Update.
The Skyhawk is back on the road; Now w/ 10.25-1 and polished pistons. Installed an Accel vacuum advance and no ping running on Phillips 66 premium grade. I polished the combuston cambers and used a .040 head gasket. Yes, a Buick V-8 can get away with it ! Cleaned up the ports and matched the intakes w/ the TA aluminum intake using the composite TA intake gaskets.. Had the intake port bowls machined; the machinist said the exhausts were good enough. The 750 cfm Edelrock dosn't bog or wheeze. ! While I was at it, I cleaned up the exhaust manifolds because no headers are available for this conversion. All this w/ reconditioned rods,new cap screws and the rotating assy was balanced. I bought the kit from PAW.
Have changed from a Poston GS 114 to the GS 118 camshaft. My biggest mistake. Boy does it sound nice w/ a great rumpty-rump idle.
Even using a TCI 2000 rpm Saturday Night Special torque converter it shakes like a ***** below 2200 rpm. She pulls really hard to 5500 ( my max, so far ) The overlap
is the culprit. The GS 112 is a super cam !
The guy at Poston was shocked to find the cam worked so well on the old, tired, 8.5-1
engine. ( only 2800 lbs helps ) He thought it would have been a dog.
I plan to advance the cam 4 degrees before I give up on the GS 118 and go back to the 112. The motor pulls 12" at idle and around 15" at cruise speed. My vacuum operated stuff works fine. Mileage isn't bad until I put my foot in it. Then I literally watch the gauge drop .

The car is no drag car. In fact, I'm a little afraid to buiild it to hook up. The
"Holy twisted frame, Batman" has deep meaning to me. I an not interrested in anything more than sub-frame connectors. And the way this car spins the tires is just fine w/ me! I have noticed that most Mustang owners won't even look my way at a stop light! I will take it to the strip in the near future. With no open exhaust and 245x60x14's w/ a 2.93 posi my keep my et's up, but WTF ? Hoping for 100mph trap speeds.
I'll report back.
KS_Skyhawk.
PS. My new vanity plates: SKYHAWK. What else ?

Thanks for the update. I was telling a friend about your car a month ago or so.
Did you do anything with the rear axle to handle it? I suppose when the tires break loose that kind of acts as a safety realese LOL
Dale

------------------
1970 Riviera
1996 LeSabre
And many Buicks in the past.
I think I am, therefore I am. I think.
(George Carlin)

Hi Dale,
The hbodies ( Monzas, Starfires,Skyhawks,et al , after 1975 ) have a three-link rear suspension. Plus a torque arm from the third member to the rear of the tranny , like a Camaro. No hop, this way. The axles I have installed are from a S-10 for the five bolt.
I have also installed the truck spindles on the front.
I have been told w/ a good set of gears and a girdle, the rear end will take 400 hp.
Most of the people in the web group ( some 1500 strong ) who are really getting it to hook up are using 12 bolts are Ford
( can I say this word here ) 9 inchers.
At some point I'll look into the girdle, just for insurance. My goal is a 200R4 and at least a 3.56.
Thanks for yor interest.

Roger

WOW! I can't believe I missed a post like yours Ks Skyhawk!!
I have to keep an eye on your post I guess S10 spindles in a Skyhawk he? I got a Starfire so that could become interesting! altough I hate to loose those cute original wheels
any pics of your car?? I would love to see them!
and if you wanna see my car check my website!

There are pictures taken by Paul O. of our HBody gathering in KC last Summer. I couldn't find a specific address, but....
Go to http://www.v8monza.com and look for posts from Paul w/ a prominent picture of his Red Monza, which is also his web handle. Our KC area rides are pictured, including the shot of my Buick 350 engine bay, of which I am most proud!!

As an aside, I have had a real time keeping motor mounts in it. My good friend "built" the TH350 w/
all the appropriate goodies and it bangs the shifts, really,really hard. I finally, after several sets of mounts, had to attach a short length of chain from the driver's side mount to the K-member. I rigged a threaded adjuster on one end and placed a piece of heater hose over the chain to keep it from clinking. There is just enough play not to restrict the normal cushioning of a stock rubber mount, yet enough restriction to keep the mount from tearing during repeated 5500rpm shifts to 2nd gear!
I just ordered a Pro-Coil GMP13 coil over conversion kit by QA1 for the 'Hawk. This to get the front end up where I want it. The shocks included are adjustabe as is the ride height.
Next will be a 3" oval exhaust kit, then the paint job.
Re: the S-10 brake conversion. I know you like your wheels, but the stopping power is well worth it! Check this out: hbody.org/people/projects/monzamess/suspension.html ....it will show how this person used the bushings I designed and offered for sale. I no longer am selling this kit, but Bob Gumm, moderator of the v8monza.com web, offers a kit for
aroung $65.00 that gives a pair of adaptor bushings for both upper and lower balljoints to facilitate the larger brakes. I did install a
proportioning valve in the rear brake line, for good measure. Also, S-10 axles from the mid 80's are an easy fit ( 1/8" shorter the Monza ) and solve the 5 lug issues in the back. Just drive the oil seals in a little and use a spacer and longer lugs, and the rear is ready.

Let me hear from you, agan.

Roger.....aka.....KS_Skyhawk

[ 06-03-2003, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: bob ]