Newbie in Montana - 71 Skylark thin post car, numbers matching 77,000 miles

[wheelsup69]

Just saying hi. Picked up the car and am planning my work on the car. Needs body work, paint, interior. Runs good.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Keep original color and interior color? Change? Keep drivetrain original?

[bob k. mando]

any collector value will depend on the car being 'original'.

otoh, Buicks tend not to sell very well in the collector market. for instance, prices for a GS are not going to be anything like what a comparable Chevy SS will command, even though the Buick is much less common.

so, if the car has an unfortunate color combination you won't lose that much by painting / upholstering it to some other scheme.


i'm assuming it's got a Buick 350 / Th-350 drive train?

[wheelsup69]

Color combo is Bittersweet Mist Paint and Sandalwood interior, split bench seat and 350/TH 350 combination. What are your thoughts?

[clanceman427]

Fantastic! Welcome. We want pictures!

[bob k. mando]

my thoughts?

i'd paint and upholster it whatever tickled my fancy. a post car is not anything 'collectable' unless you happen to have gotten ahold of a California / Colorado / Carolina GS somehow. all normal Gran Sports are hardtops, and even then they have to be 455 in order to get a lot of attention.

the Bu 350 is a strong platform but there's precious little in the way of dedicated aftermarket if you decide you want to build for power.

best results for engine upgrades would be:
1 - HEI distributor conversion from 74 and newer
2 - shot of nitrous
3 - headers
4 - head porting, TA Performance hasn't released Bu 350 heads yet
5 - turbo / supercharger

many parts can be cross sourced from the Buick v6 ( such as the mid 80s vette killer from the GN ) and the Rover v8.

best trans upgrade would be a 200r4 or a stick.


Auto Machine Performance, Jim Weisse at Tri-Shield and TA would all be good choices to build it. if you want to look for a local builder, find someone who's into Turbo Grand Nationals or Rover v8s.

http://automachperf.com/350.html

[bob k. mando]

if you're in western Montana ( cause that's a fricking Hew Jazz state ) the Bob who owns this board is in northern Idaho.



http://www.teambuick.com/reference/l...0_ken_bell.php

[clanceman427]

my thoughts?



...best trans upgrade would be a 200r4 or a stick.




http://automachperf.com/350.html

That's what I did on my Special. 4 speed, lovin' it!

[wheelsup69]

my thoughts?

i'd paint and upholster it whatever tickled my fancy. a post car is not anything 'collectable' unless you happen to have gotten ahold of a California / Colorado / Carolina GS somehow. all normal Gran Sports are hardtops, and even then they have to be 455 in order to get a lot of attention.

the Bu 350 is a strong platform but there's precious little in the way of dedicated aftermarket if you decide you want to build for power.

best results for engine upgrades would be:
1 - HEI distributor conversion from 74 and newer
2 - shot of nitrous
3 - headers
4 - head porting, TA Performance hasn't released Bu 350 heads yet
5 - turbo / supercharger

many parts can be cross sourced from the Buick v6 ( such as the mid 80s vette killer from the GN ) and the Rover v8.

best trans upgrade would be a 200r4 or a stick.


Auto Machine Performance, Jim Weisse at Tri-Shield and TA would all be good choices to build it. if you want to look for a local builder, find someone who's into Turbo Grand Nationals or Rover v8s.

http://automachperf.com/350.html

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I am in Western MT. This will be a winter project and will be for my wife so it will stay an automatic. Not to concerned about performance. I have several Chevelles that have more power than most people can dream about!

[wheelsup69]

Fantastic! Welcome. We want pictures!

Thanks! I will share pics as it progresses. Right now its waiting its turn in the garage for initial teardown!