65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Projects & Restorations => Projects & Restorations => Topic started by: Georick on April 06, 2017, 01:32:55 PM
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I just bought a 1965 buick skylark. The body is in great shape and some of the the interior has been done. I am starting on the rear end and adding disk brakes along with new bushings. So I've been told this is a 1965 special not a skylark. I've looking up the VIN and its shows it is a special and it came with a V6 not the V8 that is in it not. Going through the molding and emblems that came with the car, there are Skylark emblems, maybe someone wanted it to look more like a Skylark.
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Welcome to the 65 GS/Skylark/Special family. We love restoration projects and encourage you to start a restoration thread. Doesn't matter how extensive, we'd like to follow your journey and chime in with info as needed.
Happy to have you aboard!!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Welcome, looking forward to following along on your project!
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WELCOME . Car looks pretty good , it would be great if you could start a restoration page so we can follow along . We love pictures of the progress . ( small or large )
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Welcome and congrats on a clean looking 65. We are in the rust belt so anything that looks that good has to be imported to the state. Very solid looking project and looks straight too. Dan
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Looks like a good start but a Special not Skylark .
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Thanks, what the difference between a skylark and a special. How do I start a restoration page?
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Dear Georick, Chuck, Jim, John, Buicknut65, and 65GS.com welcome wagon (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/welcomewagon.gif)
I just bought a 1965 buick skylark. The body is in great shape and some of the the interior has been done. I am starting on the rear end and adding disk brakes along with new bushings.
Sounds like a great start! Welcome to 65GS.com! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/whacko_smiley.gif)
So I've been told this is a 1965 special not a skylark. I've looking up the VIN and its shows it is a special and it came with a V6 not the V8 that is in it not. Going through the molding and emblems that came with the car, there are Skylark emblems, maybe someone wanted it to look more like a Skylark.
Thanks, what the difference between a skylark and a special.
Skylarks were a higher trim level than Specials. Buick positioned different models with different options and paradoxically, Specials were less special than Skylarks. Of course to some of us, some Specials are the most special cars of all! :love4:
Another useful forum: Team Buick has production data on the 1965 Buicks:
https://www.teambuick.com/reference/years/65.php (https://www.teambuick.com/reference/years/65.php)
You could either make your car into a "Skylark clone" or you could restore it to a correct Special trim level. Most of the restoration parts you need are reproduced. I have a Special and some other guys also have them so we can give you the correct details if you go that route.
How do I start a restoration page?
Well this thread is already in the correct topic. You could simply start describing your restoration by replying to this post and telling your story here!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thank you all for your welcomes and information, I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'll check out more information on the specials. Does anyone know where I can find window regulators?
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Georick, you have a Special deluxe! This is a different animal as we say! This is a Special with Skylark side trim ! , the rear tail panel trim and taillights are unique to the special deluxe only!I had a four door driver years ago! Wish I still had it! What is interesting about this model is that it could be ordered with a V6 or V8 or padded dash and any of the other options! So there are many different combinations out there! When I had my four door I had a guy come up to me and say you put that trim on that car! ,to which I replied I have a Special Deluxe! Would you like to see the VIN! Drive and enjoy your Car!, we only get so much time!
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Hi Georick, Welcome to the world of Special, Skylark & Skylark Gran Sport. It does look like you have a Special Deluxe. And that's an odd fire 225V6 under the hood. a good little motor that's easy to work on. Send us more pictures we like to see the rest of it..
Tony
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I think that may be a 66-7 motor,but it is a v-8....I had to look at it twice to figure out what was different.
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Dear Georick, Jon, Tony, Dan, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thank you all for your welcomes and information, I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'll check out more information on the specials.
We can certainly provide you with more information about the Specials. Also, you might want to get your hands on the Service manual, Body manual, and perhaps even the Assembly manual. There are decent used one around for not too much money and even some reprints.
You'll need to decide how original you want to make this car. For example, I just noticed the car has an aftermarket steering wheel. It's really tough to get a good looking original 1965 Buick Deluxe Special steering wheel. The good thing is that it is the same as the Skylark.
Does anyone know where I can find window regulators?
Unfortunately I don't. Does anybody else have a lead on window regulators?
Cheers, Edouard
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Welcome aboard.
I have a set of regulators but don't know it they will work. Someone chime in and tell me if the hardtop and sedans use the same regulators?
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Welcome aboard.
I have a set of regulators but don't know it they will work. Someone chime in and tell me if the hardtop and sedans use the same regulators?
The rears are different for certain. Not sure about the fronts.
Dan
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I've removed the axles and the deferential
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Dear Georick and mid-60s Buick restorers,
I've removed the axles and the deferential
That's one more task that needed to be done. The parts don't look too bad for being 52 years old!
Cheers, Edouard
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Yes I'm very surprised with the condition of the parts so far.
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My UMI suspension rear control arms and sway bar showed up
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You will inspire me to put my parts on a car! I won control arms and a sway bar from Heidt's on the Power Tour a couple of years ago and they are still in the boxes. Nice stuff though! Good luck with yours.
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Thank you. I was lucky the rear end came out easy
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I received the sheet metal panels for the trunk and I painted the rear calipers
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Dear Georick and mid-60s Buick restorers,
I received the sheet metal panels for the trunk and I painted the rear calipers
Definitely progress! I see you got some Eastwood paint for the calipers. Eastwood won't let you down!
Cheers, Edouard
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It went on nicely
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Lookin' good!!
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I removed most of the rusted out areas in the trunk and preparing it for the new steel metal
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I had the deferential rebuilt,
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Wow, you're really making progress! Looks great!
