1977 Buick Skylark "SLEEPER"

Discussion in 'Stock Appearing' started by skylarkjohn, Jul 20, 2013.

  1. skylarkjohn

    skylarkjohn Member

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    1977 Buick Skylark SLEEPER<o:p></o:p>
    Mildly built 350 SBC, TCI Street fighter 350 w/ TCI 3000 stall convertor<o:p></o:p>
    Ford 9” Posi rear end w/ 350 gears<o:p></o:p>
    From the outside it looks like your grandma’s grocery getter. But underneath--- grandma never got groceries this way. <o:p></o:p>
    One of the first things I did to this bone stock ride after I got if from my aunt in 2009 with 98K miles on it, she bought it new, was to replace the head liner, recover the sun visors and replace the A/C compressor. Next came the shocks, front and rear.<o:p></o:p>
    Drove it for about a year and a half while I assembled the engine parts I needed for the new power plant.<o:p></o:p>
    First I got a 4 bolt main block. Sent it out for machine work. Line bored the mains, torque bored and honed the cylinders 090 over, straightened and shot peened the rods, balanced it all.<o:p></o:p>
    2010: Got it home and started putting it together.<o:p></o:p>
    Laid the 010/010 crank on Clevite 77 bearings. Replaced the main bolts with studs and installed 180,000 psi rod bolts and nuts. <o:p></o:p>
    The cam is a Summit 1104, 466/.466 Lift, 298/298, Duration and hydraulic lifters. Good mid-range power and the A/C still works. That’s a must in Vegas!!!<o:p></o:p>
    Cloyes gears and chain to tie the top and bottom together.<o:p></o:p>
    9.5:1 fly cut pistons on the retuned rods with more Clevite 77s.<o:p></o:p>
    Vortec aluminum heads w/ Summit 1.5 roller rockers and push rods.<o:p></o:p>
    Edelbrock 2101 Performer intake w/ Summit 650 cfm carb.<o:p></o:p>
    MSD distributor and good 8 mil wires.<o:p></o:p>
    Full length Headman headers to 2 1/2” duel exhaust Cats and Glass packs, for that old school sound.<o:p></o:p>
    2011: Dropped in the new engine and trans.<o:p></o:p>
    2012, I installed gauges in the instrument cluster. (Oil pressure, temp, and fuel). Amp gauge in the lower part of the dash. And of course a tech. <o:p></o:p>
    Earlier this year I replaced the body mount bushings, rear springs and bushings.<o:p></o:p>
    We rebuilt the front end, springs, control arm bushings and ball joints.<o:p></o:p>
    Replaced the tired, old, tan carpet with a black one and painted the dash and steering column black<o:p></o:p>
    I removed the 10 bolt one legged diff. and replaced it with a much stronger and easier to work on Ford 9” rear end. 350:1 gears on an Eaton Posi carrier. <o:p></o:p>
    I used new U-bolts and clamp on spring pads so I could set the pinion angle and then welded the pads to the rear end housing. <o:p></o:p>
    The tires are 215/70 on stock 14” rims with tri shield hub caps.<o:p></o:p>
    So, all this took about 4 years the complete.<o:p></o:p>
    In the near future I’m going to better shocks, good coil overs in the back and 70/30s in the front. Seat covers and door panels soon also.<o:p></o:p>
    Have not had it out to strip yet but we, my sons and I, have a lot of fun with it on the street. The car surprises the crap out of a lot of people in Mustangs, Camaro’s and rice burners.<o:p></o:p>
    I have been saying “I” a lot in this post. But I had a heck of a lot of help from my 17 and 18 year old sons doing this project. And for that,” I” say thank you to them. It’s been the 17 year olds daily driver for about 6 mos.<o:p></o:p>
    PS. For you purists out there, it did come stock with SBC 350. The 5th digit in the vin is L.<o:p></o:p>
     

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  2. pphil

    pphil Well-Known Member

    sweet

    is your grill painted black or is it missing
    i cant tell from the photos

    i installed a 8.5 rear in mine with eaton posi carrier 3.42 gears
    of course it is beefed up to handle about anything i can put out
    (mine came with the 7.5 rear as it was a v-6)


    scott
     
  3. Doo Wop

    Doo Wop Where were you in '62?

    Nice ride!!
     
  4. skylarkjohn

    skylarkjohn Member

    Hey Scott, Thanks. It's black and I took the BUICK plack off because it was wind sanded and not very nice looking.

    ---------- Post added at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 AM ----------

    Thanks, Korrie
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2013

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