Bought a new (old) toy today......

**Transcoupled** · 02-06-2006, 12:05 PM

I won this car off of ebay for $1700. 1973 Buick Apollo, I don't have much history on this car, or these cars in general but it was stored for the previous two years and is in decent condition and it runs wonderfully. I will be doing a little research on it. It has a "Buick 350 2 bbl" with a th-350 tranny, posi. Only 60,xxx miles on it. I figured since I didnt want to get too deep into my tranny until its paid off and my 75 olds is a L-6, I might as well get something I can toy around with a bit. It cleaned up very well but I have to take those god awful yellow seat covers off and repaint some of the plastic on the inside but thats not a big deal. I can't wait to get some go fast parts for it!

**third_shift|studios** · 02-06-2006, 12:20 PM

that thing could survive a nuclear blast...what's it weigh!?

**Blitzed** · 02-06-2006, 06:45 PM

Nice project car!

**Trouble maker** · 02-07-2006, 07:13 AM

Looks kinda like the old NOVAS-Good buy for 1700.00!

**BillyT** · 02-07-2006, 10:02 AM

It basically is a Chevy Nova.

**HASTINGSRJ** · 02-07-2006, 10:05 AM

yes, very nice for that price....

**1fastcamarosss11** · 02-07-2006, 10:08 AM

looks like my old 78 skylark same color to. i like it. wish i would not have gotten rid of mine. thanks jeremy

**mrgto** · 02-07-2006, 11:23 AM

Looks like it was either two tone paint or had a vinyl top on it. If it is rust free bring it out to New England and make a nice profit on it.

Or throw a Buick 455 in it and go kill some LS1's

**LS1 Eddie** · 02-07-2006, 12:20 PM

Interesting car. I think it's cool.

**Motrv8d Steve** · 02-07-2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by mrgto

Looks like it was either two tone paint or had a vinyl top on it. If it is rust free bring it out to New England and make a nice profit on it.

Or throw a Buick 455 in it and go kill some LS1's

based on the chrome trim on the back it looks like it had one of those padded vinyl tops...

**Mr. CarelessAndImprudent** · 02-07-2006, 04:19 PM

Trim is difinitely for a vinyl top. You will definitely want to drop a 455 in it if its a 350 2bbl though because they aren't much on performance. Great score for 1700 bucks though.

**sg5492** · 02-07-2006, 05:30 PM

$1700.00 Good buy

**Modulistic** · 02-07-2006, 05:40 PM

my first gf had one in high school and would pick me up and take me to school in it. hers was blue and white. she inherited it from her grandpa.

lol. I sound like an old man.

it made me buy my 72 skylark with a 455. definetly put the 455 in there man.

**Transcoupled** · 02-08-2006, 08:55 AM

Thanks to all! A 455 sounds nice but for right now I have to spend a little change getting the tune up supplies, brakes, and tires etc you know the usual stuff when you buy someone elses car. Right now I think I am going to see how far I can go with the 350, according to the little research I did, performance parts aren't very plentyful. So far I have found a cam, carb, and intake for it. I just want to make it a fun little street car, with the previously mentioned parts plus getting the heads reworked, a nice set of headers, gears and full exhaust should yield decent results.

**verbs** · 02-08-2006, 01:48 PM

First time I've ever heard of an Apollo.

**Modulistic** · 02-08-2006, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Transcoupled

Thanks to all! A 455 sounds nice but for right now I have to spend a little change getting the tune up supplies, brakes, and tires etc you know the usual stuff when you buy someone elses car. Right now I think I am going to see how far I can go with the 350, according to the little research I did, performance parts aren't very plentyful. So far I have found a cam, carb, and intake for it. I just want to make it a fun little street car, with the previously mentioned parts plus getting the heads reworked, a nice set of headers, gears and full exhaust should yield decent results.

Straight up, man, the buick 350 is a dog.

**BillyT** · 02-08-2006, 07:00 PM

Is there such a thing as a GM small block 350 with a cam, 4bl carb, high flow intake, headers and exhaust, that's a dog?

**Mr. CarelessAndImprudent** · 02-08-2006, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by BillyT

Is there such a thing as a GM small block 350 with a cam, 4bl carb, high flow intake, headers and exhaust, that's a dog?

Buick is different than Chevyand almost anything witha single 2bbl carb is gonna be a dog.

**Modulistic** · 02-08-2006, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by BillyT

Is there such a thing as a GM small block 350 with a cam, 4bl carb, high flow intake, headers and exhaust, that's a dog?

yes. the buick 350 is 3.80 bore 3.85 stroke. undersquare.(stroke longer than bore is wide) long stroke = good torque. like a truck motor, to get a WHOLE LOT OF car moving. not really ever intended to see upwards of 5300 rpms = DOG. also, he is looking at 8.5:1 compression ratio and buick heads, intended to be quiet, the traditional buick style, not so much efficient.

the chevy is 4.00 in bore and 3.48 in stroke (oversquare) good for RPMS and shit. almost the same dimensions as todays LS2

the ford 302 is oversquare, for comparison

the olds (rocket 350) was massively over oversquare(4.057 in bore and 3.53 in stroke) it was known to be a screamer.

other popular 350s
LT1 4.00 by 3.48
LT5 3.9 by 3.66 in
LS1 3.9 by 3.62

as you can see, good performance motors are all oversquare.

big blocks are a whole different story. the buick 455 is pretty much my favorite motor.

**Modulistic** · 02-08-2006, 08:34 PM

dude, all the money you would have dropped on working the heads, getting all the other shit sorted out, you could have gotten a good 455 out of the junkyard for 300 bucks and have it thrown in there tearing shit up, and running way better than a 350. and plus, they stock cams for the buick 455, because it isnt a piece of ass like the 350's

theres a reason parts are hard to find for the 350.

if you just want to cruise and sound good, then id just throw a cam in there and be satisfied. it wont ever run though.