Project Junkyard Dog

Joe Toller · 01-08-2013, 07:53 PM

Well, Junkyard Dog is still sitting, got all the mouse stuff and misc. cleaned out, including 2 8-track players and an extra 15x7 Buick Rally, and found an otherwise very clean, zero rust, 63K mile, 2 owner car, purchased new at my local Buick dealer in 1979. I did manage to cannibalize a turbo Riviera of its long block this weekend, but little else. I am currently at training for work, so I won't see it again until the end of the month, then it's time to get really dirty!

Joe Toller · 02-11-2013, 08:22 PM

Update: scored a turbo, carb, and carb hat off the TurboBuick forums, as well as some more reading material. I plan to pull the motor from the car this weekend, and see what I have to work with. More pics to come...

Billy Nees · 02-12-2013, 08:58 AM

That's a good scrounge! Keep up the good work! You'll have to put the 2V on the car and we can have a U/SA, "Dime Rocket" match race!

Joe Toller · 02-12-2013, 09:12 PM

Thanks Billy! You are my inspiration for this!

I wonder if I can even find a 2bbl plenum though...

Joe Toller · 02-16-2013, 07:35 PM

If I could even find a 2bbl, I'd have to make it a 78, and then it gets crappy heads, but since I mentioned I'm working on a V6, they're coming out of the woodwork! I now have an 80 Riv, 79 Turbo Riv motor, and a 78 Skyhawk 4spd, plus another 4.1 and 3.8!

Guess I should have started with a Buick all along!!!

Joe Toller · 03-23-2013, 10:30 AM

Update: While I await my turbo and exhaust manifolds from the powdercoater (free from a buddy), I have started to clean the interior out. The seats are icky, but I'm torn between using a pair of aftermarket buckets up front, and putting in a 4pt bar and eliminating the back seat, even though it's a full frame car and it probably wouldn't help much at the power I'm making. Either that, or I need to reupholster or find replacements for my stock seats...

What the hell was I thinking?! nevermind, I'll rob a better set from another sedanin the wrecking yard!

Derailed by snow again this week though, so we'll try again next weekend!

Joe Toller · 03-23-2013, 12:24 PM

If I don't spend another dime on this car, I am at $1230 in parts/car. Of course, the paint still looks terrible, and the interior stinks. It's also on stock ralleys, with some wal-mart 195/75R15 front radials. I also need to do the screws to the rear bushings, and I did spring for a new pair of rear stock replacement shocks.

Another cheapie tip: want to upgrade your HEI, but you have an oddball car they don't offer one cheap for? Buy a cheapier performance one off ebay ($40) and raid the coil, module, and advance from it. I used a non-turbo HEI from a 79 V6 and a cheapie HEI to make my hi-po one.

I will post pics soon.

01-08-2013, 07:53 PM	#1
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Well, Junkyard Dog is still sitting, got all the mouse stuff and misc. cleaned out, including 2 8-track players and an extra 15x7 Buick Rally, and found an otherwise very clean, zero rust, 63K mile, 2 owner car, purchased new at my local Buick dealer in 1979. I did manage to cannibalize a turbo Riviera of its long block this weekend, but little else. I am currently at training for work, so I won't see it again until the end of the month, then it's time to get really dirty!

02-11-2013, 08:22 PM	#2
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Update: scored a turbo, carb, and carb hat off the TurboBuick forums, as well as some more reading material. I plan to pull the motor from the car this weekend, and see what I have to work with. More pics to come...

02-12-2013, 08:58 AM	#3
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,494 Likes: 3,596 Liked 7,731 Times in 1,739 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog That's a good scrounge! Keep up the good work! You'll have to put the 2V on the car and we can have a U/SA, "Dime Rocket" match race! __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

02-12-2013, 09:12 PM	#4
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Thanks Billy! You are my inspiration for this! I wonder if I can even find a 2bbl plenum though...

02-16-2013, 07:35 PM	#5
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog If I could even find a 2bbl, I'd have to make it a 78, and then it gets crappy heads, but since I mentioned I'm working on a V6, they're coming out of the woodwork! I now have an 80 Riv, 79 Turbo Riv motor, and a 78 Skyhawk 4spd, plus another 4.1 and 3.8! Guess I should have started with a Buick all along!!!

03-23-2013, 10:30 AM	#6
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Update: While I await my turbo and exhaust manifolds from the powdercoater (free from a buddy), I have started to clean the interior out. The seats are icky, but I'm torn between using a pair of aftermarket buckets up front, and putting in a 4pt bar and eliminating the back seat, even though it's a full frame car and it probably wouldn't help much at the power I'm making. Either that, or I need to reupholster or find replacements for my stock seats... What the hell was I thinking?! nevermind, I'll rob a better set from another sedanin the wrecking yard! Derailed by snow again this week though, so we'll try again next weekend! Last edited by Joe Toller; 03-23-2013 at 12:31 PM. Reason: dumbass idea

03-23-2013, 12:24 PM	#7
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog If I don't spend another dime on this car, I am at $1230 in parts/car. Of course, the paint still looks terrible, and the interior stinks. It's also on stock ralleys, with some wal-mart 195/75R15 front radials. I also need to do the screws to the rear bushings, and I did spring for a new pair of rear stock replacement shocks. Another cheapie tip: want to upgrade your HEI, but you have an oddball car they don't offer one cheap for? Buy a cheapier performance one off ebay ($40) and raid the coil, module, and advance from it. I used a non-turbo HEI from a 79 V6 and a cheapie HEI to make my hi-po one. I will post pics soon. Last edited by Joe Toller; 03-23-2013 at 12:49 PM.