do!!
     
  19. JESUPERCAT

    JESUPERCAT No Slow Boat

  20. 401Riviera

    401Riviera Well-Known Member

    This thing is a beast, i plan on building a motor with similar get up in the future. People always bash nailheads where i'm from, i'm sure if this rolled up next to them, all they would see is tail lights. :cool: If its not asking too much, when the freshening up is done, could you throw me a ball park of how much everything was added up? It would be much appreciated. Keep up the awesome work.:TU:
     

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