1978 Skyhawk

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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Z-type » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:25 pm

Believe it or not, it's that padding that is used for soaking up oil! Not sure what the technical term for it is, but boy it sure works. Use a good quality headliner glue, like 3M Super Trim Adhesive. Just peel all your old crap off of there and clean it up good!

I'll try to remember to get a picture tomorrow, but it really doesn't look much different up close than what you see in that picture unfortunately.
1978 Buick Skyhawk - Buick 4.1 V6, THM-350C...
1979 Century Turbo Coupe - Buick High-compression 350, 200-R4 swap...
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - L67 supercharged swap/4T60E-HD
1997 Riviera - L67/4T65E-HD
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Monza Harry » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:33 pm

I thought so, We have white stuff at this place I'm working now, but I have seen the grey stuff. That is really thinking outside of the box, and that should be awesome as long as it doesn't get wet, it will get really heavy, that stuff will soak up about 2 or 3 times its own weight! Thanx Again Harry
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Z-type » Tue Jul 01, 2014 3:48 pm

A little bit of an update!

Working on getting a couple exhaust parts at the moment. The Skyhawk is back at the body shop getting buffed AGAIN because they didn't finish the first time, or do very good. I'm not sure which. Either way That should be done tomorrow. Next Tuesday it will be going to my friend's place to get the exhaust built! It should be a killer sounding system. Not too loud but very meaty if my guesses on mufflers are correct. It's hard to make a V6 sound great though.

I'm doing a few small 'on-bench' projects in the mean time. I re-taped the emblems and am repainting the black on the front fender Sky Hawk emblems. I also have to make a small filler plate for the torque convertor lockup switch that will install where the rear defrost switch was.

Also, dad did some research and found out the car was originally from Los Angeles! No wonder it's such a clean/rust free car. What luck! Especially since we got it from Chicago.
1978 Buick Skyhawk - Buick 4.1 V6, THM-350C...
1979 Century Turbo Coupe - Buick High-compression 350, 200-R4 swap...
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - L67 supercharged swap/4T60E-HD
1997 Riviera - L67/4T65E-HD
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Location: Cecil, PA - about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh

Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby mahoy78spyder » Tue Jul 01, 2014 3:54 pm

It's those "on bench projects" and little details that seem to take the longest... especially when you're so close to finishing!! Kudos to you so far... can't wait to see updates.
Ken Mahoy
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Z-type » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:09 pm

Here's a few pictures to hold everyone over...

The other day whenever we got it back from being re-buffed - it was just washed, inside was cleaned, and the engine bay was powerwashed. Still waiting on emblems and decals!
Image

This is on the trailer going to get the exhaust done this morning!
Image
1978 Buick Skyhawk - Buick 4.1 V6, THM-350C...
1979 Century Turbo Coupe - Buick High-compression 350, 200-R4 swap...
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - L67 supercharged swap/4T60E-HD
1997 Riviera - L67/4T65E-HD
Z-type
 
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Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:06 pm
Location: Cecil, PA - about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh

Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby mahoy78spyder » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:16 pm

Beautiful! :th: :th: :th:
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby BadBowtie » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:19 pm

Thats a great color!! Car looks fantastic!!
James

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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby mahoy78spyder » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:22 pm

I've always loved the look of the targa band anyway, but you add a spoiler on the back, and paint it that unique color, add Buick 5-spoke wheels, and you've got a winning combo! Great job! :-D :th:
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Monza Harry » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:52 pm

Z-Type you have to be "Proud" that turned out Excellent! Harry
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Z-type » Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:08 pm

Thanks guys, very much! We've worked really hard on this car and while it's taken longer than planned because of parts scarcity, it's coming out AWESOME.

I'm hoping the exhaust will be done this week. I heard it tonight with just the resonator, and it's better, but needs a muffler lol. All we're waiting on now is decals and the license plate! I'm so excited to finally drive this thing!

