PROJECT "LAID BACK" - 1978 CENTURY 2 DOOR AEROBACK

[Longroof79]

James,
I'm glad the turbo hood deal worked out and it wasn't disappointing. It's always a crapshoot when you have to drive a few hours to check out parts....and rely on the seller's description.

The rear spoiler would complete the package.

 

[pagrunt]

Glad I’m not the only one that feels this way. After crunching the numbers, a taller rear end just made more sense to me. I don’t plan on doing many quarter miles in my car (if any) and wanted relaxed freeway cruising and decent MPG. Seems like everyone reflexively says “you have to get a 3.73!” But I think a 3.08 or 3.23 is perfect for what I want to do with my car.

I'm in the same club, I'll be rolling with a 2.73 when my Monte goes back on the road. Doesn't hurt having a 3.11 first gear. I'm in rural area so I've got nothing but highway to get anywhere.

 

[JAMCAR223]

I will be travelling again tomorrow....

 

[Turbo Zach]

I will be travelling again tomorrow....

????!

 

[Gonzo1970]

Plan sounds solid. Carry on with my blessing.

Crap! THATS what I am missing!!!!!


-Gonz

 

[JAMCAR223]

I will be travelling again tomorrow....

So I drove to Dallas... Again... Came home with a 1980 Buick Century 4 dr. Sedan. The car shows 37K miles, but has not been on the road since 1999. This car was purchased by a "little old lady", and given to her Grandson. After sitting for 15 years, the kid towed ( tweaked front bumper ) it to the shop ( where I got it from ), and proceeded to have a new fuel system installed. The work was completed with a new fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel lines, and rebuilt carb. The kid never came back! The car starts right up, and is completely stock and unmolested. See the push button AM/FM radio.. Ash tray never smoked in... All emblems intact.. Owner's manual in the glove box. No rips / tears in the upholstery. Just molded all over. See the pics.

I wanted / needed some parts for the Aeroback, and this car had them all. What did I get, and how did I justify the $$$ -
- Tilt steering column ( pre '81, nice and tight )
- Dash assembly ( no cracks / splits ) needs thorough cleaning
- Headliner board ( remember my car had no headliner when I got it - and nobody reproduces them. Yes this is a 4dr, I will cut it down appropriately - no other option )
- Dome light ( also missing from my car, along with the headliner )
- Windshield trim ( removed from my car by previous owner's attempt to fix a leaking windshield - bent it up while doing so )
- Hood trim ( center & rear ) ( also missing from my car when I got it - ??? ) ( Rear trim was also missing from the Turbo hood I just got last week )
- Hood ( stock, and hard to find ) ( I now have 3 hoods to work with - may sell 1 or 2 ?? )
- Fenders ( stock, and hard to find ) ( I now have 2 pair to work with - may sell a pair ?? )
- Header panel ( stock, and hard to find ) ( very straight - no damage to the grill, or headlight bezels - nicest one I have seen )
- Rear bumper ( very straight - no damage to the impact strip )
- Trunk trim ( missing from my car when I got it )
- Front door hinges ( my car has a broken Dr. side hinge - not anymore... )
- V8 fan shroud ( for the 455 that will replace the V6 my car came with )
- Pass. side front floor pan ( I hope it's good... I need to replace the one in my car - haven't had a chance to look yet )
- Roof panel ( my car has had something heavy placed on top of it at some point - I think I can fix it, but now I have options, if need be )
- Fuel tank ( brand new - just sitting for 3 years - I looked on Rock Auto, and it says fits both 2dr & 4dr )

*** Pluses I did not know about until I got the car home.
- Front & rear aluminum bumper supports!!! Yes!! If you have followed this thread, you know I will putting the Aeroback on a diet, and this is a big plus in my opinion)

Guy wanted $650. I offered $500. You guys know how I do it... Add this stuff up, and you can see why I clogged up my driveway, LOL.

If anybody needs anything else not mentioned in this post ( seats, rear sail panels, door entry plates, steering wheel, doors, glass, trunk lid, rear package shelf, Pontiac ( yep! ) 265ci V8 - 120HP / 210TQ , T-350 transmission, driveshaft - things I can't use on the Aeroback, let me know )

 

[JAMCAR223]

Look at that mold!! It took the last $11 I had on me, to get the car this clean. Time for the power washer....

Now my driveway is full.. Thankfully both of the Century's run at the moment... I need to get the GN out of the garage next weekend for the Toys for Tots charity event.
Now before you guys start trippin on my car show stuff.. I have partnered with Beck & Masten Buick / GMC dealer along with a police escort to the Houston Medical Center to deliver toys to needy kids. Our local television station KHOU channel 11 will film the event. Look out for the GN making things happen for less fortunate kids.

 

[81cutlass]

Don't know why I haven't followed this build earlier! Its a combo of weird cars with somewhat orphaned parts going into it and build primarily out of classified pages and on sale stuff or trades

I also learned MN is home to a buick V8 specialist so I am going to find my self a buick to build at some point. (thanks a lot, like I needed another project ) It's too close for me to NOT talk myself into it II have noticed a flood of BOP engine parts lately on the classified pages around me and it is increasingly difficult to not buy some stuff. Within a 2hr radius of me there is a enough parts to build a pretty awesome pontiac engine for not a ton of money.

I kinda chuckle ever time you make a post and find some other random part that you can use for the car. Reminds me of how I justified building my 2+2 "oh I have that missing part in storage somewhere!"

And a 4.3 pontiac? Thats a weird one I never knew about. You better save the engine mounts out of that car before it gets scrapped. Your stash could use them. A 78-80 Grand Prix or Grand Am will come up for sale with a V6 at the same time as a recently rebuilt or cheap 400 pontiac and muncie just begging to be dropped in it. Don't let the lack of engine mounts stop that dream

 

[TURNA]

Lets see that 4.3!!!!

 

[JAMCAR223]

Don't know why I haven't followed this build earlier! Its a combo of weird cars with somewhat orphaned parts going into it and build primarily out of classified pages and on sale stuff or trades

I also learned MN is home to a buick V8 specialist so I am going to find my self a buick to build at some point. (thanks a lot, like I needed another project ) It's too close for me to NOT talk myself into it II have noticed a flood of BOP engine parts lately on the classified pages around me and it is increasingly difficult to not buy some stuff. Within a 2hr radius of me there is a enough parts to build a pretty awesome pontiac engine for not a ton of money.

I kinda chuckle ever time you make a post and find some other random part that you can use for the car. Reminds me of how I justified building my 2+2 "oh I have that missing part in storage somewhere!"

And a 4.3 pontiac? Thats a weird one I never knew about. You better save the engine mounts out of that car before it gets scrapped. Your stash could use them. A 78-80 Grand Prix or Grand Am will come up for sale with a V6 at the same time as a recently rebuilt or cheap 400 pontiac and muncie just begging to be dropped in it. Don't let the lack of engine mounts stop that dream

And you're welcome! No better Buick machinist than Ron Flood @ Cedar Machine. BTW, I chuckled at your post. I like the way you think.

Lets see that 4.3!!!!

It's raining like a B!t(h here, and I gotta work tonight, so It'll have to wait until tomorrow. Weird, I know the era GM threw everything into anything. You could have gotten this Centry Sedan with 3.8L Buick, 4.3L Pontiac, or 5.0L Chevy engines.. IDK??

Thanks guys!!