I can't wait to expand this page. It is brand new right now.
I have so many stories about things that have happened to me in the
Buick, as well as stories from other X body owners. I'd love to hear
from others who come across this page & want to send in stories/photos of
their cars or links to their exisitng web site. Please let me hear from
you.
Some upcoming stories include:
-The time the Buick rolled down a hill with no one driving.
-The time friends and I got stuck in South Carolina at midnight & got
chased.
-The time I was in an accident that was actually on purpose in Chapel
Hill.
-The time I was in Roxboro and someone was throwing burning pieces of
paper out the window at me at 4 a.m.
-The time I was in Garner and someone told me to go back to New Jersey
(hilarious).
-The blowout I had in Hillsborough.
-The hailstorm I got stuck in in Chapel Hill.
Leonard Sparks' 82 Skylark Limited 2 door coupe, 2.8 V6
Leonard writes:
"Here is a picture of my Skylark. Hope you enjoy. 1982 2dr Limited.
2.8L V6 (originally carbed) now multi port fuel injected. THM-125C 2.53
final drive, 14" Z24 aluminum wheels, 4 wheel disc brakes. Things added
that weren't originally installed: power windows, power door locks,
special map lights, cruise, tilt, intermittent
wipers, gauge package, interior trunk release, his and her lighted vanity
mirrors, r/h remote mirror, power drivers' seat, dual horns, tri-color
taillights. Non-Buick add ons include a 130 mph speedometer face from a
Camaro added to stock speedometer and calibrated, and a rear spoiler from
an 82 Firebird. My Skylark has now over 162K on the clock and still runs
strong, it is my daily driver."
Leonard also writes that his father purchased the car new in Feb. of 1982 (the car was built in November of '81). It is TCC equipped, the first year of the lockup converter on the V6 Skylark. He has owned the car since June of '91 when it has a little over 74K on it, in which time he has done major modifications to it, some of which are mentioned above. In addition to those, he has added 205/70 tires, and most impressively, multi port fuel injection at 133,490 miles. He had been inspired after seeing an 85 Skylark with the MPI option. He reports that performance is better, it starts easier, has gained 12 hp, 15 ft/lbs torque, and 4 mpg average. Researching the electrical and electronics to make sure it would fire took significant time. After a whole weekend's worth of work, it fired on the first try. He also added internal fuel baffles to the fuel tank.
The car is blue with 45/45 dark blue Limited cloth interior which still looks like new. He has already added rear disc brakes, and the 14 inch, 5 spoke wheels of Chevy Cavalier design which are painted body color blue. He also upgraded the front swaybar to a heavier one from a Citation X-11. When his rack-and-pinion started getting "arthritis", he replaced it with a sport model which had 2 1/2 turns instead of 3 1/4 for the base unit. Handling and cornering are now much crisper.
He also has other future plans for the car, which are mainly performance oriented. He plans to rebuild another engine for the car eventually- he has on hand an 87 block which has larger main journals and factory machined grooves in the block and on the crank for better oiling. It can be set up for HEI or DIS ignition. He also has a set of HO heads from an '84 Celebrity which he got for $30.00(!) With the port matching, polished intake, and a better breathing camshaft, he will be close to 1hp per cu. in. (near 173 hp). He also has found a rebuilt THM-125 transmission with a 2.84 final drive ratio, which should add significant torque to the car.
I'm impressed, especially with the MPFI add-on!
Oddly, Leonard's car, like mine, was built at the Tarrytown, NY plant, the only other Skylark I know to be built there. It is strange because there was an X car production plant in Oklahoma City, and Leonard lives only a few miles away from there.
Should you have questions about Leonard's car send him e-mail.
-My friend Cade's 85 Buick Skylark with 2.8 V6
-My friend Michelle's 81 Oldsmobile Omega 2.8 V6
-Our family friends' 83 Skylark
-Mike's 1981 Citation X-11
-Chuck's X-11's
-A Link to the X-11 page
more later when I get around to it
