1950 Buick moredoor buildup. Need lots of help.

Heeeeyyyy. I finally got my paws on a piece of vintage American tin. My buddy has this in his backyard for the last several years and finally realized he was gonna get around to it. So, I got it for a good price a drug it home.

 

Its got the straight 8 in it and its locked up. My plans for it is to get it running and driving as cheaply as possible, lay it on its nuts probably with air, and cruise the **** out of it to as many shows as possible. I'm not doing anything to the exterior. At least for the near future. I just wanna make the interior really nice and leave it crusty outside. I'm a broke **** single dad that needs to get as much bang for the buck. I'm gonna need alot of help here. I'm having alot a mixed feelings on what to do for a drivtrain and suspenion. Thanks, Derek

 

SO, this thing is super complete and very solid. The floors have some rust issues but the rest of the car is very very rust free and i dont think has ever been hit.

 

Got it dragged out and on the trailer It all mine *****es!!!

 

So, got it home and cleaned it out. Front floors were waisted so we cut them out. Pulled out the whole interior.

 

A couple guys did a couple photoshops. I know you guys love the deucedeuce style.

 

Pulled the front sheet metal off in preparation for engine removal

 

And the engine is on its way out

 

So I was thinking about putting in a 500inch Caddy motor and trans. I can pic this one up for almost nothing. Thoughts?

 

I don't know if it would fit but that 500 would be super cool in there.

 

Cool car why not rebuild the eight?

 

Changing from the straight 8 you're going to need to do an open driveline conversion, i.e. a whole new rear suspension...

And get rid of the rust on the body...

 

Great find, gotto luv those Buicks !

 

Ok, so heres the goal for this project
1. To make it as reliable as possible to be able to cruise it to anywhere in the US.
2. To use a drivetrain that can easily be repaired from common auto parts stores.
3. Spend as little as possible. I'm on a tight budget. Single dad, part time work, slow season in Vegas = need to keep it cheap
4. I'd really like to be able to tow my VW on a small trailer. Maybe 3000 lbs. So the motor, ******, rear end, and suspension needs to handle it
5. Not to make it too gay buy using stuff like an S10 ch***is or a 350. I'm not gonna run stock, but it has to be kinda cool too. Unusual enough to be cool, but not too unusual as not to be able to find parts easily
6. Be on the road in a couple months

For the motor: Im thinking 500 Caddy motor. I can get one for $100 and it fits the camaro subframe. Its unsual but not too unusual
For the ******: I need a ****** that will handle the motor power and to tow 3000lbs and connect to a Caddy motor. Any ideas?
For the front suspension: I'm thinking about a Camaro subframe. Cheap, not too hard, easy to get parts for, can airbag, will fit a 500 Caddy motor
Rear suspension. Use truck trailing arms for extra strenght and airbag it.
Rear axle: Not sure. Need something narrow enough for a Buick and strong enough for the Caddy motor and to tow with. Any ideas?

 

I have the same car(well almst ours isnt a fast back). Your def gonna love it. I have to agree with mcnally351, if your trying to save money id try to see if you can free up the old 8. looking forward to seeing your progress and ill be posting ours as we go. Good Luck and more importantly just have FUN!

 

Good luck with the project and keep us updated.

 

I too have a 50 Buick moredoor. Keep the str8, that motor is cool as hell and sounds bad *** straight piped to the rear bumper! By the way that car is in amazing shape, but I do live in CT where the weather eats old tin for breakfast. Good luck with it they are wicked fun!
Chuck

 

Anything will fit if you got a big enough shoe horn. I've seen hemis in dueces with a full hood.

Anyway a little off topic for the thread I guess. Sorry 'bout that.

The big caddy may be a little work but it is a pretty good choice for the old boat.

The answer to that seems pretty simple.

The clincher on the caddy deal is if it is in good shape or not.
For a rear I think we used one out of a late model Trans Am when we did my buddy Joes '51.

