Good morning all. FLGS400 suggested I post my question in this thread Well, I what can I say, I love Buicks. I live near Baltimore MD and have a 65 Skylark GS that my father bought off of the showroom floor. I grew up in this car, bought it from my Dad in 82 and drove it every day until 1985 when I moved from Southern Indiana to Indianapolis. It is all original w/ Nailhead 401 Wildcat 445 and Super Turbine 300. Can anyone recommend a machine shop on the East Cost that really understands the Nailhead? I would like to have the engine completely rebuilt. A few years ago I was working with a gentleman near NY who worked on the 401s but can not remember his name. I took a tour of Automotive Machine in Philpot KY but understand they are out of business now :-( I plan to pull the engine and hand deliver it to the shop. any help would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Steve
Thank you for the lead. I had a great talk with Tom and am trying to plan out how to move forward with delivering him my nail head and ST 300 as soon as I can. Since I plan to have the body work done when the engine and tranny are out of the car I am trying to coordinate the timing of the two phases. I have visited two body shops this week that work on the old stuff but they are saying they are booked up for 1.5 years??!! So now I am looking for a body shop. Can anyone recommend a reputable body shop near the Baltimore area that would be willing to work on a classic? Thanks again and I appreciate you all. Steve R.
Mike Schafer owns the body shop and worked at Miller Motors Buick in Baltimore for years He would be the guy to do you GS right ! SCHAFERS Restoration 321W Main St RISING SUN MD 410 658 7300 Good Luck , Bill
Thank you. I am calling Schafer's today to see if he is interested in working on my GS. I am not going to be shy here and pretend I am a seasoned restoration expert who knows what I am doing. I love the idea of restoring my car but I also work full time. I do have a solid understanding of auto mechanics and have done much of my own vehicle maintenance / repairs for years (especially when I was younger ) but I have not taken on a project like this before and I really do not have any friends in MD who are into this. Would it make sense to hire someone who has done this before to work along side of me and give me advice along the way? I am really excited about starting this project and would like to make it as enjoyable as possible rather than a series of excess rookie mistakes? Craig's list is full of people with 'hot rod" and "classic restoration" experience but I figured this forum would be the RIGHT place to pose these question. Is this even something that is done or am I just overthinking the whole thing? I know it will cost me more in the long run to pay someone to advise me but if I had someone to work with and bounce ideas off of it would seem to me to be more enjoyable. Of course I would expect just advice and I would pay for any tools and expenses related to the cost of restoration. Sincerely, Steve R.
The top Buick minds in the world are right here on this forum. I have always found the folks here extremely generous with their knowledge and willingness to share it. With their insight and direction, you'll be able to find your way through any issue in the restoration process. These folks are great. I know this first hand as I'm finishing up the last of 3 '65 Gran Sport restorations, and still find the need for their advise.
Thank you for the reply. I had a great conversation with Mike and I'm sending him pictures of my project today. I would like to have the brakes replaced with dual masters and disc's. Would you recommend having all the mechanical work done before the body work or can I do them together. Is there a recommended sequence to follow when restoring engine, trany, body, and interior?
Good evening and I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year’s. I spoke to my uncle today who has a fully restored 68 charger that currently sits in his garage. I thought our conversation would make me feel better but it actually left me a little more anxious than before ..only because he did so much of the work himself and as he walked me through, in detail, the removal of every emblem, body part, and dash component I began to feel a little overwhelmed. I live about 30 minutes north of Baltimore and would really like to meet / talk with someone or attend some meets to start networking with people who have done this before. I am a noob here and want to get started but need a little help to get going. Thanks again. Everyone here has all been so friendly and helpful. Sincerely, Steve R.
It's like eating an elephant, one bite at a time. Sometimes we have to start at the wrong end, though. Doing what you're trying to accomplish is just that. I assume no lift, no rotisserie, etc.. If you're doing a body on resto a body shop can tidy up the under carriage while it's there for the body work. But, first, I'd start with the engine bay by doing a thorough clean and shine there. You don't want to do that after the car comes back from the body shop. The interior re-do can be accomplished with help from the service manuals and V8 friends. Legendary, OPGI, OldBuicks, TPP and other folks out there can help with replacement stuff. The things that they don't have are the real tough things to find. The '65 is almost a one-off automobile if you want a very nicely restored Gran Sport. Understanding what you need to replace, and getting an early start on locating that stuff, is important if you want the project to move along. Plating shops are few and far between, take forever and are EXPENSIVE. Fine steel wool and polish will bring back some of it to a degree. Dash parts are tough to come by if you want a great look, but, those parts are out there, hiding.
Hi also doing a 65gs . is it a running car now? Are you planning a frame off? Drive train #1,frame supension#2 body/paint #3,interior last realizing lead time for parts ,plating ,painting,saving money,ledgendary is almost a year wait for interiors. Get it running the way you want play with it alittle then make a list of what it needs.jim
Bos, thanks for the reply. I did drive my 65GS to my garage 5 years ago but it has not been started since. I think I will: 1) rent a trailer 2,) take to garage to have engine and tranny removed 3) send both to Tom 3) while engine and tranny are out take body to Schafer's. Reinstall engine and tranny when done, check the brakes, and get it derivable. Figure this will take me most of this year :-( please let me know if i am going out of order here. Steve
Just nice to have it running first to check on the litte stuff that's easier to fix when it's apart ,squeaks, rattles, alignment, stuff that can be done before fresh paint. Main thing have fun it's your car do it up the way you want .jim
Greetings, I am am sorry to say it is time for me to part with my 65 Buick GS. I wanted to get this out there and follow the correct process for listing this one owner all original car (needs work). Thank you , Steve R.
Sorry to hear, but understood. You should post a new entry in the "for sale" section with the info about your car, photos and a price and location. Good luck!
Sorry to hear that also. As much as I hate members projects not be abled to done I can imagine the pain of having to sell it. Hope its not a health issue. Hopefully a member here might buy it and be able to restore it. Should give you a little satisfaction.
Sorry you are in a position to have to sell the car especially since you have so much sentimental attachment. I'm sure there is someone out there who will complete the cars restoration and enjoy it as much as you and your father have done
Believe me it hurts. My wife of 30 years walked out of my live now I need to move and do not have the money to store my GS. Thank you all for your sentiments, it means a lot to me in a time in my life when the little things mean so much!
