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My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build

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Old 06-11-2013, 04:50 PM
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Default My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build

Well guys my Skylark has been in the family since new. My grandfather bought it just a few months before I was born. The 350 is tired, so I've opted to bring it up to modern power and better MPG. bought a 05 5.3L/4L60E out of a truck and will be performing my first LS swap into the car. I look forward to learning a lot from you guys during this build, and I hope you enjoy mine. Here is a pic of my car and the donor engine.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...g?t=1370987312
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...g?t=1370987357
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...g?t=1370987359

Last edited by Anythinggm; 06-11-2013 at 04:59 PM.
Old 06-11-2013, 06:55 PM
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Nice looking car, signing on for the build.
Old 06-13-2013, 06:11 AM
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You will love the result. Have you chosen your swap components yet?
Old 06-13-2013, 09:54 AM
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I have parts coming in daily.. I went with the BRP swap kit crossmember, mounts, CTS oil pan, girdle plate, and mid-length headers. I went with Tanks Inc for their EFI tank and pump. I just sent out the harness and ECM to get reworked/reprogrammed. I hope to get started with tear down/removal of old motor next week. Of coarse I will post pics.
Old 06-13-2013, 06:06 PM
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Some goodies showed up today..
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-mms_picture-2-.jpg  
Old 07-02-2013, 01:16 PM
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Not to much new to report unfortunately, But I have been cleaning up the new motor and making it look a little more like it belongs in a muscle car. Repainted the block, installed the new oil pan, painted the valve covers in Buick red and hung one exhaust header on for photo op teaser.
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-mms_picture_2.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-mms_picture.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-mms_picture-1-.jpg  
Old 08-09-2013, 01:46 PM
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Well I was able to get the old motor out, So I'm still moving forward.. I do have a question for you guys that have done these conversions in A-bodies. This is a truck motor with the tall intake. IF I have to change it out to a car style what year and model series will work? Will my truck throttle body work? I read that I will have to get or modify alternator clearance brackets.
Old 08-10-2013, 06:17 AM
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In my experience the truck accessories and intake should all fit. The only change necessary is a smaller PS pulley. Is your TB DBW or cable?
Old 08-10-2013, 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by oldgoat69
In my experience the truck accessories and intake should all fit. The only change necessary is a smaller PS pulley. Is your TB DBW or cable?
Thanks for your reply. It's a DBW
Old 08-25-2013, 10:35 PM
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Productive weekend, ITS IN... Pretty Sure just looking at the profile my hood is never gonna clear the truck manifold. Now I need to figure out what car intake etc, I need. ugh.
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-994575_10201590484514443_856934703_n.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-1229816_10201590485074457_531456277_n.jpg  
Old 08-25-2013, 10:39 PM
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You can put a ls6 intake on it or if you like aluminum intakes a BBK ssi.
Old 08-27-2013, 06:07 AM
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If you search the threads, you should find the tricks to make the truck in take fit. Most have been successful. But it never hurts to upgrade.
Old 10-07-2013, 10:25 AM
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Couple more updates, nothing to exciting. I've been pretty busy on a couple of other projects, one being I bought my wife a car she has wanted for a long time a 1965 Impala 2dr Hardtop. Its a project and with most projects the excitement of something new has had me occupied off my skylark project. So the Intake is looking good for clearance as well as the power steering pump pulley has plenty of clearance which I was pleasantly surprised to find out.
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20131007_070806-800x450-.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20131007_070734-450x800-.jpg  
Old 10-07-2013, 10:34 AM
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ls1 or ls6 intake should work , if you can get the bolts and rails at the same time
I think your injectors will work , may need adapters for different height injectors , maybe not
Old 10-07-2013, 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by ijimmy
ls1 or ls6 intake should work , if you can get the bolts and rails at the same time
I think your injectors will work , may need adapters for different height injectors , maybe not
Thanks, but at this time im gonna plan on keeping the truck intake.
Old 03-18-2014, 10:32 AM
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So here are some updates. The expanded Trans tunnel is stitched up, seam sealed and undercoated. I cut down and reformed the DBW gas pedal to fit comfortably and has a really nice feeling range of motion. Most all the engine wire harness is routed and plugged in. Radiator is back in and radiator hose are installed. I'm using the original radiator with a flex-a-lite 480 dual electric fans. I got my high pressure power steering hose made at my local hose shop. Currently working on trying to come up with a cold air intake.
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140310_201404.jpg  
Old 03-18-2014, 10:34 AM
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more pics
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140316_185702.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140316_185724.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140316_190812.jpg  
Old 03-18-2014, 10:35 AM
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Some more pics, and a note that may help others installing a truck motor lm7 the truck's stock radiator hoses worked perfectly with my stock radiator.
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140317_134025.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140317_134856.jpg  

Last edited by Anythinggm; 03-18-2014 at 10:41 AM.
Old 03-31-2014, 10:03 AM
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Some updates. I was working on a cold air intake to route over to the drivers side fender pocket but did not like the interference of the upper radiator hose. So I ditched the stock radiator for a LS swap radiator from Griffin that puts inlet and outlet on the passenger side plus a steam port fitting just under the upper hose. That gave me free rain access to run my intake tube where I wanted it.
I also got the exhaust system done with the o2 sensor installed and a H-pipe. Than I moved onto the fuel system. New tank, fuel filter/regulator and hoses. here are some pics for your enjoyment.
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140330_133637.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140326_181205.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140328_182917.jpg  
Old 03-31-2014, 10:06 AM
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more....
Attached Thumbnails My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140328_182758.jpg   My 72 Buick Skylark Ls conversion build-20140330_102313.jpg  


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