Just sayin Hi. Just registered and am looking forward to the site and the help. Got my 65 Skylark in "91" and now ready to start a frame off resto. Can use all the help I can get on parts location and other things. Thanks for the site!

Welcome aboard Tim graemlins/wavey.gif

Finding some parts for your 65 Skylark can be a real challenge since there is not as much repro items as, oh say a Chevelle. Rear 1/4's for example, are made of unobtainium, you'll need to find good used ones. Of course, that's what makes Buicks such fun, chasing down parts.

Have you checked E-bay? Parts pop up there periodically. I haven't done a frame off resto yet, but what I've learned is to make list of what items you need, then try to get them before starting the resto, if you have not done so yet.

Of course, it will help if you are handy with mechanical or body work. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Good luck, and ask away, lots of good people here. graemlins/banana.gif

Thanks Tom,
Got the mechanical and body work skills. Used to race a 65 Impala SS. The Skylark came along and just couldn't pass it up. Yes that is the best part about Buick, finding the parts plus they're unique. Anybody can build a Chevy but a Buick is a treat.

Originally posted by pick62:
Just sayin Hi. Just registered and am looking forward to the site and the help. Got my 65 Skylark in "91" and now ready to start a frame off resto. Can use all the help I can get on parts location and other things. Thanks for the site! Welcome to the board!

I am in the process of getting a 65 Skylark too. I am going to GS Clone mine. You are right about parts. I can find Chevy parts all over the place, finding a Buick part can be an adventure! I have a 64 LeSabre that I'm still trying to find parts for. As for the Skylark, I will have my dance card full finding the engine parts that are GS specific like manifolds, oil pan, and a few other things. I am also amazed at how hard a hood ornament for a 65 Skylark is to find.

Jim.

Hey Jim,
Thanks for the welcome! I got lucky on mine. I told a local guy I was looking for a pair of bucket seats for my 65 SS Impala. One day he came and said he had a pair if I was interested yet. Went and looked and he said $40 for the pair. I asked him how much for the whole car? He said what I have in it, $175. Went back Friday and gave him $175 cash. Not bad for a factory A/C, P/S, 300V8 4bbl. 2dr. ht. coupe. A year later he had a 64 LaSabre. I asked him what he wanted for the eng./trans. He said $75. I paid him cash and stated junkyarding it out. To my suprise it was the 300V8 alluminum top eng. He was'nt to happy with himself. Oh well! That's the engine I'm going to build for it. graemlins/banana.gif

Originally posted by pick62:
Hey Jim,
Thanks for the welcome! I got lucky on mine. I told a local guy I was looking for a pair of bucket seats for my 65 SS Impala. One day he came and said he had a pair if I was interested yet. Went and looked and he said $40 for the pair. I asked him how much for the whole car? He said what I have in it, $175. Went back Friday and gave him $175 cash. Not bad for a factory A/C, P/S, 300V8 4bbl. 2dr. ht. coupe. A year later he had a 64 LaSabre. I asked him what he wanted for the eng./trans. He said $75. I paid him cash and stated junkyarding it out. To my suprise it was the 300V8 alluminum top eng. He was'nt to happy with himself. Oh well! That's the engine I'm going to build for it. graemlins/banana.gif HA!! funny you should say that. I am taking the 300 engine out of the green LeSabre Pictured in my signature, to put in my 'Lark for now. It will eventually get the engine out the red ragtop thats on the trailer in the picture. I bought a 425, Q'jet Intake, and Q'jet Carb for the Ragtop. According to a good source, that will give me nearly the same power as the dual quad setup but without the headaches.

Jim,
I also want to GS clone my Skylark also. Just missed a clutch/brake pedal assembly and bellcrank/Z-bar today. Still looking for that. The original hood ornament is gone off my car and I suppose the GS one is different. The car had been sitting at my mom's place since 98 and drug it to my place this afternoon. Going to start on it tomorrow. What was the factory big block for the 65 Skylark? I think eventually I'll go with the big block in it unless I find another one to put a big block in. Seeking clutch/brake pedal assembly and bellcrank for small block. Thanks

Welcome aboard!!! Good people here--plenty of help! The fun begins. graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Thanks for the welcome! graemlins/smash.gif

Originally posted by pick62:
Jim,
I also want to GS clone my Skylark also. Just missed a clutch/brake pedal assembly and bellcrank/Z-bar today. Still looking for that. The original hood ornament is gone off my car and I suppose the GS one is different. The car had been sitting at my mom's place since 98 and drug it to my place this afternoon. Going to start on it tomorrow. What was the factory big block for the 65 Skylark? I think eventually I'll go with the big block in it unless I find another one to put a big block in. Seeking clutch/brake pedal assembly and bellcrank for small block. Thanks No, the Skylark and GS hood ornament are the same. I need one too.

Jim.

