1984 Buick Skylark Cold Start

[@22Angst]

I had a 82 2 door 2.5L, manual skylark. had a lot of fun in that car....Not seen too many 2 door ones.... but, I too abandoned mine in a parking lot when i got a new truck... haha

[@Infinitrium]

I had an 85 Skylark Custom about 5 years ago. I didn't get it for free but I only paid 100 bucks for it. It had the 2.8 and automatic transmission. The engine always started right up, ran great, fuel mileage wasn't bad either. It didn't have many miles on it and the body was still solid. The interior wasn't much good though. I miss that old car.

[@TheSpazModic]

I always liked the dash on these. These cars are becoming RARE.

[@CorvusCasull]

I've got one of these too! Mine is an '85 Skylark Custom with the TBI Iron Duke. I do have some videos up of my tiny Buick. It seems like of all the X-body GM cars, the Skylark is the one you see the most often. I never see Citations or Omegas, but about once every two months I see an early 80s Skylark. The 2.8 and the Iron Duke really can't be beat for cheap parts and overall longevity.

[@mauricebruh3228]

Love these skylarks....I just got a 81 Buick skylark in near mint condition....I love mine.....

[@jessicalinquist4300]

I have to say this is my first car and its the best car ever. Its a beast in the snow and is very reliable I love Buick Skylark 84.

[@hotchickenwings72]

There are specific hot/cold weather starting procedures even for this car. I have the original manual too! If it's warm out, halfway and hold while starting, if it's cold pump twice ant crank, if it doesn't start, hold the pedal all the way to the floor and crank. 170,000 miles later, that is still pretty much how to get her started.

[@dieselchevette]

I think the Skylark was the old lady car out of all of them, I know mine was, and that's why they're around all in very damn good condition and low miles. Mine had 63k, yours is in the 50's and there's one near me, that has about 50k on it also. In regards to the 2.8, early 84 and back models have a smaller main bearing size that some people claim didn't last. I've only seen problems in s-10's, so I'm hoping mine holds out. Cheap to fix, as you mentioned anyhow.

[@hotchickenwings72]

smithraymond09029 this particular TBI system, is one of the first. I always have to pump it once or twice to start it in cold weather. If you really look at it in throat , it is kind of a carb/throttle body mutant of a thing. Strange design.

[@iGoByMax]

@dieselchevette I got my 1984 buick skylark, 4 cylinder, with 65k miles on it. i bought it in 2010

[@smithraymond09029]

Why are you giving it "two pumps of love" if these are throttle body injected?

[@dieselchevette]

@Infinitrium Something about these old cars... they just have that character.

[@dieselchevette]

@phogdoodoo Checked all the exterior stuff, thanks for the tip, though, and the pull offs and choke coil are working like they should. Every linkage on that carb has got plier marks on it, so I'm amazed it even runs that well, but it means I also need to go through that damn carb with a set of gages and set it all back...

[@terrylewis4086]

I've recently acquired an 84 Skylark T-Type... Can you tell me more about your alternator mod? Very interested in upgrading mine... not enough amps at idle.

[@dieselchevette]

Terry Lewis sure. Its a cs130 105 amp alternator from a 93 s10 blazer, with a new front housing from alternatorparts that matches the 60v6 mount. I soldered on a new cs130 connector to the harness, and ran a piece of 6 ga with a 10 ga fusable link down to the starter for a beefier charge wire. Can draw 75 amps at idle no problem. I did this since I already had everything but the housing in stock in my collection. For your car: If it has air power windows and rear defrog it should have a 94 amp unit in it factory. 20 bucks says a 63 is in there now since thats what AutoZone and such stock only and cheaply. Check that first and replace it with a 94. Mine had a dying 63 amp 12si in it and I bet you're there too. I would run the battery down going down the road with the air and rear defrog going in nasty weather.

[@dieselchevette]

Terry Lewis car-part.com is a great resource for finding those elusive 78 and 94 amp 12si units from that time period. I hope you find one nearby. Let me know if I can help you more.

[@Infinitrium]

@dieselchevette my 86 had a carb. Maybe it was a Canada only thing?

[@falaqdad15]

God I wish I had one of these.

[@jakesaintsrow123]

where did you find/get yours?

[@22Angst]

@jakesaintsrow123 bought it from a guy for 700 in like 1993 in Virginia.. .. it was his moms car and it in great shape. I got a good 2 years or so out of it.. I think all it really needed was an alternator and/or battery.. the electrical system had something really weird/wrong with it.... it would just freak out at times..... then be fine.. haha

[@mrkongsimr]

Is this the same car as the Citation ? Didn't these cars have a bad reputation .

[@dieselchevette]

It is in fact the same car. what made them suck? in my opinion, the crappy Trans cooler on the hot side of the radiator helped chew the Trans and the fact most people ran too heavy an oil in these. 5w30 is what 2,8s need. this has been the most reliable car in my fleet now for 7 years. 135k and it's still strong, not bad for a small mains 2.8

[@mrkongsimr]

Thank´s One for sale 85 60k great little car

[@smithraymond09029]

@smithraymond09029 My bad. I thought this had the 2.5l I4.

[@dieselchevette]

@smithraymond09029 That's right, 2.8's a carb in 84 and back. 85 had 2.8 TBI.

[@JackVegetables18]

Do you still have the car

[@KnuckleHeadGarage27]

I love these cars there's one at the junk yard that is wrecked and I use for parts because I have a 1985 Chevrolet celebrity with the same 2.8 2 barrel carburetor love these cars I have 292 thousand miles if not more but only problem is oil leaks I'm going through to stop I fix one then seems as something else starts idk but other than that car runs great if u wanna see it or anything check my Channel out I have some videos of it

[@jakesaintsrow123]

what happened to it

[@dieselchevette]

@jakesaintsrow123 Still own it. 115k on it now.

[@ericbrown2344]

Did you take the cat off

[@dieselchevette]

I hadn't there. The cat is off now temporarily, as is any kind of muffler now.

[@dieselchevette]

it's gone now, a few years later, after it clogged.