1975 Buick Skyhawk Makes A Name For Itself

The same people are expected because both engines are rated at 110 net hp. The Buick’s 175 pound-feet of torque is 25 percent less than the Monza’s big-engine peak, but the discrepancy is masked by the greater weight and gearing differences between the two cars. Buick says the V-6 is only 25 pounds lighter than the Chevrolet V-8, but we found our test Monza to be a full 105 pounds heavier than a similarly equipped Skyhawk. And while Chevrolet offers a “performance” 2.92-to-one axle, there’s only one option—2.56 gear—for both Skyhawks and Starfires. In addition, Buick has specified a higher gear ratio (lower number) in the Turbo Hydramatic 350 transmission and a higher torque converter as well. So if you choose the Skyhawk over the Monza, you get less torque, less weight, longer gearing, and almost the same performance.

You get one extra with Skyhawk or Starfire: vibration. Engineers would never have built a V-6 with a 90-degree block if they had their way. Such an engine requires a 60 degree setting for equal firing intervals. (In a standard V-8, four cylinders fire each time the crank rotates once; build a V-6 with the same right-angle arrangement and fire three cylinders, then stop to wait for the missing fourth, each revolution.) significant savings to be achieved by sharing components and 90 degree V-8 blocks. In fact, the Skyhawk’s 231 engine is a Buick 350 V-8 with two cylinders missing, a slightly shorter stroke and the same pistons, connecting rods and other external components .