Author Topic: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration  (Read 1135 times)

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Offline dlmwtvl

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65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« on: February 05, 2018, 07:03:17 PM »
Hello everyone,
  I have begun the frame off restoration of my 65 Skylark.
300V8 with ST 300, are being replaced with, bored and stroked 401 Nailhead, with ST400.
Pictures of progress to follow.
I do need a GS battery tray and bracket, if someone has one.
Thank you,
David McCaw
BCA #49105
ASE Master Tech
1966 Le Sabre 4Dr. HT 340 2bbl.
1968 Wildcat Conv. 430
1968 Riviera 430
1965 Skylark 2Dr. Post (Now 401 4 speed)
1977 Le Sabre 2Dr. w/1970 stg.1 455
1965 Buick Skylark 2Dr. sport coupe.

Offline Loren At 65GS

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2018, 08:28:16 AM »
Hi David,  that is one nice looking Skylark.

 The battery tray itself is not GS specific . There are two brackets that are though. The bracket that attaches to the inner fender and the bracket that comes off of the core support and fastens to the end of the battery tray are GS specific.  The bracket that attaches to the core support on the front edge of the battery tray swaps over.

  Loren
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline dlmwtvl

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2018, 12:23:05 PM »
Loren,
Thank you!
I like it!
Does anyone reproduce the tray itself or any of the brackets?
My tray is a little rusty and I would like to replace it, along with the two gs specific brackets.
Thank you
David.
BCA #49105
ASE Master Tech
1966 Le Sabre 4Dr. HT 340 2bbl.
1968 Wildcat Conv. 430
1968 Riviera 430
1965 Skylark 2Dr. Post (Now 401 4 speed)
1977 Le Sabre 2Dr. w/1970 stg.1 455
1965 Buick Skylark 2Dr. sport coupe.

Offline cwmcobra

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2018, 12:29:33 PM »
Hi David,

I don't have all the brackets, maybe a couple, but they are not in the best shape.  I have an original battery tray; or, if you prefer, you can buy a new reproduction from Fusick.

Chuck
Steve Shuman's 1965 Skylark GS Convertible: Flame Red/401/4 BBL/Automatic - BCA Archival Preservation
1965 Skylark GS Convertible: Verde Green/401/2x4 BBL/4-speed - AACA First Grand National - AACA National Award - BHA Outstanding GS - BCA Senior Gold
1965 Shelby Cobra Replica

BCA 48497
AACA 91100

Offline Mark Ascher

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2018, 01:29:17 PM »
Hi David,

Nice car and great project. The tray should be listed in the parts sources "sticky" thread. As Chuck stated, Fusick Olds has a nice reproduction.
The 2 brackets you need are just a mirror image of the 2 used on the Skylark. A parts wanted ad might turn something up.

Mark
65 GS HT 4 Speed - BCA Senior 2015; AACA Senior Grand National 2021
66 Impala 396/TH400/12 Bolt "Project Rodent Remediation" - Almost Done
69 Bel Air 2 Door Sedan "Project Junior Stock" - In Process
19 Chev Silverado Pickem Up (daily driver)

Offline dlmwtvl

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2018, 06:50:04 PM »
Thank you Mark and Chuck!
I am so glad to have this resource and all the experience of everyone here.

I did get the left inner and outer fenders off, and, without breaking anything!!
David
BCA #49105
ASE Master Tech
1966 Le Sabre 4Dr. HT 340 2bbl.
1968 Wildcat Conv. 430
1968 Riviera 430
1965 Skylark 2Dr. Post (Now 401 4 speed)
1977 Le Sabre 2Dr. w/1970 stg.1 455
1965 Buick Skylark 2Dr. sport coupe.