Jim,
Spoke to another guy and he told me they were the same. He said they are the tri-shield. Is that correct. Are those the spring loaded kind? If so I bet that is going to be hard to find one that does'nt need repaired and if so as long as the spring is the only thing that is missing! Was the 65 a one year only item or will other years work also. About 20 years ago I was looking for some tail lights for my 65 SS Impala. I went ot a salvage yard in Grand Island, Ne. Told them what I was looking for and they took me outside to to a whole bunch of semi trailers. He pointed at one and said you'll find what you're looking for in there. When I got in there I just about fell over. There were shelves all around with boxes full of everything from tail lights to emblems. I'll try and remember where it was and check them out. Thanks.

Originally posted by pick62:
Jim,
What was the factory big block for the 65 Skylark? I think eventually I'll go with the big block in it unless I find another one to put a big block in. Seeking clutch/brake pedal assembly and bellcrank for small block. Thanks Tim, the factory big block for a 65 Skylark was the 401 nailhead, available as part of the Gran Sport option package only. With the GS, you got a crossflow rad, boxed convert frame, bucket seats, among other GS only items. The battery was mounted on the drivers side, as opposed to passenger side on Skylark/Special models.
You are not restricted to a nailhead engine, you can also install a 400/430/455 engine from 67 and later Buicks. It isn't a difficult swap, and although I've never done one yet, I've read up on several others who've done this. Some basic stuff like motor mounts, using a later model Turbo 350 or 400 trans, since a nailhead trans will not bolt up to the later engine. If you want to keep the A/C with a 455 engine, you may need to modify the A/C box so as to be able to remove the pass. side valve cover, it's fairly easy. I'm sure I'll think of other stuff later on.

Hey Tom,
Thanks for the reply. With the 401 will I have to modify the A/C. I also suppose that the small block bellhousing won't fit the 401. Last night I found a 401 and a 425 just 2 blocks down the street. I'm leaning towards the 401. He also has a 455 but he has to much $$$ in it already, custom cam and pistons. Thanks!
Tim

Tim
Why do you have to modify the a/c to put either engine in? I put A 430 in a 64 sportwagon, and a 401/st400 in a 65 wagon( with 2x4's) and did not have to modify the a/c box for either.
The things you will ABSOLUTELY have to have for a nailhead swap in your 65- FRAME MOUNTS and ENGINE MOUNTS- these are specific to the 65-66 GS'S and the engine WILL NOT fit without them.

A REAR SUMP OIL PAN- these were only on the 65-66 GS'S the engine WILL NOT fit without them. The oil pumps are the same, but the pickup tubes are not, you will need both. ( the early 364- 401 engines from 59 to around 62 used rear sump pans)

THE GS EXHAUST MANIFOLDS these were made only for the 65-66 GS'S- nothing else Buick made even come close

RADIATOR for 65-66 GS the nail head has the rear hose enter the radiator on the DRIVERS side- the only(a-body) radiator that will fit and mate to the engine- they do reproduce these.

I went through all this on the 65 401 swap- once i located all the parts, it looked like a factory installation, which it was, due to all the factory parts nesscessary to make it fit!!
tongue.gif
I do have a set of motor/ frame mounts, and an oil pan if youre interested
Good luck and have fun- let me know if i can help further Jon

Jon,
If I decide to go on with 401 I will be touch with you about the parts you have. Thanks!

Originally posted by pick62:
Jim,
Spoke to another guy and he told me they were the same. He said they are the tri-shield. Is that correct. Are those the spring loaded kind? If so I bet that is going to be hard to find one that does'nt need repaired and if so as long as the spring is the only thing that is missing! Was the 65 a one year only item or will other years work also. About 20 years ago I was looking for some tail lights for my 65 SS Impala. I went ot a salvage yard in Grand Island, Ne. Told them what I was looking for and they took me outside to to a whole bunch of semi trailers. He pointed at one and said you'll find what you're looking for in there. When I got in there I just about fell over. There were shelves all around with boxes full of everything from tail lights to emblems. I'll try and remember where it was and check them out. Thanks. You are right. It is a circle with the Tri-Shield in the middle. They were not spring loaded. Not sure when the spring loaded ornaments came out, but I do remember it was a safety issue for if you were to hit someone, the Ornament would not rip a hole in the victim's body. At any rate, I am having a hell of a time finding one. Seems that everytime I find a skylark, the hood ornament is missing. I am going to go for the 401 in mine too. A friend of mine has the Oil pan, and the mounts. I still need the Exhaust manifolds, unless I just put on shorty headers. As far as the radiators, if I'm not mistaken, they reproduce them, so I can get one...onless I find a parts car that has all of the things I'll need. This is not a restoration car, it will be one of my playthings....

Jim.

Jim,
Thanks for the heads up on that stuff! I've recently heard of a salvage yard about 70 miles west of me that I hope I can go check out here within the month! A local bodyman of all things who moved here from California who builds custom street rods found this place and goes there alot to get parts. He's into Fords but on a good note he also loves to build 53 Buicks. I'll put the bug in his ear if I can't get there myself about the hood orniment. I'd prefer to go myself to see what they have. There is also a salvage yard in Grand Island, Ne. that I got taillights for my 65 SS Impala years ago. I remember in the same trailer they had hundreds of boxes full of nothing but emblems. If I come across a couple I'll let you know. Thanks!!!