EmTee Posted August 27, 2022 Share Posted August 27, 2022 8 hours ago, Edwin The Kid said: ...and a friend's Jeepster with the oddfire v6. I owned a '77 Century that I bought in 1985 with 19 Kmi on it that had that engine. It definitely felt 'odd', but ran well and was good on gas. Strangely, it was the only car I've owned (not counting my Silverado) so far that came from the factory with positraction. I'm already imagining the Skylark in the first picture with a new red paint job... It's going to look great! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted September 3, 2022 Author Share Posted September 3, 2022 Been staying busy with school, my Buick and my Corvair. I've made progress with the Buick and have driven it around campus a few times. Will work on a video soon. Replaced starter and steering rag joint, have all the parts to do a brake job, which will get done soon. I bought a set of Buick hubcaps from a fellow student and they look great. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastienbuick Posted September 3, 2022 Share Posted September 3, 2022 Beautiful Buick and good work ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted September 9, 2022 Author Share Posted September 9, 2022 Buick is in the shed and ready for work to begin! First up is brakes while I wait for new engine mounts. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Brakes are coming along fairly well, new soft lines, wheel cylinders, shoes and hardware are in on the fronts. Took the drums into the shop to turn them and found out the fronts are already .080ish over so I need new drums unfortunately. Rears are on the edge but will work. Also installed the new motor mounts, as the old ones were completely separated. Been real busy with school and the corvair, plus as it gets cooler the corvair runs better and makes more boost, so it gets priority. Coming up on 1,000 miles on the rebuilt engine. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 6 hours ago, Edwin The Kid said: ...plus as it gets cooler the corvair runs better and makes more boost, so it gets priority. Glad to see that you have your priorities straight! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastienbuick Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Great work, well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted September 26, 2022 Author Share Posted September 26, 2022 While I'm waiting on parts and procrastinating on homework I figured I would quick put the clips I have of the car driving on the youtube. When the car is more sorted I'll make a better driving video and walkaround! 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 Looks like a lot of play in that steering box? Otherwise, it seems road ready to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted September 27, 2022 Author Share Posted September 27, 2022 1 hour ago, JohnD1956 said: Looks like a lot of play in that steering box? Otherwise, it seems road ready to me... This was before I replaced the rag joint, which was nearing failure. With new tag joint significantly less play in the steering. I'm getting close to being road ready for sure! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted September 30, 2022 Author Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) Parts are in! Next week the drivetrain/chassis professor Luke Chennell will help me install the new drums on the hubs as well as new wheel studs. Rear brakes are finished up. Before: After: Also got the correct style distributor cap, which looks much better. New rag joint also visible. Next up is dropping the fuel tank to clean and inspect, all new rubber fuel lines and filter. I also have a power steering pump rebuild kit and new lines, which will make parking a lot easier! Transmission will get a new filter and pan gasket(very leaky), and the switch pitch controller connected and wired properly. Getting really close to being a roadworthy car! Edited September 30, 2022 by Edwin The Kid (see edit history) 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 Glad to see you moving forward on this car. Is there a reason the coil is up on the intake manifold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted September 30, 2022 Author Share Posted September 30, 2022 16 minutes ago, JohnD1956 said: Glad to see you moving forward on this car. Is there a reason the coil is up on the intake manifold? That's the factory location for it. There's also the temperature sender on the intake in the way where the coil is mounted on later small blocks. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 I think the wiring harness for it is what is throwing me off. I am used to seeing the coil,starter,alternator harness coming down the other side of the intake and tucked into the channel between the intake and valve cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted October 3, 2022 Author Share Posted October 3, 2022 Lots of progress this weekend! Dropped the gas tank and cleaned it out. A little bit of bad gas in the bottom but overall in great shape. Sending unit was perfect except for the fuel sock. Replaced the sock and reinstalled after testing with a multimeter. Replaced all soft lines and installed the tank. Guage works and pump pulls from the tank. I also rebuilt the power steering pump, but forgot to take pictures of the process. Honesty a fun little project, looks great on the car. New pump seals and lines. Haven't been able to put the front wheels on but the pump is working up in the air! Hopefully will get the new drums installed this week and then it's driving time! 