I'm writing from south america (Colombia) uzzled: A guy is selling a Buick lesabre 1966, two door no pillared, has rust in quarter panels and one fender, paint is ugly, I guess the interior need some job, is a 350 V8 original 2 BBL, original automatic transmission (I Don't have idea which transmission could be, I'm a mopar guy I've never coming into GM world). He's asking 2000 $, worth to buy this car? Here's not much lesabres, a lot of skylarks 66 but not lesabres Some pics in the attachments How hard is to find body parts and estetic parts? (moldures, bezels etc) How hard is to find mechanic parts?
If that is the "original" engine it should be a 340 not a 350 for 1966. 350's came out in 68. Tans could be the ST-300 (which is a 2 speed transmission with a variable pitch torque converter) or possibly the 400 which is a 3 speed trans like most GMs have from that period have (Might have a Switch pitch Torque converter as well).
Too much body work is required. I would pass on this car. Look for a miceWwildcat of Riviera that does not need the body work.
Here only is easy to find 66 skylark, lesabres, electras and rivieras are strange to see cars. How much is too much body work? my actual mopar project restoration seems to have a worse body status Yes it runs and drive, just have problems with the starter The owner said that is the original engine and that is a 350, maybe he's wrong and really is a 340? if is a chevy 350, what kind of graft the owner maybe did on the car to change the engine?
It's hard to say if it's worth it or not in that economy. $2,000 may be more money or less money in that economy. That may be a more or less valuable car in your location. It is a restorable car. I can tell from the pictures that it is a 340, and, every 66 Lesabre I've ever seen has had a 400 switch pitch short shaft in it. 65 to 67 lesabres are the best source for that trans. The trans is worth $500 as a core.
2000 $ is not too much money on my country economy but still being some money if I restore it maybe I can ask 15000 or 20000 $ to sell it, but if I buy it I wouldn't have in mind sell it when the restoration ends. Now about the interior... How hard is to find parts online?
The body doesn't look too rusty, are the floors and trunk rotted out? Parts are available from guys on this site (me included) and ebay. Not much in the way of new parts. Maybe you can find a cheap parts car or keep looking for a more original complete car.
I don't know the floor but the trunk floor has rust just near the tai lights panel. So... There's nothing like murray b park for buicks? just ebay and forums?
It's not a Chevy Engine. It is a Buick Engine. The distributor is not from 1966. The engine is either a Buick 340 or Buick 350 The distributor is from 1975 or later. $2,000 might be a fair price. If you are looking to keep it and drive it. Buying and spending money to fix it might be a good idea. But, if you are buying it to fix, and then sell for a profit, you might spend more money than you will get from selling it.
If I buy it is to keep and drive it :TU:. I have three questions: -Where can I found bumpers for sale? I searched on ebay but there's nothing for lesabre or wildcat -Does the Chevy transmissions fits on buick engines? -How can I identify what engine the car has? maybe a letter on engine's number or something like this
You'll have better piece of mind that way. Fix it as you see fit, :grin: I found Bumpers for my '55 Buick on ebay after many weeks of looking. In the meantime I worked on other areas of the car. Here is the best information I have found regarding Buick transmissions at the "Team Buick" site; http://www.teambuick.com/reference/ident_automatic.php Again at "Team Buick"; http://www.teambuick.com/reference/ident_engine_where.php http://www.teambuick.com/reference/ident_eng_visual.php http://www.teambuick.com/reference/years/66.php http://www.teambuick.com/reference/ident_engine_63-75.php Good questions all ! Good Luck to you!!:TU:
OK 66 Lesabre: The motor could be a 75 or newer 350 with a 2 barrell. The original 340 in these cars was junk from day 1. It does have the custom exterior trim as well as the custom interior upgrade. I'm guessing the trans might be a 2-speed, easy enough to check. If it is a 400 (3-speed auto) good news because it's the easiest and cheepest to build. The body is chewed up . Over all pretty rough. Rough is cheep. I like it for $500. If not, I would pass. Mitch
Chevy transmission will not bolt to Buick. Post-Nailhead Buicks use the GM "corporate" transmission bolt pattern. Basically, Chevy transmissions bolt only to Chevy engines. What complicates things is GM's annoying habit of sticking Chevy engines into cars that are not Chevys. As an additional comment - Just my opinion, but I think the GM THM-350 is even easier to overhaul then the 400. As you are a Mopar guy, you will be right at home with the 400. It's basically a knockoff of the 727 Torqueflite.
500 bucks for a 66 buick mmm, I'm pretty sure that If I offer that the seller is going to insult me :laugh:, I think will be better offer something between 1000 and 1500$ bucks. The seller said that the transmission was three speed auto Why some guys change the buick trans and engine for chevy? Here's very common see skylarks with chevys 350 and TH350, TH400, 4L60E or 4L80E
Maybe you are able to answer your own question: What do you see more in Colombia: Buick or Chevrolet ?
Both are common to see A time back I heard that chevy transmissions can handle more power and have better efficiency than buick trans, is it true?
I only know two novas and lots of skylarks :laugh: Question: Why that lesabre looks very strange on the grill? I don't know exactly why but the front doesn't looks like this: http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2699/709/31745354004_original.jpg?v=0
