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Projects & Restorations => Projects & Restorations => Topic started by: KCastle65 on July 16, 2017, 11:09:57 AM

Title: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: KCastle65 on July 16, 2017, 11:09:57 AM
Been at restoring this ever so slowly since 2015. Pulled her out of the back yard of a 68-69 fan's yard who had this as his last on a list of 12-16 restorations he wanted to do first. He bought her solely for the 455 it had in it at the time. So I pulled it out with no engine. Here's how it looked in his back yard area and then on the trailer outside my shop.
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: KCastle65 on July 16, 2017, 11:13:17 AM
After inspecting the car even further once getting it home, I knew it needed floor pans, so I purchased new ones (65 chevelle) from NPD as there's a location here in charlotte Nc. Also purchased replacement trunk pans. The owner before the guy I bought it from didn't store it well, and water ran down through the heater box and onto the floors, which is why there was serious rust in the pans.
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: KCastle65 on July 16, 2017, 11:15:28 AM
During the year down, I was able to locate a 73 455 that came out of a 73 impala at a salvage yard not too far from me. So I bought it with a TH350-C attached to it for a really reasonable price. Only things needed are a good cleaning, crank bearings as one looks spun, and some new rings.
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: KCastle65 on July 16, 2017, 11:17:39 AM
With the body, I cleaned and stripped down the doors, and coated them with some shaker primer until I finished the body work. There was an 8th of an inch of bondo to cover two minor parking lot dings.
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: KCastle65 on July 16, 2017, 11:22:17 AM
With the shell needing some serious help in some key areas, and me wanting to modernize the suspension and brakes, I pulled the body off the frame, had the very straight and clean frame powder coated, and mounted tubular A arms, 1.5" ridetech lowering springs, KyB shocks, front disc brakes, and poly urethane bushings to the rear suspension.
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: KCastle65 on July 16, 2017, 11:33:03 AM
While working on that I was able to locate a great deal on an offenhauser aluminum intake, so I picked that up. Here's a picture on my counter and then test fitting on my dirty old block haha.
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: cwmcobra on July 16, 2017, 06:59:36 PM
Looks like a fun project and you're doing nice work.  Keep the updates coming!

 :cheers2:

Chuck
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: Brian on July 17, 2017, 04:49:54 AM
Where in the charlotte area are you?  I work just north of there in Statesville.
Title: Thanks for sharing! (Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration)
Post by: elagache on July 17, 2017, 10:52:28 AM
Dear KCastle65, Chuck, Brian and mid-60s Buick lovers!  :love4:

Thanks for sharing your restoration project!  Keep those pictures coming!  :icon_thumright:

Cheers, Edouard  :occasion14:
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: KCastle65 on July 17, 2017, 11:07:17 AM
Where in the charlotte area are you?  I work just north of there in Statesville.

Brian, I live in Indian Land SC just south of the Ballantyne area.
Title: Re: 65 2dr HT skylark restoration
Post by: Mark Ascher on July 17, 2017, 11:48:27 AM
Weird. Brian and my wife looked at (and we bought) my current daily driver in Indian Land, July 2016.

Mark