Skylark Touring

[Macbuick]

Hello,

I have a 72 Buick Skylark Custom Coupe and i'm going to improve it with hot stuff...
- Baer discs brakes 13" and 12"
- American Racing Salt Flat 8x17 and 9,5x17
- Polyurethane bushing
- Sway bars
- Eaton differntial
- Recaro seats in place of bench
- Autometer gauges
- flowmaster exhaust
- and in a near future (asa $$ allows it ) an ATI supercharger kit by XS performance

I use to work on aircooled VWs, and it's the first US iron (my first love) that i restore , i can't wait to see and feel the changes in handling and braking....power is not for now ...

Good job guys
See you
David

[907rs]

Welcome David! Sounds like you're definitely headed in the right direction. Keep us posted.

[Macbuick]

Hello,

Thanks, ...as my master-cylinder just went of order (no more brakes on the rear) i will have to order my Baer kit sooner.
And i have someone interested by my Cragar, so i will be also able to order the Salt Flat...
I join pics of the Recaro seats, i will recover them in black vinyl, i will try to find the same as the original bench vinyl, to have a vinyl with little holes in the center of the seats to match the rear seats...Modernity with nostalgia look....
I just remove the clock to make a bracket to hold the tachometer.
Next step for the interior; new carpet, other autometers, new place for the radio (in the stock place), frames for the Recaros.
I have received the black stickers to replace the wood ones on the dash (light-A/C,...)
I hesitate, i don't know what to do with the old chrome on the dash, paint it black or silver???

David

[JamesD]

Hi david, you've got a great looking car, I know that working on older american cars is a lot harder when you live in another country. I like those recaros, did they come from a factory car or did you just buy them straight from recaro? Good luck with the project

[Macbuick]

Hello James,

Yes, these seats look great, they are nearly the same as those in Big Red, the famous Camaro!!
I don't think that these Recaros were factory fitted in a car or perhaps as an option, but i'm not sure at all. I have seen similar ones in some Golf GTI (but the sides-next to the legs- were smaller)(see pic).
Mine were in beetle but i don't know where the previous owner bought them. I bought them 120$.
I think that they are no longer available by RECARO, the new ones are more modern, less nostalgia!

I think that that monster tach looks lot better than the small one, looks more serious!! And with the big one, i have the shift light.
Let me know what you think!

David

[Macbuick]

Hello,
I just went to order the American racing Salt Flat ...and the Baer discs brakes, but i think i will have to wait as they seem to have some problems with backorders????
I have also ordered a cover plate to replace the A/C box(by American Graffiti), a new radiator + double fan, down pipes (by TA Performance), .
The next order will be:
flowmaster GM A-body exhaust (17107) with Super 40 mufflers, body mount kit, Eibach springs, Original Pro Stick, TCI trans pan,

[Macbuick]

Hello again,

In the previous threads, I forget to tell you a bit about me, but i don't think it's very interesting...
I prefer to talk about my Skylark which came from California where an old lady bought it in 1972...then it had some different owners until i bought six years ago. It made the trip to here in Belgium where i drive it as soon as the weather allows (i don't like to drive it under the rain).
so, now i just received some parts i ordered in your country...
-The 2.5 Flowmaster exhaust with Super 40 mufflers
-The Hotchkiss front sway-bar
-The Eibach springs
-a TCI pan for the gearbox
-B&M Pro-Stick shifter
-Prothane mounting bushing (i know it is for a chevelle, but i will try to fit them on the Skylark as there is no kit for that Buick!)
-a black Moroso air filter

The salt flat AR are in process of being built as the Baer discs, i have also a new aluminium radiator with dual 16"fan , down pipes ordered by TA Performance....but all these parts will be ship by container which will leave as soon as all the parts arrive.

I hope to have everything by the end of october....to start the work on the car...
The frame will be sandblasted and painted in black epoxy, every rubber will be replaced by urethane, the 4 discs will be fitted, the 2 sway-bars, the Eaton LSD, the underside of the body will be painted (Burnished Copper)and as well as the engine bay(and firewall) which will also be smoothed.

I will keep you advised....
Bye bye
David

[907rs]

Right on, David. Be sure to post some pics when you get started.

[T Bell]

Are you painting the underside and firewall? I have mine about ready for this stage but don't want to send it to a shop. I know of a mobile sandblasting company that will spray it but as far as paint, I don't know.

[Macbuick]

Hi T Bell,

Yes i will paint the underside and firewall as i would like the car to be clean before putting back the frame. In fact i think about doing a complete paint job but as i have another project running, it depends if i find a bodyshop that can do it for a good price...otherwise i will start by the underside and do the rest in the future...
I will have to make a trolley or something else to rotate the body and make the job easier...

See what i mean when i say i want a neat engine bay!!!!
My engine bay compared to what i would like....a lot of work and a lot of useless things!!!