4 on the floor and the doors? Am I CRAZY? 1970 Skylark OK, so the first question is WHY? Because I have never seen one. I like that as you can see by the previous BUICK AMINO project (picture attached). I don't want to sell it out of lack of interest, but, I want to finish my convertible, that's why it is for sale. When I bought it, I saw parts car on e-Bay in bits, then, I realized it was too nice, 455 needed o No: . Now, George has a 4 speed set up that we are talking about. Is there anyone here that knows if 4 speeds were offered on the 4 door SKYLARK and purchased in 1970, or 71 or 72? What unsurmountable issues are there to convert this 1970 4 door 350 / 350 to a 350 -4 speed. I think a 4 spead 350 4 door has a lot more appeal than a 455 4 door George D. has a complete set up minus fly wheel, driveline. That is easy. What about tranny tunnel, wiring harness, steering column / shaft etc? If anyone wants to offer up the required bits and pieces available to make this conversion happen, I am going ot do it. I will rebuild that 70 350 and find a good geared posi for it. Any thoughts? I have never converted a car to a 4 speed but have done a bit of work on my buddies 400 4 speed GTO, so I know a bit about a facotry version. Am I smokin crack? uzzled:
need technical advice I would love to get some info on this. Can anyone offer me a lead on a detailed plan to follow for successful conversion?
I have converted three vehicles to stickshift now. None were 70-72 Skylarks, but I'm pretty down with the principles of it. This is nothing insurmountable. I'd say you biggest hassle might be the fact that the 350 in you car has a 50-50 shot of needing the block drilled for the pivot ball. You'll either have to yank the engine, or find a darn good angle drill. Its nice soft cast iron though, so its not hard. The steering column can be modified, unless your concerned with replicating the GM stickshift interlock thing. You know, the silly key release. The mods aren't hard. Once you line up the stick stuff you'll really be moving. A used 350 stick flywheel shoud run you $75-150. A brand new 10 1/2 clutch, PP, and throwout bearing from Summit can be had for about $350 for a Centerforce. Don't forget body color wheels and Dog Dish hubcaps to complete the extreme coolness!!!
the doggies would do Oh yes, I am geting stoked! We need to come up with a name for this project -4 on the floor and the doors.
here is the project 4 door 4 on the floor I think (4 door 4 on the floor) is catchy :3gears: I can see the doggies on it now. :bglasses: I think the color combo stays. I see building up that 350/4bbl to rev a bit. Does anyone want to trade a hot 350 for a 455 rebuilder?
How about 442??? :laugh: 4 doors 4 speed 2 fun to drive... :laugh: Actually everything you need to convert it to stick is the exact same thing to use on a GS..the steering column can be swapped to any floor shift or you could take the piece off the column(column lever) and swap to a non column part. A few hours and a good chassis manual and there you are.The block most likely will be drilled,but like Dan said not tough to drill. Cutting the hole in the floor may actually be the worst part,as almost all the rest are bolt on parts..My buddy used to have a 4 door Fairlane with a 4 speed that got all kinds of looks..Not a bad idea,may be a bit costly till you buy a tranny,bellhousing,flywheel etc
How about: -Skylark 4x4 -Floor door -4 exit 4 speed Skylark -The ultra rare......Quadradoor 4 speed Or..........It's nothing special, just your "standard" four door :laugh: Rick
quadradoor 4 on the floor I like that. :TU: Keep them coming. I am still holding with 4 door 4 on the floor. :beer
sorry, that was not very family oriented ok so the project name game got a little off track there :Smarty: anyone else want ot jump in :laugh: Also, if you have parts that will help this conversion, let me know. I have a lot of it from George slated to seal that deal soon. Need tranny tunnel hump, steering column would be cool, tilt even better as that what it has in it now, flywheel if in very good condition or I will buy new, anything else o No: Let me know what yoiu want for any parts$ Thnaks, MarkO
My 4 Speed Supply Warehouse I have evething you need even the shifter for the bench seat that will work trans etc i believe i have a new alum flywheel
thanks Parts, advice? As stated, likely using the set up form George, but, I need some odds and ends. Any help would be appreciated.
I think it's cool that you're converting this car but do you think the cost is worth the hassle? I'm not sure of the level of "correctness" (is that a word??) :Smarty: you're looking for but the parts are out there. (I think you had mentioned you located almost the complete set-up already) I took the concourse approach on my car and have a little over 4 grand in my conversion and each part has been meticulously detailed and the trans is brand new out of the box and the bell housing is out of a 71 GS. The steering column has been converted and detailed and that alone was $425 bucks. I just got it back from the rebuilder Friday and it's painted and ready for bolt in. (I changed the steering shaft as well for detailed correctness) The radiator has been recored from a 71 4 speed car waiting for install, that was 300 bucks alone. I suppose you can use the original radiator and plug-up the bottom where the trans lines are located. I found a spedo on e-bay with a 140 MPH face that bolted right into the gauge cluster that looks factory right down to the lettering, it's really cool looking. I still don't have the shifter handle and spedo cable yet. (Does anyone have a mint shifter handle for a 71 for sale??) All along I kept asking myself if it was really worth it considering the cost. (luckily I have a very supportive wife) Obviously these are Buicks and not Chevy's and the cost (in my mind) is triple that of a Chevy and those guys are lucky enough to find most parts in catalogs. I bought my set-up from Dave Kleinert of GS Enterprises and from what he tells me, a lot of Buick guys are looking to do this but the costs are just insane.. Hopefully the parts boys would take heed to our message and manufacture this stuff and sell it reasonably so guys like us don't have to pull a 2nd mortgage to do so.. Good luck and keep us posted. How about "GS 350-4" painted in a traditional GS script on the sides below where the GS emblems are located on the fenders. It's subtle with two meanings, 350 4 barrel as well as 4 door. Sorry to be long winded.. I just love this stuff. Mike Non numbers matching 71 GS 350 Automatic convertible transformed to a no expense spared 71 Stage 1 - 4 speed convertible. Options include Alpine white paint, green bench seat interior and green convertible top... N25, hood tach, front spoiler and front/rear sway bars with factory 15" magnams. One cool looking Buick.
all in time, Project 4 doors and 4 on the floor Thanks for the words! Yeah, I know it will be an expense, and never recoverable from any collector market. To me, having the 4 door and the vert, both 70, makes it fun. I would love a 70 SportWagon to complete the series, and likely will some day. This would not be my first one of a kind car...see pic of the 68 BUICKAMINO I think I am getting dialed in on gatheirng up the bare necessities, short of a couple really special parts namely the speedo and correct cable. I have no idea what is in store on getting the coreect gear to match the sgainaw and speedo I end up. As for the 4 door, any one can big block one, and believe me, that is a weeekend job at my place. So the 4 speed undertaking really appeals to me. Mainly, because I have never seen one. Secondly, as you know, there is only one feeling of a 4 speed muscle car :3gears: And I will hop up the 350, of course. Third, I have not been able to shake the idea since it hit me. So, eventually, I will have this real clean, 4 door, one of a kind, a blast to drive, and not just anyone can go out and buy one. :TU: Now, about that speedo, that was an area I am really trying to do. Any leads?
