The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1970 Buick Skylark Question!

Hi all, my Mom has a 1970 Buick Skylark Custom, absolutley beatiful muscle car. Anyway, her and I were wondering if this car ever came out with a standard transmission? Im sure some of you people should know the answer to this question. The car currently has the auto tranny, but she would like to have a standard tranny in it, yes I know that requires a few changes, IE stearing column, cutting floor to fit shifter in, getting the little hump for the tranny in the center of the floor. (dont know how else to explain that)

So, does anybody know?? Thanks guys!

- Shane

Shane,

Back in the dark ages,1970 and 1971, I was a mechanic at a Buick Dealership. My shop manual tells me that a three speed transmission with a column shift was an option. Hurst floor shift kits were the cool thing to do in those days and were readily available for about anything with gears.

I would not recommend a switch, it sounds like you have a solid vehicle in original condition. I don't think any performance gain will be worth the work and down time.

I converted my 68 Cutlass to a 4 speed... The mechanics of doing the job are fairly simple, assuming you can find a donor car with all the right parts.

Pedals - drop out, install new ones.

Bell Housing - assuming you have a BOP engine, Oldsmobile bell housings are plentiful.

Crank Shaft - You would need to make sure that the engine parts (crank, balancers ect) you are using are compatible with the flywheel.

Shifter - Go with a Quality Hurst shifter, on the floor. you only need a 4 inch or so hole in the floor. Fold the edges over to maintain your strength.

YOu might even want to find an Olds 350 with a manual tranny set up and swap in the whole moter ect... save the Buick engine for when she gets tired of shifting.

Transmission - Ensure that you get a "WIDE RATIO" tranny.. unless she likes to shift 3 times before she hits 30 mph.

I converted mine back after a couple of years, the 4 speed was fun for a while, but got old.

Automatic-to-standard conversions are almost never as simple as they seem, and usually just result in ruining a nice, original car. I've done a few, and it always ends up creating a lot of problems.

My father had some sage advice for his students back in the 70's when 4-speed stick shifts were popular- - - -"Since that shifter is just something to play with, buy an automatic transmission car and cut the pockets out of your pants. You've got a better-performing car, and something to play with that's more satisfying than a stick shift!". I tend to agree!
Jerry

Ok, well I wont do it then! Thanks guys.

- Shane

No sense of adventure!!!!!! go for it, just save all the old parts to put it back to original.

Hotrod Lincoln;

It seems that during high school,the only place you got any real sage advice that meant anything came from shop teachers! And in some cases when they were only a short distance from the end of your nose.

I hope they are continuing the tradition!

I was told by someone that you could get a 4 speed for them, is this true? And did it come with the car, or from a diferent vehicle. I am just curious but I will probably not do this to the car. Thanks,

- Shane

i might have a standard flywheel for that car.if you could get me a casting number of flywheel for your engine application.the one i have will not fit chevy or pontiac.