Just an update with the 4 door's progress; today, I replaced the original Spiral shocks and 60,000 mile springs with a pair of Global West 2" lowering springs and a pair of Free New Gabriel Gas Shocks. It's given it a little more agressive profile. I'll just have to work with the Wide Rear tires and the Skinny Front tires, to make it work better! Before: After :bglasses: :
Images dont work I want to see what the 2" lowering springs do. Did you do 2" all around? What size wheels/tires?
It's hard to get a profile pic of the car, as I don't have much "level ground" to use to determine what difference there really is. I noticed the difference, as I installed the springs, comparing the originals side by side with the lowered springs. I've only replaced the Rear springs, for now, until I'm ready to swap in the 455, when I'll replace the Front springs. :TU: With the original springs, I could put my HAND width on top/sidewall of the tire and have plenty of clearance between the wheel well opening, as the car was sitting "normal", at a Higher ride height. With the lowered springs, I can barely get 2 fingers width between the top/sidewall of the tire and the wheel well opening. I just have a set of "extra" rims on it, right now, which are Good Year Eagle P215/65R15, on American Racing 15x7s. I'd like to use either 17" or 18" Newstalgia Oval Rallyes (look like modernized Buick Rallyes). :bglasses: As it sits, now, with the lowered springs:
Cool :TU: sits about like mine does with very worn out original springs. My old Hotchkis springs are going in in late October/November, and they are 1" drop, I was just curious what the 2" drop Globals looked like. Love the 4 doors :TU:
Eric, You said the images don't work? Can you see the pics of the spring installation, Before and After? o No: If so, notice the differences between the tire letters clearance up to the wheel well. You can really tell the difference when you look at the 2 pictures that way! In the before, it looks like there's about 4-6" of clearance between the tire and wheel well. In the After, you can clearly see that the tire is almost tucked up inside the wheel well. :bglasses:
color what color is the car? it looks like ivory white but its hard to tell for sure. do you know the name of the color or maybe the paint code? i to have a 71 skylark 4 door and i love that color on your car. ive been searching for a color for a while and when i saw yours. BOOOM instant love! lol. Nice job on the springs. i just replaced mine but am still having the problem with the driver side of the car sagging down atleast an inch to a inch and a half.Maybe my sping insulators were worn? i dunno, but anyways if you can get me a paint color or a paint code i'd really appreciate it! also what kind of rims are those? Jon
Hey Jon, My car is the original color, Bamboo Cream, but I'm going to paint it Cadillac Pearl White, with the Black GSX stripes! I'm going to leave the Vinyl Top, as it is, except it will be Dyed BLACK, instead of Brown! The rims that I have on it, are just American Racing "directionals", that I got with a parts car, so I just stuck them on, for now! :bglasses: If you have a 4 Door Skylark, Jon, you may want to consider GS Bucket Seats and the Floor Console, like mine, too:
thanks! thanks alot! i already have the paint code for that and i'll be checking on prices for it. love the interior. my interior is bamboo cream with medium saddle carpet and trim. like your gs bucket seats but i already bought a set of buckets i found in a vw bus lol. they look great and feel great. i just cant afford t he gs seats. well that and i cant find any lol. would u happen to know if i can fit 15x10 wheels on the back of my 4 door? i do plan on doing a 455 swap in a few years but i'd like to start at the rear end first and work my way up.. no sense at having all the power if the car has a stock 350 suspension lol.
Jon, If you notice, my interior was also "2 tone Tan", but I added (dyed/repainted) all the BLACK parts, to accent it more (including: Dashpad, Ashtray, Armrests, Pillar Posts, carpet, etc.). I may add these other Black parts, too: Glovebox lid, Tilt Steering Column, If you want GS Bucket seats, you'll have to visit Swap Meets in your area, to find some. There's good deals if you really want some. I'm sure that 15x10 wheels WILL fit, if they fit on OTHER Skylarks and GSs, yes. I've decided on using 17" wheels in the rear and maybe 15" wheels in front. I love Marc Macoubries GSX profile, except I like Smaller Front Wheels/Tires, so I'm going to try for something similar, but more of my own original idea. If you can swap in a 455 into a stock 350 suspension car, you may not even notice. It's not about the "power" of the engine, it's just about HAVING the engine! You can always upgrade suspension parts, easily, at any time, the engine won't interfere with that! Whether it's a Stock 455, or a 500HP 455, if you're a true Buick Fanatic, ANY Buick 455 should be at the TOP of things for you to acquire (before you can't AFFORD one, in years to come :Smarty: )! :TU: No matter what you do with your car, as long as you enjoy it, it doesn't matter who else thinks what about it! To the people who like to criticize people like us, for thinking outside the (purist) box: :moonu: :laugh: I'd like to see progress pics and info about yours, too! :beer 4 Door Skylark Owners, UNITE! :bglasses: :grin:
Right on, brother! Now if you can tell me how to get these things to launch, I'll be very happy -Bob Cunningham
I'm not a "Racer", so I don't know, Bob, sorry. o No: I'm not into racing at a track, it's boring as a spectator, kind of like Golf (sucks to watch, more fun to play). I only run on the Street (occasional Mustangs or Corvettes, from Stop Sign to Stop Sign on the backroads). :3gears: :bglasses: Only thing I can tell you is watch other guys who race, and see who's close to launching like you want yours to do, and just copy their suspension/set up. A bodies are A bodies. :Smarty:
455 i could have picked up a '70 455-4v 2 years ago and didnt have the $$ for it! it was only 300 bucks! i was 19 back then and all my money was going into other stuff and not the car lol. I'll have to look around again for another 455 i my area. i have a hard time hooking up as it is with an almost stock 350. boy when you add an hei dist, these little motors come alive! lol. Can you email me me more pics of your skylark? i want side pics, front pics and back end pics . i want to make sure thats the color i want b4 i buy the paint! thanks! Jon