Offline 35chevcoupe

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2018, 07:10:25 PM »
Looks like a nice car Dave , theres a quite few restorations going on on this site . Looking forward to following along .
John Evenson

1930 model A 4 dr sedan
35 chev coupe 2 dr Master Deluxe suicide dr,s
55 chev belair wagon 4dr
59 Buick Invicta 2 dr hd top
65 Buick GS 2 dr ht 3 spd
65 Buick GS Convertible 3 spd
1970 Cuda 440-6
71 Buick GS
84 chev 3/4 ton p/u 6.2 diesel
Yeah there's more
There all projects

Offline dlmwtvl

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2018, 06:57:00 PM »
Front clip removal finished tonight.
Had to cut the head off the bolt on the bottom of the fender. (rocker panel)
It looks like its gonna be fun, getting in there, to repair the welded nut.... oh well, the rest came out!!
Doors and interior next.
This is definitely the most satisfying wrenching I have done in a long time!!!
David
BCA #49105
ASE Master Tech
1966 Le Sabre 4Dr. HT 340 2bbl.
1968 Wildcat Conv. 430
1968 Riviera 430
1965 Skylark 2Dr. Post (Now 401 4 speed)
1977 Le Sabre 2Dr. w/1970 stg.1 455
1965 Buick Skylark 2Dr. sport coupe.

Offline cwmcobra

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2018, 07:23:08 PM »
Sure looks familiar.....looking forward to following along!

 :cheers2:

Chuck
Steve Shuman's 1965 Skylark GS Convertible: Flame Red/401/4 BBL/Automatic - BCA Archival Preservation
1965 Skylark GS Convertible: Verde Green/401/2x4 BBL/4-speed - AACA First Grand National - AACA National Award - BHA Outstanding GS - BCA Senior Gold
1965 Shelby Cobra Replica

BCA 48497
AACA 91100

Offline Rollaround

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2018, 07:52:26 PM »
Welcome, looks like a nice project.  As Chuck said it looks so familiar, I’m just trying to get back to that stage. Your absolutely correct about the resources and knowledge available here, priceless!
Kevin
Northwest Ohio
Working the endless restroation.

Offline dlmwtvl

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2018, 06:50:19 PM »
Today, I removed the doors, and the interior.
A little surface rust, but looks great!!
I have a few more things to remove from the firewall.
Then I will drop the fuel tank and the rear bumper.
Then, I will separate the body from the frame.
Getting excited!!
BCA #49105
ASE Master Tech
1966 Le Sabre 4Dr. HT 340 2bbl.
1968 Wildcat Conv. 430
1968 Riviera 430
1965 Skylark 2Dr. Post (Now 401 4 speed)
1977 Le Sabre 2Dr. w/1970 stg.1 455
1965 Buick Skylark 2Dr. sport coupe.

Offline Loren At 65GS

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2018, 07:17:29 PM »
Wow, that is a sweet starting point. Looks to be very solid.

 I love the color combo.

 Loren
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline elagache

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You'll need other furniture! (Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration)
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2018, 09:44:31 PM »
Dear Dave, Loren, and mid-60s Buick owners who literally "live" with their cars!  :laughing7:

Today, I removed the doors, and the interior.
A little surface rust, but looks great!!


Congratulations!  You are off to a great start!  :thumbsup:

But, but, but, . . . . . .

. . . .  Now that you have "decided" to use your Skylark seats and doors to furnish your house - what are you going to do for doors and seats for your Skylark? . . . . . . . .

Cheers, Edouard  :occasion14:

Offline cwmcobra

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2018, 10:20:03 PM »
No worries about using your house to store those precious parts.  My hood spent the better part of a year on a bed in my house.  You just can't take too good of care of these things!!!   :thumbsup:

Looks great.  You've got a great, solid car to start with. 

 :cheers2:

Chuck
Steve Shuman's 1965 Skylark GS Convertible: Flame Red/401/4 BBL/Automatic - BCA Archival Preservation
1965 Skylark GS Convertible: Verde Green/401/2x4 BBL/4-speed - AACA First Grand National - AACA National Award - BHA Outstanding GS - BCA Senior Gold
1965 Shelby Cobra Replica

BCA 48497
AACA 91100

Offline 35chevcoupe

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Re: 65 Skylark - Nailhead tribute restoration
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2018, 10:38:25 PM »
WOW !    :icon_tongue:   David thats a really nice body to start with .
Your all ready ahead of me with all the rust i have to fix . looking forward to following along .
John Evenson

1930 model A 4 dr sedan
35 chev coupe 2 dr Master Deluxe suicide dr,s
55 chev belair wagon 4dr
59 Buick Invicta 2 dr hd top
65 Buick GS 2 dr ht 3 spd
65 Buick GS Convertible 3 spd
1970 Cuda 440-6
71 Buick GS
84 chev 3/4 ton p/u 6.2 diesel
Yeah there's more
There all projects