68 GS350
This is Dave Gramlow's 68 GS350!
Purchased my 68 GS350 in Sept 2001. I found it on an internet
site...don't recall the specific one, Auto Trader maybe? Communicated extensively
with the owner, both via emails and phone conversations, including one with
the owner on his cell phone letting me hear the car running. I received
dozens of very high quality photos via email, top to bottom, inside and
out. Also, he mailed me photocopies of receipts for an engine and tranny
rebuild done less than 10,000 miles prior, and lots of other work done,
parts replaced, etc. He wasn't the original owner, but had the warranty
book with protecto plate with the guy's name on it. Also had name of owner
from when it was restored (amateur job, but not bad). Lot's of 69 Skylark
Custom parts were used in the resto. The original drive train is all gone,
a rebuilder wrecked the original 350, and the old ST300 was replaced with
a TH350. Rear end is an 8.2 2.56 posi from the 69 car. Engine is a LeSabre
original 350-4 1971 block with 72 heads and intake. Has cast iron exh manifolds,
dual 2.25 exhaust with a set of flowmasters. Engine is bored 30 over, balanced,
forged hi comp TRW pistons. Block was not decked, as I can still read the
engine code between 1st 2 plugs on left side. Has chrome open element air
cleaner, sitting on a Carter Comp AFB 625cfm carb with elec choke. Stock
intake. "Wolverine" WG1033 cam, pretty mild street cam, I guess.
Car has PS, PB(drums), column AT, split bench with armrest(I don't think
original), tilt column, non-a/c, black vinyl top, am radio(also not original
I think, doesn't say Sonomatic on it) but Buick nonetheless. The body
and paint are showing wear from it being a daily driven vehicle out in Oregon/Washington
for several years after it's mid-90's resto. Interior is in excellent shape,
looks like new carpet, headliner, seat covers, door panels not in quite
as good shape however, but very nice. Steering wheel is gone, it has a
nice Grant wheel that I really like better than a sport wheel anyway, though
I might want to find a sport wheel someday. The dash pad is excellent.
The instrument cluster area is showing lots of wear however, particularly
around the lower controls, which is pretty common I think. Not sure how
to go about any resto work there.
This summer I replaced the very old air shocks in the rear with KYB gas
shocks, HUGE improvement in ride quality...might try front KYB's next summer.
Found it had a 190 thermostat, car was running over 200deg, so I swapped
in a 180, and brought temps down to 190 tops in summer. Tried Poston aluminum
valve covers in the spring, but they were poorly made (very warped) and
I ended up sanding and repainting my stock covers and putting them back
on, for good I think. Running 235 60 14's all around. Someday I want
to go to 15's, but it's low on the priority list. The front end needs a
rebuild done, I'm kind of dreading that work, no experience with front susp
work at all, and not much of a "shop" here either. Needs a rear
seal job,maybe front too. I have a TA neoprene seal, but again, no experience,
and no shop here at home.
The 350 runs pretty strong, and the TH350 feels like it has a shift kit
in it, but I've never been to a track, so I have no idea what kind of times
it would run. I was GIVEN a 455 this fall, by a fellow GS enthusiast in
the Twin Cities MN area, in need of freshening up at a minimum, or possible
rebuild by Jim Weise. Jim is keeping it at his shop until I have the $$
to put into engine work and the swap project...
It had a 69 Skylark grille & surround when I bought it, so I swapped
the 69 surround for a 68 surround and Sportwagon grille from Gary Paine.
The SW grille looks great, after a couple very small repairs, and no one
around here would know the diff anyway! A good GS grille is just way too
much $$.
By the way, it was just after 9/11 last year when I was supposed to fly
from Mnpls MN to Seattle WA to get the car, so I ended up on a Greyhound
bus instead, after a 30 hour ride, I closed the deal in Sumner WA, and drove
my "new" car home! Twenty-two years earlier, I had totalled out
my oldest brother's 68 GS400 in a winter driving accident, and knew then
I would have my own 68 someday, but I hadn't planned for it to take so loooooong!
Sometimes life gets in the way of these things.