65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Announcements => New Members / Bio's => Topic started by: JS65GS on March 31, 2020, 04:54:21 PM
-
Hey all, been on the site quite a while, bought a few things here and there.. with some Covid-19 down time I thought I'd introduce myself and my project. I'm sure there's loads of expertise and information here that I could use.
When I was 18 (in 2001) I bought a '65 GS that was down the street from my house, my dad always told stories about the '67 GS400 he had back in '67, so naturally I gravitated towards the car. Once I got behind the wheel I then became a Buick/Nailhead nut, no turnin back. The car also came with a complete 425 (Qjet setup), a TH400, an extra 2 speed, a 401 block, a couple sets of exhaust manifolds, intake manifolds, a couple carbs, and some various other parts.. I didn't even know i was buying when I purchased the car (for around $3k).
Car had a '66 401 in it, '70 Chevelle front disc brakes & a '70 442 rear end w/ the original 2 speed and some olds mags on it as well. I drove it as much as I could, was my daily driver for a short while, it started having some engine problems and it sat for a while. The pic attached is right when I started to get act together after it had sat. Previous owner had done some tinkering.
Fast forward to the somewhat present and I was finally in the financial state to do some justice to the car. I'll start a resto thread on this (with more pics).. but currently the body is off the frame at a body shop, repairing rust and prepping for paint. Had the frame and rear end sand blasted and powder coated. Had to take the ol 401 out, rebuilt the 425, putting that in. It's getting a suspension overhaul (on its way now), 4 wheel disc conversion.. Ideally I'd like to convert the car over to a manual.. but don't really know what kind of can of worms I'd be opening (would love some feedback on that)..
I also not too long ago bought a '65 Riviera GS as an investment to flip and put $ into the Skylark, but who am I kidding.. I need em both!!
-Jerome
-
Jerome, welcome to the forum.
-
Welcome Jerome! Hope you're enjoying the air cleaner and the Riv is running well!
:cheers2:
Chuck
-
It's running great, lookin great, thank you Chuck!!
Currently getting some new steering components. Hoping to have back on the road here shortly.
-
Those Olds wheels do it justice! If your serious about a manual conversion, its Muchhh easier on one of these cars than a late 60's-70's with all the linkages and other stuff thats in the way. Its pretty much simple nuts and bolts and of course $$$. I have a perfect BUICK bellhousing but its a BOP pattern and wont fit the nailhead. Thats going to be your major stumbling block. Welcome! ...And participate!
The BADLAD and his older sister the BADLASS! Bill
-
Welcome to our support group Jerome. Great story, always interesting to learn the history behind someone's project.
-
Welcome Jerome! Looking forward to following along!
-
Hello Jerome.
I have done 2 manual conversions. One in a '64 Special, and one in a '64 Skylark.
The first was all OEM parts from a 1966 f-85, entire driveline from the radiator to rear end. I did it back in 1978.
Everything lined up and bolted up, and was the easiest thing I ever did. So, the parts of most GM A-bodies from 64-66 should fit.
The second was a nailhead install (complete suspension, brakes, manual transmission, rear end, fuel and brake lines, and all wiring) that I did a few years ago.
I went with a hydraulic release bearing as locating the clutch linkage parts was a pretty difficult task with a complete almost fram off and all the other work I was doing, and I wanted to get the car done and on the road.
The hydraulic clutch works great and I like it just fine. Having driven manual vehicles for nearly 50 years, I still "feel" the clutch just fine. (some folks say they cannot "sense" the hydraulic the same as a manual, and that is not the case with mine, the "feedback" is perfect). I did have the GS bell housing, but the fact that it is fully enclosed made release bearing work a pain, so I put a Bendtsen bell housing and found it suited me well. (the runout and alignment was near dead-on "out of the box")
My nailhead did kill my BW T10, so I have put a Tremec TKO 500 in this (better gear spread fro the nailhead) and with a 3.54 it runs about 2800 RPM at 85 on the highway and gets terrific gas mileage (about 20 MPG) with 2x4 FiTech.
Happy to answer any questions, and provide pics, and sources of parts I used. :)
Michael
-
By all means! Welcome Jerome to 65GS.com!! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/welcome_smiley.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
-
Jerome, is that a shell beige car? I am finishing up a 65 Skylark for the wife and she picked that color.
-
Hey what’s up. Welcome to the site. Good to here you still have that 65gs. I still remember when jr mkeithen owned that car in the 80’s.
-
Jerome, is that a shell beige car? I am finishing up a 65 Skylark for the wife and she picked that color.
I believe so!
-
Hey what’s up. Welcome to the site. Good to here you still have that 65gs. I still remember when jr mkeithen owned that car in the 80’s.
Dan!! Yep, bought it from JR back in '01! Car will look a little different when done. JR did a lot of cool things to that car, aside from the slightly bent frame..
-
Jerome, is that a shell beige car? I am finishing up a 65 Skylark for the wife and she picked that color.
I believe so!
Here’s a pic of the shell beige car I’ve been building for the wife
(https://i.ibb.co/qYr7bjx/EFC3-EAF3-2-D3-D-4705-BF16-8-DAE5-FC89308.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hFmLp9C)
-
Curious were the frame was bent on the car.
-
Curious were the frame was bent on the car.
Impact was just behind the front driver side tire. Had to weld in a patch and have the frame straightened. It wasn't too far out but since I had everything apart, got it back to factory specs.