A kid in school has a 73 Buick Skylark 350 rocket in it. How fast is that thing. Its a four door car so it can't be to fast can it? Will it smoke my 2.8 5 spd? I wasn't sure and how fats are those cars? This may not be the right place to ask this question, but i was curous Thanks

 

hmm, i read that the rockets were crappy motors, but i still think your gonna get your *** handed to you.

although don't qoute me they were either really good motors or really crappy motors, can't remember

 

'73 Buick Skylark with a 350 Rocket is not that fast.
A friend of mine swapped in an Olds 350 rocket motor
into his 1985 Buick Regal. Here are the specs for
that year for the 350 4bbl:
350-4 V8 195 bhp @ 4,000rpm, 290 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm.

I would say that it could beat your car, with the carb
tuned right and everything running mint. But the 2bbl
carb 350s are worse at only 150hp, 240ft lbs. But even
then, compared to a 2.8L 135hp, 170 ft. lbs. But the
Buick weighs like 800 lbs more than yours. If you
are up against the 4bbl 350 Rocket, forget it, you lose.
But if you are up against just the 2bbl, you have a good
chance.

 

it's a 2 barrel

 

i'd say just race the guy, worst thing happens is he beat a v6 camaro

 

All he does is brag about the thing, its completly stock and he has his subs in it. i like exhuast rather then subs thanks. He beats the crap out of it all the time to. He is an idiot He put glasspacks on it and they sound like S***!

 

The 2bbl carbed 350s are the WORSE built! It's a Boat anchor! I would rather have the 2.8 with the 5 speed! Or even my old 3.1L w/auto!

I agree! Just race him! It's fun to do it anyways! Let
us know who wins!


:lala:

 

will do

 

lol, my guess is its gonna be even, but race him and find out

 

common mistake, Buick has / had its own engine line till 1980

Unless he put it in there, its not an Olds rocket motor.

 

Wasn't the Oldsmobile Rocket V8 from the 50's?

Race him at the local track; then you've got the timeslips to prove it. Plus it'd be fun to have both "sides" of friends watching. If you haven't gone to a racetrack yet, go first by yourself. That way you'll know what to do... a week later when the both of you go, you might be quicker off the line. Heck he might even redlight or fall asleep at the tree!

 

I wonder if your buddy knows what his car is worth.
Even a 4 door it has a gold mine of parts.

That little chrome piece around the head light $70 pitted each.
Good non cracked or broken grill, $300
1 straight fender minor rust $350 each
front core support with little rust $250
so on n so on.

he needs to go hang out at V8Buick.com and look at the prices stuff sells for. Even more if you Ebay it.

 

Rocket motors are Olds motors. Buick had it's own line of V8s which are completely different.

 

i think you can take him if you can get your car to hook.

 

It's a nealy 4000lb tank of a GM "A" body (Malibu, Cutlass, Skylark, Le Mans) and unless it was a GS version of the Skylark, it's got something like a 3.08 or 2.73 type rear axle ratio. Don't quote me on that as I don't know the factory ratio splits for the rears used in these cars.

In other words, a 16-18 second car in the 1/4 mile. Should be a toss up with your 2.8 F body. You'll likely pull him off the line and he's catch up later on. Though the Camaro will corner better, and stop better probably too.

Now if this was a demo derby I'd just have to give the Skylark the advantage

And as others have pointed out the Rocket was an Oldsmobile motor, and "Rocket" was a marketing term. Sort of like the engine in my '69 Chevy Nova having the "250 Turbo-Thrift" decal and my dad's '69 GMC truck having the "350 Turbo-Jet" decal on the air cleaner- niether engine had any form of a "Turbo" on it.

 

Buick = Wildcat V8
Olds = Rocket

Not all olds engines are Rocket engines. After the name became popular, Olds started putting it on all the aircleaners.

As far as all of the 2bbl BOP engines being slow, I wouldnt say that at all. There were some that could really scoot. I rode in and drove a 72 firebird with a 350 2bbl, that smoked a 89 5.0 mustang that was running low-mid 13's. Thats pretty damned good for what it was. It would have got him by even more if the damned thing could have hooked up.

 

The impression that I got was Mr. Skylark Guy doesn't seem to know much about engines- so if the 2.8 V6 is in better tuneup & overall condition, it might be an easy win. Skylark guy probably has the same set of plugs and wires that the car came with! Then again, ya never know- even if the kid can't tell a camshaft from a driveshaft, his father might keep the motor in good running shape.

 

The kid knows abosolutly nothing about that car, all he does is beat the living crap out of it every day. I will drag him, his dad just trys to keep it running for him. It's all stock. He plays with the carn and make sit idle at 2000 rpm, so he claims, but I don't know. Seems to be looking good for me, see these 2.8's are not all that bad

 

If he know nothing. Buy the car for $500 and make a $2000 profit.

Skylark parts of any kind are hot.

 

Take Gumby's advice! These (1973) cars are rare. Especially
a 4 door.

 

Yep, people spend a fortune on parts. Especially to save a 2 door car. They love parting out 4 doors instead. There are always several people needing parts from a wreck. I know a guy who needs a whole front end. He hit a tree drag racing.

The front end on the front left got pushed in 3 feet. You can see how big the tree was.

 

Ouch
Yeah it's actaully a 1970, not sure if that matters. He is convinced that his car has 325 horse and will smoke a LS1, hes an idiot!

 

Any year skylark is worth big bucks, any number of doors.

With a good running motor and basic mods everyone should have. he should walk you. You will get a small line jump from less weight but the Buick torque will real you in...

I have a 80 Buick 350X wagon and my 2.8 Bird is fast.
But I would not bet money on it.
Even if I was driving both. The wagon leaves the line as well as any 4000lb car [still musters a nice loud squeal] but once all 4 are open its one heck of a ride.

It will be a drivers race most likely. Who will rev it out, run it or blow it.


1970 info
H.P. Disp. C.R. Ind. Make Model/Transmission

260 350 9.00 1-2 Roch 2GV-7040143/SM 7040142/AUTO
285 350 9.00 1-4 Roch 4MV-7040245/SM 7040244/AUTO
315 350 10.25 1-4 Roch 4MV-7040245/SM 7040244/AUTO

 

Yeah we will see what happens. He has no respect for a muscle car. He does 135 on back roads, so he says, not sure if he is lying or not. Hes just a freakin idiot

 

You may have a problem there. Being you have an 88 you have a speed limiter. Think it will shut you off at 120.

 

I'm not an idiot like him, i put to much love into my car as it is. I did 80 though on a back road in third gear at about 4500 rpm, not bad These little 2.8's crank