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 Buick is driving again! Finished up the brakes First I separated the old drums from the wheel hubs by pressing the studs out, then hammering the hub out of the drum. Then new studs were pressed into the hubs. Because the new drums are not composite they did not have to get pressed on with the studs like the factory composite drums. The school press and jig made quick work of this. Bearings were cleaned, packed, and the hubs were installed on the wheel, followed by the new drums. Brakes were adjusted and bled. The pedal is now very firm and the car stops well. The car runs and drives pretty well now! I still need to hook up the vacuum modulator and wiring for the transmission. The power steering makes steering effortless. There's definitely some suspension work needing to be done but the car is another step closer to being mechanically sound. The next goal is street legal. 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NailheadBob Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 I love your progress and your doing a great job. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastienbuick Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Superb work ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 Picked up and rewired this sweet vintage compression tester at a farm auction, tested it out on the Buick. Very healthy engine! I called a locksmith and was able to get keys cut from the numbers on my build sheet! 5 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 That compression tester is awesome! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Smartin said: That compression tester is awesome! What the heck are the wires for...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 Starter switch for cranking I'll bet. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NailheadBob Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, Edwin The Kid said: Picked up and rewired this sweet vintage compression tester at a farm auction, tested it out on the Buick. Very healthy engine! I called a locksmith and was able to get keys cut from the numbers on my build sheet! Nice find, it’s a compression tester and remote start by using the black button on the handle, made by SUN testers in Chicago, I have the same one in original box and several adapter’s, I love using it 😎 Bob EDIT: model # 48-34C Edited October 13, 2022 by NailheadBob Update (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted October 13, 2022 Author Share Posted October 13, 2022 My friend just picked up this sweet Skyhawk with the odd-fire V6, so we had to take a few pictures together. I've been driving the Skylark around the storage units and the few blocks to the school cafeteria and back as shakedown drives. Planning to hook up the transmission vacuum and electricals, then start working on repairing the rust in the floors. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 FYI, the octagon key should be cut for the ignition and the pear-shaped one is used for the trunk. Interesting to see the two Skylarks together - aside from quad headlights and two doors, it looks like they don't have much in common. I had a '77 Century with the odd-fire 231. It's sure feels and sounds odd until you get up to speed. Mine was dead reliable, though... The 3800s in my '90 Bonneville and '92 LeSabre were definitely not odd - they were smooth as butter! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted November 10, 2022 Author Share Posted November 10, 2022 I've put something like 20 miles on the car driving it around campus, feeling pretty good! I hooked up the vacuum modulator and the transmission does shift, although doesn't seem very consistent. I'm holding judgment until I rewire the switch pitch controller stuff. The time has come to rebuild the exhaust system, which I had to cut up to remove the oil pan this summer. I will be removing the manifolds, installing new studs, and welding the original exhaust back together. Today I removed the manifolds, which went extremely well, as every bolt took almost no effort to break loose. The exhaust flapper thing was frozen, but after a little soaking and persuasion now moves. It binds on the ends of its travel but moves very freely in the middle. I'm not completely sure why or how it operates so I will need to do some reading in the chassis manual. Next step will be drilling out the broken studs, tapping the holes, and installing new studs. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Either wire it open or cut out the butterfly. You don’t want it sticking shut again. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Successfully removed one stud by welding a nut, the other two broke off flush, but I was able to drill them out and rethread the holes. Removed the exhaust butterfly, but left the weight on the spacer. I tacked the inside of the cut shaft to prevent it from coming out. The Carnage Plus I found what seems to be a switch pitch controller in my Corvair parts pile... Progress is fairly slow with the end of the semester coming up, here's a bit of what I've been doing in class. Paint Class Project Rebuilding my Borg Warner T10 in drivetrain class. I thought about putting it in the Buick but after finding out its a close ratio transmission from a C1 Corvette I think I'll just sell it to fund my other projects. Learned the very basics of casting, definitely going to attempt my own castings at some point. