Greetings from Santa Cruz.
I'm embarking on restoring a GS for a good friend.
New to Buicks but not new to wrenching.
Worked as a fleet mechanic before i had a license.
My 5th car was a V8 Vega, My 6th actually ran (a Fiat)
Been deep into aircooled VWs for the last 40+ years.
Have three, including a Porsche-transplanted Fastback and a Beetle with a 300HP turbocharged engine in the works.
Could post some details if anyone cares...
Built Street/drag Harley Davidsons for a living for a while.
Also have been a machinist.
After 27 years too many in IT I'm now enjoying a retirement job (oxmoron) of restoring cars.
But first,
There is a Fiat we found in the woods being fixed up for my sons in the way of our Buick project.
Here's something different - have a strong stomach.
https://xwebforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-rats-nest-81-x1-9-build.44813/Once the Fiat gets evicted my friend's GS will take priority.
In the meantime, I'm learning and sourcing parts.
The plan is to restore the car to original correctness as much as possible.
It's rough, but numbers matching and unrestored.
Unlike a good survivor car, getting it correct will be difficult.
Engine and trans were done recently, but how accurately remains to be known.
I'm going to be leaning heavily on the experts here for help.
We have a Skylark that might have been a parts car, but it's too nice.
We'll call it the 'example car' - because i really do not know how these cars go together...
First thing will be to put an exhaust and fuel tank in the GS, finish dressing the engine, and light it off.
Might even take it for a spin around town if the brakes and whatnot cooperate.
Want to know the motor/trans etc. were done correctly before we tear the car down.
If these things were done wrong, we want to be able to do that part with everything else,
And not find out the hard way afterwards.
Right?
I have trust issues with engines anyone else built.
That -might- have something to do with VWs.. Or maybe Fiats..?
Started a build thread before i knew about this site on V8 Buick.
https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/buddy%E2%80%99s-beauty-%E2%80%9865-gs-build.393837/Buddy and i are VERY grateful to have a dedicated group of enthusiasts on these forums to help us along.
Doing this without would surely be nigh impossible.
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