I'll have a few pictures coming soon. Thanks to Jeff for sending me original exhaust flanges!
1978 Buick Skyhawk - Buick 4.1 V6, THM-350C...
1979 Century Turbo Coupe - Buick High-compression 350, 200-R4 swap...
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - L67 supercharged swap/4T60E-HD
1997 Riviera - L67/4T65E-HD
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Location: Cecil, PA - about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh

Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby zzip » Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:55 pm

Nice job, nice report and nice pics .

And ofcourse a nice H-Body back on the road !

Peter from Antwerp
1988 Monza L4 2.5L
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1990 Monza Spyder V6 3.2L
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby vegastre » Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:54 pm

I've always loved the look of the targa


I agree,
The body style really fits well. I must admit I have always been partial to Skyhawks since I first got into H-Body designed cars. The paint just looks outstanding, in fact the whole package looks outstanding. This car will be a head turner no matter where you go. Sweet!
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Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Z-type » Sun Jul 27, 2014 8:27 pm

Thank you again guys! We've done a few things to the car since we got it back from exhaust construction. I think you'll like the entire package even better now!

First, some of the 'on bench' projects I was doing. I refreshed the emblems that would have gone on the fenders (car didn't come with them when we bought it). Old on top, new on the bottom!
Image

Here's the other little project. It's the lockup switch and plate I made for the torque converter. It will go in place of the rear defrost switch, but I won't be cutting any of the dash to do it. Took some time to make that little plate nice.
Image

Now the exhaust. It's 2" off each manifold, 2 1/4" to the resonator and muffler, then dual 2" pipes out of the muffler. Magnaflow 18" glasspack and 'universal' muffler.
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I don't have a picture of the tips. Nothing special, and they're hardly visible. They're almost 90 degree turn-downs under the edge of the bottom of the bumper, then they're cut horizontal to the ground.
Image

I'll be posting exhaust sound videos soon!

But onto emblems and graphics! We had the hawks cut because our decal guy had them on file from the Century Turbo Coupe, and resized them. We used reflective black decal paper (think police cars) and it looks KILLER in person. We were originally going to do silver graphics but the reflective black from a different company we found is MUCH more responsive to light than previous batches and looks silver in most light!
Image

We took a guess based on some original pictures where everything went. It's not exact, but pretty close!
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Image

The V6 4.1 emblem is from a Cadillac, I forget what now. Anyway, I polished it up and painted the inside of the letters the same color as the car! Then clear coated it to keep it nice. I like it.
Image

Image

Check out the stripe on the bottom! Hand cut but yours truly with an exacto knife and piece of wood trim. Dad and I both had to apply it though since it was a huge decal. I think it looks awesome! It changed the whole car.
Image

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I did the hood graphics a few nights ago, almost completely freehand. I taped off where I wanted them then laid paper down and did a pencil etching to get the lines transferred exactly to the paper. I then laid that on the decal vinyl and cut it by hand.
Image

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I cut the small pinstriped by hand too...didn't have a choice lol. It had to match!
Image

Image

And had time later to install the wipers! Tested the pump and it pumped, then immediately started leaking. Not a show stopped by any means.

That's all for now! I'll post exhaust videos as soon as they upload!
1978 Buick Skyhawk - Buick 4.1 V6, THM-350C...
1979 Century Turbo Coupe - Buick High-compression 350, 200-R4 swap...
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - L67 supercharged swap/4T60E-HD
1997 Riviera - L67/4T65E-HD
Z-type
 
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:06 pm
Location: Cecil, PA - about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh

Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby Z-type » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:04 pm

Exhaust videos! This is exactly the sound I was going for when I picked the mufflers. I'm happy! It sounds like our '87 Regals old Olds 307. Use good speakers, laptop or phone speakers won't pick it up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzyWJHA ... e=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN1uAFs ... e=youtu.be
1978 Buick Skyhawk - Buick 4.1 V6, THM-350C...
1979 Century Turbo Coupe - Buick High-compression 350, 200-R4 swap...
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - L67 supercharged swap/4T60E-HD
1997 Riviera - L67/4T65E-HD
Z-type
 
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:06 pm
Location: Cecil, PA - about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh

Re: 1978 Skyhawk

Postby mahoy78spyder » Sun Jul 27, 2014 10:19 pm

Wow! Simply gorgeous! :th:
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