Hi, Y'all. My name is Allen and I'm a brand new owner of a 1970 Skylark. My understanding is that it is a base model v8 with a 2 barrel carb. The previous owner(s) put aftermarket wheels, re-upholstered the seats and applied a so-so paint job. From what I can tell it's not that rusted (I'm in San Antonio, but the car was living in Humble then Highlands, TX (suburbs of Houston). I just took delivery of it today around lunch time and am still high on old-school exhaust fumes. The plan is to "restore" it. I quoted it because it won't stay stock. The 350 is tired, burns a little oil (90000 original miles on it), and has to lug around that beast of a coupe. I'm dreaming big and will likely end up in over my head. I've reassembled engines in high school, but never actually rebuilt one. Now , 20 years later I'm just going to jump in and learn as I go. Hopefully it doesn't hurt too bad. Nice to meet y'all and I look forward to learning a lot while I'm here. -Allen
Congrats on the car it looks good. I to am on my first attempt to restore a car and I have learned a lot. The main thing I have learned is if it is for a Buick it is expensive and hard to get. A great group of people assembled on this board and they always respond to a plea for help. Welcome!!! Jim
Thank you! I opted for one that I had to take apart. I figured I would have a fighting chance. I've lurked a couple days before posting (waiting to actually have my Buick) and everyone is very nice.
Looks like a great start. We all had to learn along the way, so welcome to the Buick learning channel. Fred
Don't let it intimidate you. If the jokers at Fast n Loud can do it, so can you, especially with the help you'll get here. Jim/Rott
looks great, the 350 Buick is an awesome power plant. I started on here the same as you and have really learned a lot.
Well, I hope better late than never holds true! Got her out to play a bit and drove her to work to show the guys. One was a legitimate pest about! She ran better than I had guessed she would. Here are the promised photos. She's a really solid foundation but needs a lot of detail work. If the pics don't come out well, let me know. I'm doing this from my phone so it's a stab in the dark for picture quality (it's "medium").
Nice car! Sounds like you got it out of Houston just in time. It might be a submarine right now if you hadn't bought it. I am new to the forum, but not to A-body's and cars in general. As far as body and paint... I wouldn't touch it. Make it dependable and fun to drive and enjoy it for a year or so before you disassemble for restoration. I learned the hard way on my first two restoration projects years ago (they are still in pieces tucked into every nook and corner of my shop, one has the bare frame on ground in pasture), cars come apart quicker and cheaper than they go back together... And then life happens. Don't watch the the TV shows and think those cars are built over a few weeks. Do as much as you can while keeping the car somewhat drivable or at least only temporarily down. Seats and carpet for a few weeks, suspension/steering over the weekend or holidays, if swapping motors, have the replacement ready before you remove the one thats still running, etc... Please don't make the mistake and spread that car into a bunch of pieces all over your shop or garage.
Thanks for the advice! There's so much I want to do and so much that should be done that I'm barely getting started.
Shane hit the nail on the head. I swore I would never buy another car that couldn't drive & enjoy while restoring but was lured in by a GSX paint job,a 455, and a 4 speed and it has been scattered around for a year this month! Got stung by a big nest of hornets yesterday from my driver fender who finally decided "hell he ain't using it......let's build a honking big nest!" Lol (OUCH!!!!) They perished in a late night attack last night though! Moo Hoo Hoo Hoo Hah!!! Take THAT!!! Lol Anyhow I really like the interior job and the car looks super clean. Nice purchase! We will help you any way we can,some great and knowledgeable guys on here!