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NailheadBob Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Good stuff, love your progress, keep the updates and photo's coming. Nice part to find with Corvair parts, SWITCH PITCH SWITCH, many people would love to have that. I like the transmission project, that's for me. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted November 22, 2022 Author Share Posted November 22, 2022 Blasted the exhaust manifolds and unfortunately discovered the drivers side manifold is cracked. I may try to weld or braze this manifold, or source a replacement. For now I reinstalled it in order to rebuild the exhaust system. Welded it all back together and it is much quieter now! The cracked manifold is leaking and driving me a little crazy but I can deal with it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 Sounds great. Good luck with that manifold. Seems it happens more frequently than is expected. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted December 17, 2022 Author Share Posted December 17, 2022 I have acquired a good manifold, will blast and install soon. Went to a junkyard and pulled some stuff off of a 65 Special. Found the A/C alternator bracket which i'll clean up and put on the car in case I decide to fix the A/C. Got some other bits and pieces i'll be listing for sale, like power steering pump and brackets. Big thing to fix next will be the choke, as things keep getting colder here. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 It's great to see this little Skylark finally getting the love it deserves - nice work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 On 12/17/2022 at 12:25 AM, Edwin The Kid said: I have acquired a good manifold, will blast and install soon. Went to a junkyard and pulled some stuff off of a 65 Special. Found the A/C alternator bracket which i'll clean up and put on the car in case I decide to fix the A/C. Got some other bits and pieces i'll be listing for sale, like power steering pump and brackets. Big thing to fix next will be the choke, as things keep getting colder here. Hope you grabbed that grill. Never hurts to have useable pieces like that in stock. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted December 22, 2022 Author Share Posted December 22, 2022 5 hours ago, JohnD1956 said: Hope you grabbed that grill. Never hurts to have useable pieces like that in stock. I might go back and grab it along with some other bits, I wasn't sure what all worked on skylarks and specials. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted January 26, 2023 Author Share Posted January 26, 2023 Did some work on the Buick today! Swapped out the alternator bracket for the combination A/C alternator bracket. Also put in an alternator I rebuilt. Took the cracked manifold off and put on the replacement. Runs nice and quiet! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenugent Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 On 12/16/2022 at 11:25 PM, Edwin The Kid said: I have acquired a good manifold, will blast and install soon. Went to a junkyard and pulled some stuff off of a 65 Special. Found the A/C alternator bracket which i'll clean up and put on the car in case I decide to fix the A/C. Got some other bits and pieces i'll be listing for sale, like power steering pump and brackets. Big thing to fix next will be the choke, as things keep getting colder here. Get the fan shroud if it has one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NailheadBob Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 here is the info on the different shrouds: Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nailbitten Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 What a helluva of save young man! You have a lot of common sense in your head and will be successful.I dug an old 63 chevyII Nova out a pasture down in Luling,Tx. back in my oilfiled days thru the 80's and did almost the same thing.I about got ATE UP with fire ants everytime i drove that car.Tried everything.lol I flipped that Nova on a curve,high speed,airborne,and wrapped it around a mesquite tree directly in the drivers door.Anyway,had to let you know,you are doing a great job and have all your ducks in a row.Keep up the good work. BTW...did you change the distributor cap to black just because of the blue color? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted January 31, 2023 Author Share Posted January 31, 2023 22 hours ago, Nailbitten said: What a helluva of save young man! You have a lot of common sense in your head and will be successful.I dug an old 63 chevyII Nova out a pasture down in Luling,Tx. back in my oilfiled days thru the 80's and did almost the same thing.I about got ATE UP with fire ants everytime i drove that car.Tried everything.lol I flipped that Nova on a curve,high speed,airborne,and wrapped it around a mesquite tree directly in the drivers door.Anyway,had to let you know,you are doing a great job and have all your ducks in a row.Keep up the good work. BTW...did you change the distributor cap to black just because of the blue color? Thanks! Its a lot of fun to bring a car back to life after sitting for so long. Yes, I changed the cap out because I couldn't stand the blue cap I originally got at a parts store to get the car running for the first time. I like my engines to be the best looking part of the car 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.cfce5e24bf798c617e6f13b8cf74f32b.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now