Mechanic Gets 1969 Buick Skylark Back On The Road After Much Needed TLC

Key Takeaways

• The 1969 Buick Skylark is a forgotten muscle car that requires a lot of repairs and mechanical work.
• Issues with the car include problems with the alternator, brakes, ignition switch, carburetor, timing, and wiring.
• Despite its age and the amount of work needed, Brandon is determined to get the Buick Skylark back on the road and has made progress in fixing it so far.

When it comes to classic muscle cars, we generally talk about the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and so on. However, the Buick Skylark seems to be a forgotten muscle car despite being available in the same year as the examples mentioned above. Brandon from the Broken Wrenches YouTube channel has taken the liberty of fixing his $300 1969 Buick Skylark, but it seems like he’s bitten off more than he can chew with the amount of work that’s needed.

Fortunately, he seems to have all the tools and parts needed to get it running once again, but regardless of the repairs needed, this is a very old car, and it might take a bit of luck along with his skill to get the old Buick back on the road. Let’s find out how the process is going as Brandon conducts a series of repairs.

The Buick Skylark Needs A List Of Repairs

Brandon’s red 1969 Buick Skylark has become a bit of an ornament as it’s been standing in his garage for a long time. Fortunately, the body doesn’t seem to have any significant damage, with the main problem consisting of various mechanical issues.

Brandon tried to start the car after five months, and it turned out to be a bit of an issue as he had to pour some gas into the carburetor. As soon as the car started, it was clear that the alternator bearing needed to be replaced as well, and Brandon claimed that he never drove the car because it sounded terrible.

Brandon explains that there are a few things that he needs to do to repair the aging Buick, such as the brakes, the ignition switch, the alternator, the choke on the carburetor, the timing, a bad leak, the wiring, and much more. This is often the reality with older cars, but Brandon is determined to see it through. After getting the car in the air, Brandon discovers that one of his wheels is loose. The good news is that the brakes seem to be working fine.

The Old Engine Oil Was Gray

• Brandon also discovers that one of the lug nut studs is missing, so he grabs an impact driver and installs a new one using a washer and a lot of torque.
• Once the new lug nut stud is installed, Brandon moves to the oil drain plug to drain the old oil that’s been in the Skylark for a long time.
• The oil was an odd shade of gray, and it’s obvious that it’s missed a few oil changes over the years.

After the oil was drained, Brandon tackled the alternator, which needed a new bearing. The old alternator has a double groove pulley, which Brandon plans to use as he wants to get the air conditioning unit working again. This is a simple swap as all he needs to do is exchange the bearings that are found inside each alternator.

The Carburetor Was Taken Apart And Cleaned

Issues With The Buick Skylark

• The faulty coil prevented the choke from working properly.
• The old gaskets were thin from soaking up fuel.
• The old cambelt was replaced.

Brandon explains that he needs to remove the carburetor to replace the base gasket which leaks. He also replaced the old cam belt, but there’s still a huge piece of the old belt lodged in the pulley that needs to be removed. The old carburetor has been taken apart and, according to Brandon, the gaskets get thinner after soaking up fuel.

While he has it apart, Brandon has chosen to clean the carburetor to get rid of anything that may have built up after sitting for a long time. Brandon moves onto the spring that keeps the choke open, and he starts by applying heat to the surface and then cleaning and oiling it to ensure that it works properly once reinstalled.

Engine Specs

*Engine specs sourced from Hagerty

There Were Two Older License Plates Beneath The Existing One

Key Takeaways

• Brandon discovered an old stamped license plate on the Buick.
• The ignition switch is located on the steering column.
• Everything was replaced and he reconnected the battery.

Once the carburetor is reinstalled and working, Brandon goes through some routine maintenance, such as changing the oil. He also went as far as to polish the chrome rear bumper, which made a significant difference. He then reinstalled a new license plate, and there were two older plates on the Buick before he installed the new one.

Brandon explains that he will need to replace the ignition switch, which is located on the steering column. The process is quick and easy, and he then reconnects the battery as everything is put back together. While installing all the parts, Brandon also cleaned the area that he was busy with to make it look more presentable. Brandon also bought a cheap vinyl steering cover, which suits the interior quite well, considering that he only paid $15 for it.

Performance

*Performance specs sourced from HowStuffWorks

The Buick Skylark Has No Third Gear

Key Details About The Buick Skylark

• This 1969 Buick Skylark hit the road after 38 years.
• It requires a transmission rebuild.
• Brandon made it back to the garage after the short drive.

After getting the car out, Brandon discovered that the transmission was still leaking, which he’s quite excited about as it’s an opportunity to rebuild it. Brandon explains that the car has idled for a few minutes and there are no signs of overheating, which is the first time this has happened in 38 years. According to Brandon, it would be a win if he managed to get the car back to the garage without towing it. Since this is a short drive, he’s using the opportunity to figure out if there’s anything else wrong with the car.

Pricing

*Pricing sourced from Classic.com

Once he’s on the road, Brandon discovers that the car has no third gear, and it sounds as if he’s driving in a sandstorm, which is likely because of the lack of carpets and insulation. After shifting through the gears manually, it appears that a complete transmission rebuild will be added to the list. Nevertheless, this 1969 Buick Skylark made it back to the garage on its own power. While this is considered one of the forgotten muscle cars, it’s exciting to see someone willing to put in the effort to get it on the road once more.

Sources: Broken wrenches, Classic.com, HowStuffWorks, Hagerty