my nighthawk project

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my nighthawk project

Postby 77nighthawk » Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:54 am

Hello to all. I had been looking for a good h-body project, and came across this one, a 1977 buick nighthawk. I bought it and stuck it in my garage, with the intentions of starting on it that weekend. That was in 2009. Finally, a few months ago, I managed to get started on it.

cartwo.jpg


So far, I've converted the front suspension to S10 using the S10 ball joints. I also replaced the front controll arm bushings while I had them out.

carthree.jpg
lcontrolarm.jpg
lspindle2.jpg
lassembled.jpg
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If it don't scare me, I don't want it.

the growing collection
1977 nighthawk
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby 77nighthawk » Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:19 am

Here are some pics with the wheels on.

ltire.jpg

rtire.jpg


At the moment, the rearend is my focal point. I'm trying to aquire the parts to change to S10 axles, or upgrade to a better rearend. Budget being the key word. A 9" ford would look good under there.
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby HI WINDING MONZA » Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:36 pm

Do you realize how RARE a car this is?

http://monza.homestead.com/nighthawk.html


Doug in Az 8)
My Old Monza now lives in Arizona with its newest owner.

The 90's just keep rollin' along........
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby fyrftr50 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:18 pm

Your not kidding Doug, just over 1,300 built. Nice car and great work so far. What are your plans for it?

I'm curious, where did you find that car anyways? Any chance there is a build sheet or other dealer literature that came with that car?

Cheers!!!
Bryan
fyrftr422@hotmail.com

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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby 77nighthawk » Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:16 pm

I have a slight idea. Although, the production numbers seem to change with each article I read. I wish the previous owners had taken better care of this one. It's in what I would consider "parts car" condition. The interior is trashed, there's dents in every panel on the car, parts are missing from the engine bay, and somewhere in kansas, there's a family of rats that have the majority of the wiring harness stashed away for safe keeping.

I'm going to do my best to make the car look right, but there are a lot of parts that need replaced that I don't think I will be able to get. That dang striping for one.(big one) I can fix the body and paint, but without that critical component, it won't be right. That was a very special vinyl application that I don't think anyone is duplicating. I plan on tracing and mapping what is left of the outline pinstriping(what you see in the daylight) so I can duplicate it, but I can't find a company that makes that special vinyl for the filler.

As far as drivetrain, since the motors pretty much toast, the usual smallblock has crossed my mind. Although I had a better though a while back, one I think would be alot cooler and more politically correct, a 95 or newer efi 3.8 buick v6 with the factory belt driven supercharger on top. I think those are over 2 times the hp as the stock 3.8. Couple that with an overdrive automatic that will handle it.(the car is factory auto trans)

I don't know if the build sheet is in the car, but I did get the factory owners manual. I'll look and see if the build sheet is in the car. That family of rats may be safe keeping that as well.

I'll try to post some more pics of the car later.
If it don't scare me, I don't want it.

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1977 nighthawk
1979 Monza hb
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby HI WINDING MONZA » Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:29 pm

Could you post a pic of the Body Tag? and the VIN? I'm sure inquiring minds would like to see....................... :th:

Reflective Vinyl is out there.......................shouldnt be a problem duplicating the Nighthawk stuff.

Doug in Az 8)
My Old Monza now lives in Arizona with its newest owner.

The 90's just keep rollin' along........
1990 Chevrolet Silverado Regular Cab Long Bed 350 TBI V8 700R4 118K miles
1992 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe 2.0 OHC MPFI I4 TH125C 157k miles
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby 77nighthawk » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:52 pm

Ok, went through the car, couldn't find anything but the plastic bag that the owners manual was in. I took the manual out, started thumbing through the pages and this paper fell out.
100_0417.JPG
100_0413.JPG
100_0411.JPG
100_0412.JPG


I was surprised.
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If it don't scare me, I don't want it.

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1977 nighthawk
1979 Monza hb
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby 77nighthawk » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:57 pm

Here are pics of the other literature that was in the bag as well.
100_0414.JPG
100_0415.JPG
100_0416.JPG
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1977 nighthawk
1979 Monza hb
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby Kenova » Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:08 am

Oh man! Bryan's gonna flip when he sees that pristine build sheet. :lol:

Ken
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby 77nighthawk » Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:26 am

Ok, here are some current pics of the interior.
It's pretty rough.

100_0395.JPG
100_0396.JPG
100_0398.JPG
100_0401.JPG
100_0408.JPG
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If it don't scare me, I don't want it.

the growing collection
1977 nighthawk
1979 Monza hb
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby res0o7eb » Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:24 am

Congrats on the rare find. 8)
Good that you are putting this cool Buick back on the road - with a Buick engine. A Buick 350 V-8 would look right at home in there.
I like the NightHawk. I am not sure how you can repair/paint the body panels and not mess up the vinyl graphics. Seems like there should be some way to reproduce it. Probably not cheap, though.
Police cars or security company cars have glow at night graphics on their doors. I wonder if whomever makes those would be able to a NightHawk graphic.
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby Stonebird » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:12 am

I've had my eye on a Nighthawk for quite a while. It's sitting in a guys "private junkyard". Looks to be in similar or better condition to this one. I could probably get it away from him pretty cheap, but, the biggest thing keeping me from draging it home was the graphics. I could see duplicating them being big $$$. Oh, and the fact that I already have several other project cars waiting for my attention and no time to work on them.
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby fyrftr50 » Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:07 pm

Yup, I flipped!!!!!!! multiple times!!!

Never seen a build sheet in mint shape like that before. Can you take 1 clear shot of the whole build sheet so I can have it for my records? Doug brought up a good point too, I'd love a shot of the cowl tag as well, see if and how it might differentiate a nighthawk from a base skyhawk.

That interior is shot to hell, lol, but you can always find other stuff to replace, ,and I painted all the stuff I presently have so you could certainly do the same if you wanted a white interior. I even have those exact seats kicking around too.
Bryan
fyrftr422@hotmail.com

22 Mazda3 GS
20 Kioti CK2610HST
12 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT
80 Chevy Monza Spyder

MONZA, SKYHAWK, STARFIRE & SUNBIRD ... http://monza.homestead.com/monza.html
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby Kenova » Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:11 pm

fyrftr50 wrote: That interior is shot to hell, lol,

That's an understatement. It looks like it was used to house three rabid Rottweilers.

Ken
My other car is a Nova.
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Re: my nighthawk project

Postby gerbsinmd » Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:27 pm

Kenova wrote:That's an understatement. It looks like it was used to house three rabid Rottweilers.

Ken


Oh come on, a little Armor All will fix that right up.... :shock: :shock: :shock:
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