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Dear Georick, Jim and mid-60s Buick lovers, . . :love4:
I had the deferential rebuilt,
Definitely a very nice restoration of the differential! Keep up the good work! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thanks guy's
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Getting the rear end back in the car, it's was a lot easier to roll around on the ground with I was in my 30s. Being 60 now it's no fun rolling around for 2 and a haft hours on the ground.
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That's lookin' good!
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Getting the rear end back in the car, it's was a lot easier to roll around on the ground with I was in my 30s. Being 60 now it's no fun rolling around for 2 and a haft hours on the ground.
That's looking good. Whose coil springs and air bags are you using ? Like the UMI control arms.
Might want to try the cushioning floor mats sold at Harbor Freight. Put those down and the rolling and crawling gets more tolerable.
Dan
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Thanks, the air bags are from Air Lift and the springs are BMR and they are 2 inch lower
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Dear Georick, Jim, Dan, and mid-60s Buick owners who want to age gracefully,
Getting the rear end back in the car, it's was a lot easier to roll around on the ground with I was in my 30s. Being 60 now it's no fun rolling around for 2 and a haft hours on the ground.
My sympathies on the miseries of growing old. However, the sacrifice was worth it. You've definitely made a nice upgrade! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thank you. Once the rear is done I'll start on the front end
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Thank you. Once the rear is done I'll start on the front end
Are you going to use UMI up front also ? Put the adjustable uppers with 1/2" taller ball joints, standard lowers and coilovers in my 65 GS hardtop. What a difference that made. No wandering just nice straight tracking. Makes highway driving a pleasure. Make sure to upgrade to a quick ratio steering box too.
Dan
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Maybe Rollaround will join us on the site tonight. He just finished a total rebuild of the front end of his 65. Tells me it drives like a new car.
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Making great progress looks great! :headbang:
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Right now I'm looking at the tubular upper and lower control arms for Global West. Has anyone used them.
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Hey Georick, I've been a long time Buick Restorer (since 1971) and have recently decided to slowly bow out of the hobby. My wife's cancer has taken a serious toll out of my objectives as you can well imagine.
THAT being said, I have afew questions for you:
What power plant have you decided to use? I have a good reason to ask this as an old Buick friend, Master Service Tech and Service Director hand built a 425 2x4 motor, using the best of the best internals.., this motor has been broken in, run at least every month on a stand, and is available. I'll go into details IF you are interested. Also I have quite a few 65 parts along with my personal 65 GS (featured on Velocity's 'All Girls Garage' in April 2017) I will be selling soon as well.
I dont wish to 'tease' anyone reading this announcement, but I will, very soon, be unloading ALL and EVERYTHING 65 Buick related.
I've already posted (on V8 Buick) several 'Groups' of basically 70-72 stuff and my 65 stash will soon follow.
Stay tuned.
Wheelz, Tampa Bay
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Dennis,
Hopefully, you will offer your 65 GS stash here first, where the real 65 enthusiasts reside. We'd surely appreciate it.
So sorry to hear about your wife's illness. Prayers for you and your family as you venture down this path.
Chuck
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I also send prays to your wife and family.
Thank you for your reply. The car has a 300 in now and I'm looking into putting a 350 in it.
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THANX everyone for the kind prayers! This has become a struggle.
Georick, as far as motor, can you envision my 425 2X4 engine with a factory 4 speed setup in your 65? Can you say major S L E E P E R!??
LOL
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I put the gas tank back in and now I'm starting to take apart the front end
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Dear Georick and mid-60s Buick restorers,
I put the gas tank back in and now I'm starting to take apart the front end
I'm glad to see you are continuing to make progress on your restoration! Keep pluggin'! :thumbsup:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I've removed the front suspension. Now it's cleaning and painting time.. The I'll get the check book out and buy all the new parts.
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Fun....I remember it well!
Enjoy the journey!
Chuck
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I've started cleaning up the engine and I know the car had a 6 cly in from the factory and someone put a 300 v8 in it. I found some numbers on the drivers side front of the block. I've not had any luck finding what the numbers mean. I'd appreciate any information you can provide.
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Looks like the partial VIN that is stamped on blocks.
7= 1967
H= car was built in Flint, MI
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Thank you for your reply
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I've made so progress on the front end. I had a tuff time getting the lowest A Arms in, but with some cussing and a ratchet strap, floor jack and a hammer they are in and looking great.
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Dear Georick and mid-60s Buick restorers,
I've made so progress on the front end. I had a tuff time getting the lowest A Arms in, but with some cussing and a ratchet strap, floor jack and a hammer they are in and looking great.
Yes indeed those new parts look great and will perform much better than the OEM parts. Definitely great progress! :thumbsup:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I just finished putting the front end together. I still need to get the brakes hooked up. And I have my next project what I got. It's a 1971 Ford Bronco
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Dear Georick and mid-60s Buick restorers,
I just finished putting the front end together. I still need to get the brakes hooked up.
Looking better all the time! :hello2:
And I have my next project what I got. It's a 1971 Ford Bronco
Be careful! Don't bite off more than you can chew! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thank you
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Looks good, nice progress!
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Looking really good! What's next?
Nice project Bronco. Are you doing them concurrently, or does the Bronco follow completion of the Buick?
Nice work; keep the updates coming!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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The Bronco will be started after in finish the Buick
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I just started bending new brake lines I'll post more pictures soon
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And I've installed the headers
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Looking good! :icon_thumright:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Yes, nice progress!
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Nice indeed! Don't you wish they could stay that way? :BangHead:
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Yes that would be great