pro touring buick? opinions

[dreams_of_speed]

i have a 66 buick skylark its all origional except paint and wheels i am wanting to lower it and add really nice pro touring wheels and a 4 wheel disk brake kit looking for some opinions what kinda rear axle do i need to fit some wide deep wheels on the rear and i have 15x8 pacer wheels and its rubbing rear fenders so i need to do something and what kinda front spindles to use so thats my topic

[dreams_of_speed]

the picture of the engine is my casting numbers proven real stage 1 455 buick gs

[406 Q-ship]

Welcome to you with a nice Buick, I have a soft spot for the Skylark/GS. With adding some carefully picked parts you can make that a corner craving Buick, the suspension is the same as all the A-bodies for 1964 - 1966 (alot of the parts interchange all the way to 1972). There is no reason to change to a narrowed axle, with careful measurement you should be able to put a 275/285 width rear tire in that wheel house. There is a wheel database on Chevelles.com that should be very helpful to you.

To get that 455 in your 66 your going to need the frame stands for the 67 400 GS. Depending how hard you want the car to corner, oil control in a long corner could be come an issue and there just is not alot of road race Big Block Buick oil pans out there. I would love to build a 1970 455GS with a Richmond/TKO 600 and 3.42 gear in the back.

[ProTourGSX]

'60's cars are beyond my expertise, as I begin & end with '70/'71/'72 Skylark/GS.

I'm saving up for the TCI 6spd automatic to put behind the '70 GS (455) Stage 1, in my #s matching '70 GS Stage 1!
I've read that the first 3 gear ratios in the TCI 6pd are the same as the TH400, with the benefit of 3 extra gears, the best of both worlds (1-3, for performance/power; 4-6, for overdrive/economy)!

Not to mention CONSISTENT shifts with automatic transmissions, compared to Manuals, for longer life expectancy!

Just my preference, anyway. (Don't get me wrong, a stick shift car is FUN to drive, too, but just more work & maintenance than I want to hassle with.)

[Nothingface5384]

for rearend i'd try and find an 8.5 out of a 71-72 skylark/cuttlass only 10bolt with bolt in axles. and slap in a detroit trutrac .or just buy a moser 12bolt at w/e length you perfer and get ford torino housing ends and a wavetrac if you have the cash

SPC drop springs from scandc.com are the best deal for 289 for a set of 4 springs
if you want a tad more drop in the frontend whuile impriving your corner-abilty get some spc uppers with tall balljoint along with lower spc arm with tall balljoints, you can also get this from SC&C (scandc.com)
oh and stock spindles with tall upper/lower bj will get you near those expensive aftermarket spindles but at a vert small fraction of the cost

[Nothingface5384]

'60's cars are beyond my expertise, as I begin & end with '70/'71/'72 Skylark/GS.

I'm saving up for the TCI 6spd automatic to put behind the '70 GS (455) Stage 1, in my #s matching '70 GS Stage 1!
I've read that the first 3 gear ratios in the TCI 6pd are the same as the TH400, with the benefit of 3 extra gears, the best of both worlds (1-3, for performance/power; 4-6, for overdrive/economy)!

Not to mention CONSISTENT shifts with automatic transmissions, compared to Manuals, for longer life expectancy!

Just my preference, anyway. (Don't get me wrong, a stick shift car is FUN to drive, too, but just more work & maintenance than I want to hassle with.)

ps its steeper then th350/400 and 2004r..practicly the same first gear that of a 7004r
heres the tci 6x ratio
2.97, 2.31, 1.57, 1.18, 1.00, and 0.75

[PT Sportwagon]

Welcome to PT.com. Buick is the minority here. Just the way I like it. I am slowly working on my PT Buick project a 71 Sportwagon. Check out V8buick.com for some more of us Buick crazies. I know that Mike (nothingface5384) is there.

Tim

[DriverzInc]

I like it! I think the body has some cool lines to it, and the fact that it is different, makes it even better! Welcome to the forum.

[CreepinDeth]

I'm saving up for the TCI 6spd automatic to put behind the '70 GS (455) Stage 1, in my #s matching '70 GS Stage 1!
Not to mention CONSISTENT shifts with automatic transmissions, compared to Manuals, for longer life expectancy!

I've never seen a Manual transmission clutch replacement cost more then a rebuild on an Auto transmission.
As long as you have the right transmission that can handle the power of the engine, it shouldn't be an issue.

Especially considering the modern Overdrive transmissions. The repair bills on those are astronomical.
But back to the OP.....sweet GS 455, should be a torque beast.

[ProTourGSX]

I've never seen a Manual transmission clutch replacement cost more then a rebuild on an Auto transmission.
As long as you have the right transmission that can handle the power of the engine, it shouldn't be an issue.

Especially considering the modern Overdrive transmissions. The repair bills on those are astronomical.
But back to the OP.....sweet GS 455, should be a torque beast.

The point I was trying to make was that it's not worth the hassle of replacing Manual clutches as often as a longer-lasting automatic, regardless of cost!

Like I said, I'm not trying to start a debate, only my opinion & experience, and the very reason that I paid for my own automotive technical education, to not have to pay other mechanics MORE for them to build something FOR me, that I CAN BUILD, MYSELF, FOR LESS!

As soon as I discovered how to rebuild automatic transmissions for my own cars (heavy duty; street/strip shift kits; up to 450hp strong/dependable, with aftermarket parts & rebuild kits), they were only costing me around $89-$200... compared to local shop estimates of $400/$600/$800 including THEIR parts & labor (NOT including removal/installation in/out of vehicle)!

After I bought all the tools required to overhaul all GM automatics, I've only done them for myself, and local buddies who I only charged for parts, not for labor, because I enjoy the mechanical part of the automotive hobby, but not for profit.
For income, I help to design & manufacture aftermarket & reproduction parts for all industries, including automotive; I try to support others, for what they could use for their cars, so they can support what I can use for my cars; it's a Win/Win situation!

[Scott Parkhurst]

The 6 speed auto engages overdrive as a splitter. It's not 6 gears where the first 3 are the same as a Turbo 400. The OD is till the same as a stock GM OD trans - 3 gears plus OD. Third is still 1:1.

[dreams_of_speed]

i am wanting to put a manual in my car even though mine is a daily driver its specifically for fun im not in much care about performance i just dont like how slow the stock 300 2 barrel is i do alot of the work myself i am a mechanic so the rebuild of the 455 stage 1 is nearly complete although its no longer stock with hydrollic lifters and a 208 cam after that insane cam im not driving it daily and to all the other buick fans this is my second 66 skylark and im a die hard fan ill never own another car its the best gets alot of looks and i cannot stop anywhere in town without talking to 5 or 6 people and about the suspension im not going for a track set up i dont go to the track i just love pro touring looks i want it low and with big nice multi spoke wheels on it for a pro touring look before it gets repainted the paint looks good in the pics i posted but the body needs alot of work it had body trim and theres little dents in it where there where holes and the rear window is rusting out some but ill be on replying alot and i will create an account on v8buicks.net

[19richie66]

Man that is one long sentence,lol. I have a 400 i thought about putting in mine.Thinking about putting a turbo on the small block just to do it.I have a disc setup going on the rear and a 200r4 going for a rebuild soon.Wish you were closer,id love to have that 300 when you get done with it.Cant wait to see more on your car.Good luck,Richie

[clayton25]

gonna look good when your done!