Hello everyone. Been a member since 2009 but this is my first post. My brother and my best friend from high school are both active members here, but I've stayed quiet since I didn't have a Buick. I still don't have a Buick, but I'm hoping to change that in the next year or so. Need to get my Monte Carlo finished and down here to Fla first. Then shop for a new project. Hope you all accept me as a non-Buick owning member, looking forward to a new project. John
Welcome John. I am also a wallflower on this website, but I can get lost for hours reading post. Buick owner or not there is a plethora of knowledge on this site. Best of all there is a bunch of great people on here willing to help and share where they can.
Welcome from Florida! I did the opposite of you. Bought my 69 GS400, then signed up here to learn more about it. BTW... Monte Carlos are cool cars. I've had a few of them.
14 years? That must be a record. Don't be shy. I hope you realize how much we all learn from "each other" and we can't learn anything from you if you are only lurking. Congrats on breaking through.
Michael G- It is a 1971 Monte Carlo. It has been made to look like a SS. That's how it bought it. Went to remove the vinyl top to repair some rust around the rear window, has turned in to a full blown body restoration (1/4's, outer wheel house, roof panel, trunk floor and drop downs, floor boards, lower cowl repair) Going for the "Day 2" look when I'm done, since nothing is orginal to this car. John
Thanks Ken. I joined when my brother got his 70 GS. Followed along with his build. Helped him out some, also. Now I'm really itching to get a Buick (first car was a 68 Skylark) but have to finish the Monte Carlo project first. John
Hey! Saw your post earlier this week & was wondering if that was you! Was actually meaning to call you this week too. John isn't telling the whole story - He did have a '70 GS at one time, a '68 Skylark, a '69 GS, and put a 455 in his mom's '77 (?) LeSabre (he can tell the '70 Skylark story too if he wishes). He also made it to the GS Nationals once. He's also arguably how I got into Buicks back in the early '80's. I had a factory Buick powered Jeep Wagoneer & was looking to get into a car. His family was all Buick (plus we lived in an area w/LOTS of Skylarks) and he had what I believe was the 1st book published on GSs on the bookshelf in his room where we'd often hang out (book had a GSX on the cover). I always liked the oddball stuff & knew about Chevelle SSs, 442s, & GTOs plus of course Skylarks, but had never heard of GSs or seen one. Having the Jeep & liking what I saw in that book pretty much sealed the fate.
The 77 LeSabre didnt really have Buick power, but it was the first car I did an engine swap in. It had a Pontiac 301 from the factory, and I took an 455 engine out of a 70 Bonneville, and swapped in. Put headers on it, and a Ram Air IV cam in also. I think the shop that Dan worked at did a 5 angle valve job. Ran that for a year or 2 until I blew it up at college. Then bought a 74 Catalina, played demo derby with in the backyard of my house. (Alcohol might have been involved!) After the cops came (neighbors complaining) , I pulled the 400 out and put it in the LeSabre. Drove it like that for a while and then sold it. Another friend of ours saw it in a junkyard years later and told them of the engine swap. the following week the engine was gone. lol First time I drove was in a 70 Skylark 4-door. My grandma bought it new, and my dad bought it from them in 74 when she replaced it with a 74 Regal 4 door. We were on a farm and my dad let me drive it. I was 12. I thought "this driving thing is easy". I use to sneak out at night and drive the Skylark around. Unfortunately, I didn't know about high speed handling and hit an oak tree head on. Dad was ticked off, to say the least.
For some reason I remembered the LeSabre getting a Buick 455. Pontiac is a much more straightforward swap. Forgot about doing the valve job & the Bonneville.
If I remember correctly. got the Bonneville from Beste Automotive, dismantled it at Padonia Exxon until Jack got mad, then I junked it.
Those were the days... There's a Nationals Pics thread on here if you find the ones you shot. Must've been late 90's but don't think anyone would mind. https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?t...ate-80s-early-90s.347146/page-15#post-3383660
