Technical Anybody ever put a small block Chevy in a 63 Buick Riviera.

As the title states, have you or do you know anybody that has ever done this swap? Pics? I've got a nice 63 Buick Riviera here at the shop. That the owner is insistent that he wants to put a small block Chevy and overdrive transmission In it. from what I can see looking on the web,The steering is in the way as it has a center sump pan. There is really no reason to do this swap as the motor and trans is in good working condition. I'm trying to convince him otherwise. To keep the nail head as it hauls ass and has plenty of power. I think the guy's just been talking to too many people and friends about it.

 

I know a man I don't want to do the job. And I'm just looking to see if there's pictures or anybody that's done it as I've even searched the Web. I've not found one picture of the swap and the customer says it's a common thing. I told him I've never heard of it. I also told him he'd be Losing about half of the horsepower.

 

And half the value. I hope he plans on never selling it.

 

Not with one of these, all aluminum Rodeck 427 sbc.
The guy better save up some $$$ first, not the cheapest but it will be the only one on the planet, rear tires may not last very long though!

 

Well, I haven’t. I bought a great running caddy mill from a guy that thought he needed a Chevy engine.
That car lost around 125-150 lbs of torque if not more.
Do the swap and talk him out of the nail head.

 

I was at the beach this last weekend for a car show and there were two 68 442's that caught my eye since I own one. One of the cars had a crate 502 BBC and the other one has an LS3, both had huge wheels and wild paint jobs. They were eye catchers and likely quite fast but Ransom Olds would not have approved and neither could I.

 

Bad case of listening to to the guys down at the spit and whittle club too much. I am not a keep it original or restorer type but it takes a real fool to take a good running car that has the correct engine in it and pull it out and put a small block Chebby and OD trans and think he is going to come out ahead while cutting the value of the car in half.

There are adapters to bolt Chevy transmissions to the 57/63 Buick nailheads. This one Isn't inexpensive but a lot less hassle than figuring out how to put a Chebby in the Riv. Chevy Automatic Trans Adapter 57-63 364-401-425 Engines | Centerville Auto Rep (nailheadbuick.com)
Some reading on the trans swaps for the nailhead Transmission Options for the Nailhead | Centerville Auto Rep (nailheadbuick.com)
I'd have to think twice about putting a small block Chev in a decent 63 Riv that didn't have engine or transmisison in it or a nailhead that was repairable. While it might make for an inexpensive and good running driver it isn't going to have anywhere near the resale value that the nailhead has.

 

That 1 for sale looks like a nicely done swap. I wish they had a picture of under the motor to see what they did with the center link or made a different Pan. As far as the nailhead and dynaflow goes, he said,I could have it for free as he didn't want it But I think I'm going to pass on the job. I've just got to fix a few things in the dash as somebody pulled it and started rewiring stuff.

 

I'd keep the Nailhead, but a transmission upgrade might make sense if he is actually going to drive the finished Riviera.
A little care would be needed in the transmission/overdrive build to be sure it could handle the nailhead torque.
The rear axle ratio needs to be considered also, for cruising rpm and applying the nailhead torque while accelerating through the gears.

 

We had a customer with a Buick
Kept a nailhead. Updated the trans.
A great setup. Owner loved it.

 

I’ll trade a small block if customer doesn’t have one.

 

What a great swap... Said no one ever. His car and his money I guess. Heavy sigh.

 

That's fairly distressing.

Maybe he'd go for a Gear Vendor's ud/od instead.

 

I had a ‘63 Riv. There is no reason to change out the 401 nor the twin turbine transmission unless you want to race the damn thing. I loved the the torque of the engine and the smoothness of the transmission. I doubt a SBC would sound anywhere as nice. Just a terrible idea.

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Could be worse.

 

The breast reduction of engine swaps

 

Please don't

 

The customer is always right. Except when they're not. Bad idea, or big mistake?

 

Chevy in a Riv! No way. Talk him out of it.

 

I put a 401 nailhead into a Pontiac FB once.
my 66 GS rotted but ran good and the FB had a SBC with extra holes in the block.
Couple nights after work and one bitch of a drivers side exhaust manifold.

 

Keep the nailhead and find a 65-66 ST400 transmission. It should be a switch pitch, so in a way would be like the twin turbine which has switch pitch too. You guys can have the Dynaflow! Either go ST400 or 2004r with adapter.

 

I have a 61 Buick. Kept the 364 nailhead and put a TH350 in it. It has a 3.08 rear and is great to drive. I like SBC's but I would keep the nailhead and upgrade the tranny, while paying attention to the rear gear and tire size. A 700R4 with he right setup would make him love the nailhead.

Putting a SBC in that Buick chassis is not going to be easy. The combination of the X frame and the low hood will challenge your skills and his bank account.

 

I guess chopping, channeling, frenching, sectioning a car is easier than building an oil pan and pickup tube?

 

add an overdrive unit and call it a day?
maybe just talk the guy out of the car?

 

On Marketplace in N.C. on a later model chassis with unassembled 400 smallblock, $7K.

 

What is your customer smokin ?