I have a chance to pick up a 64 skylark convertible. Was wondering if anyone could tell me of its worth. It's dark blue w/light blue interior, rallye wheels, 300 or 340??? automatic trans. I dont know much about desirability of the earlier cars, I think its cool looking. I know it needs some frame patching and floor work. I was told the top works but the material is mostly non-existent right now. Are part available for these cars? And are they prohibitively expensive to restore? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
There are not alot of aftermarket parts for these but such stuff as floorpans and trunkpans are available.I know of no aftermarket quarters or anything else on the outer panels being made.The top should be available and seat upholstery,door panels and carpet is available.Alot of used stuff out there if you search for it........... They are in my opinion desirable for sure anb I have a non convert 65 thats in my avitar.I am not big on converts but it would be a nice car.........Bruce.
like bruce said,quarters are the bitch.they just dont exist.doors & front sheet metal is out there(used).interior parts are repoped,no problem there.what kind of shape is it in?it came with the 300,if its a 4bbl it might be the aluminum headed/intake which is desirable.
I would say it is in fair to poor condition. It sat outside for a number of years with the top torn to shreds but dash seemed to have stayed dry somehow. Was told the car will start and drive but skips. Its a 2bbl so nothing special there. May not even have power brakes. Car seems to be all original and unmolested, however, 98k miles. Are engine parts still available? Performance parts? Should I just slap in a 455? Quarters and fenders appear to be in good shape, no excessive rust, bottom of drivers quarter(the part that faces down and meets the inner portion) is rusted out, but seems like an easy fix. Interior will definitely need some work, but if repros are available, I'm set there. I'm gonna go down and take another look at it today. The price seems right, (under a grand). I dont think its missing any trim but the grills kinda dented. If you folks know of any other stuff I should look for, thanks for the input.
no real performance stuff for the 300.if you want sbb go with a 350.or if you feel the need for speed the 455 is a no-brainer,thats my next project(after the 3 i have going)ou: grilles pop up on e-bay all the time around 50-60 bux if your patiant.dashpads are hard to come by.under a grand sounds good,pull the carpet back & check floorpans thats a major job.snap some pics while your there:TU:
The 300 can be made to run really strong if you put the 4bbl. intake/carb on it and put in the high-compression pistons that went along with the 4bbl. You can buy cams for it easily from Crower. It is easy to get 300 hp out of it. Alot of parts are common with the 350 Buick engine.
What parts are the same as the 350? I know very little about the 300-340 engines as up till now I have been a 350-455 kind of guy. Never had one this old before. Thanks
The cam, lifters, timing chain, oil pump and I think the water pump are the same as the 350. You can also bore the block .050" and use standard bore 350 pistons and rings in it that are easier to come by. Rod bearings are the same as a 327 Chevy. The stuff that is unique is valves/pushrods and the main bearings. At one time Poston Buick was selling headers for the 300 (that is where I got mine), but I don't know if they still have them or not.
OK, I went and looked at the car again. The engine does not look like a 300, or at least not like the ones I have seen in pictures...the valve covers look similar to 350/400/455 valve covers with the grooves running the length of the cover, not across like the 300's seem to be. Does anyone know where the engine id #'s are and what to look for. It isn't a 350, that much I am sure of. Did the 340's have the grooved valve covers...and would they fit on the 300? Any ideas on how to decode the option code on the firewall plate...It reads w2p4fv5z.
The '67 model 300 engines had the flat top valve covers with the grooves in them--so did the '67 340 engines. There should be a rectangular flat spot in the top center of the cover where a sticker that said 300-2, 340-2, or 340-4 went. What color is the engine? The '64 300 was silver from the factory, '65-'67 300 was Buick green. The 340 is a '66-'67 engine and all 340's were red from the factory.
Engine is red, don't recall flat spots on the cover for the sticker. Looks like it may be a 340. Still would like to find casting/stamping #s to verify. Did they make 340 2bbl's? Are they any good? any interchange w/a 350?
Yes, Buick made a 2bbl. version of the 340 in '66 and '67. It was just like the 4bbl., only with 9:1 compression instead of 10.25:1 and of course the intake difference. I don't know the casting numbers to tell you, but I could identify it with a picture. Being as it is red (assuming it was not repainted a diff. color at some point), it is either a 340 or a 350. Easy way to tell the 350 from the 300 and 340 is that the 300 and 340 have a full skirt block (oil pan mounting rail is flat all the way around even where it passes under the crank). 350 does not have the full skirt block and the pan is curved up around the crank at the front and back.
Well, after much hemming and hawing...I BOUGHT THE CAR. I don't need it, but I just like the way it looks. Price was right-800 bucks, not missing a single piece of trim, all in very good shape. It'll need a top, interior, floors and some frame patching, but all in all is a complete car, very little pitting in the front chrome. Tilt column and ps are the only options. I'll try to get some pics soon. Thanks for all your input guys...I'll prolly be asking for more soon. :beer :laugh:
Sounds like a good buy if you're handy with sheet metal. I purchased a 'done' car about 4 years ago and I love it. Prev owner had put in a later 350/THM400 combo. Used the early front mounts and moved the rear crossmember back a bunch. Welded new tabs to the frame. The conv frame is boxed but still gets cracks and stuf so spend some time on that so you don't get any flex. Ebay can supply you with many parts. I have some extra grill, taillight stuff but it's not great. Driver grade, I guess. email me if you're interested. Another engine choice is the nailhead. Make a phantom GS out of it. Need special mounts. You need the frame stands and factory engine "adaptors". There are some on ebay now. The actual rubber mounts are the hardest to find. I don't know if they are repopped or not. You can also add discs to the front and upgrade the suspension. Lots of info on this on BuickV8. Good luck.
Tom, you read my mind. I just looked at a 63 Lesabre for short money and it has a nailhead, although its a 2bbl. I would imagine the 4bbl heads and pistons are different?
I believe that would be a 401 (same as a 425 - smaller bore). It would have a Dynaflow tranny which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. THM400 can be installed with a small adaptor for the button on the torque converter. The engine and heads are the same as far as I know. Lots of manifolda availeable. If you see one at a swap meet, the 401/425 intake mounting bolts are 9" accross. Smaller earlier motores are narrower and the bolts and ports don't line up. Headers are availeable throught T/A performance otherwise you need to score some 65-67 GS exhaust manifolds - ebay or V8Buick.com. Lots of recources on that website. Let me know how you progress. Tom