You should have parallel leafs so it is just a matter of cleaning up the rear you use and putting spring perches on it. You'll also need a drive shaft built.

I'll call Joe and see if he remembers what rear we used. I certainly don't recall. But I know it was a U pull it rear that he got for little of nothing. I think less than a hundred dollar bill.

 

I have a 2 door sedanette, running a 1977 425 Caddy...I bought a complete cad for 200.00, used the engine, t400 and rear, even came with disc brakes in the rear. Maybe check craigslist for a complete donor car to save $, The 500 cad is the same as my 425 except bigger inside. I did use a fatman clip, but a Nove sub would be good.

 

I have a straight 8 sitting on my trailer out back . It was running when I pulled it out. Just saying, not sure what the shipping cost would be though

 

Its been awhile since my last post. Life has been f-ing chaotic. I ended up cutting off the OG front clip and putting on the Camero clip. And i Z'd it when I put it on so it will lay frame when aired out. So, for now, I've oblt got $150 invested into the ch***is work yet. For now i just pulled the torque tube and rear end out completely and just let the frame lay flat on the floor to make sure the tront suspension would lay out all the way. Now to work on the rear. I'm pickung up a $50 rearend and some free chevy truck rear trailing arms to mount to the rear. Remember this is the super duper budget build.

 

Do you know what size. Straight 8 you had in there? 248 or 320? And is it still available? I am looking for a 320 core.

Nice car by the way. I have a 1940 limited. Have fun with the project

 

Take a look at 78' Lincoln 9" with your trailing arm suspension. Fit should be close and it came with disc brakes.
I have a 48' convertible and I am using the same.
Good luck with your ride...it's going to be awesome.

 

Subscribed! I'm getting into a similar deal very soon and doing lots of research....

very similar plan though. 1950 4 door Buick, camaro subframe Z'd in, bags...etc.
Thinkin of either a 425 nailhead or a 455 though...just to keep it Buick.

Good luck with it! I may be asking a few questions in the near future!

 

-Not to point out the obvious, but do NOT throw those floor sections out, at least not until You have their fresh replacements welded in place, in the car.
No matter how crispy they may look. They´ll be most valuable as patterns for fabricating Your replacement pieces.
Even if You´re using some kind of pre-stamped patch panels, there´s a fair chance You´ll want to refer back to how that floor was before...

I like the idea of the Caddy 500. Esp. at $100 if that´s what it can be had at.
As for the rest of the drivetrain, a TH400 should work fine for You, and not too expensive to overhaul if need be. Find out what Your rear hub-to-hub measurement is, then find the closest, coil-sprung match to that.

 

A Caprice sedan rear axle is the same width as your stock rear and with coils too.

 

I was gonna suggest that. The "box" -caprice sedan (pre-´91) that is.
Furthermore, see if You can cut the whole rear crossmember off the Caprice and meld that in Your Buick´s existing frame. That would get You all the proper mounting points for Your upper ctrl-arms, shock mounts, and spring pockets as one, properly aligned unit.
Also, if it´s a police/taxi/fire chief car or a Caprice Cl***ic Brougham, it´ll have what is called the "F41 Sport Suspension" -option which will get You a rear stabilizer bar and the "B-O-P" 5x5" bolt-pattern rear hubs.

 

I have a 49 Buick sedanet 2 dr fastback with a 472 Cad and a Trans Am sub with a Cad posi rear end. It isn't finished yet but it will be cool when done. Pretty much same as yours. Keep posting as you go.

 

by all means keep the straight 8!! It is a bullet proof motor and there is a slim chance that you can recover it by simply pulling the head and freeing up the pistons. Also, you might have good luck finding a good used engine in a wrecking yard. Do be careful however, if you have a standard transmission, a crank from a dynoflow equipped engine will not work without some expensive crank work. Also, do not use an engine before '49 as they had babbit bearings...not good. Even if you have to do a partial rebuild such as bore it and new pistons, you will be many dollars ahead of trying to go to an engine swap with all the ***ociated problems of drive shafts, rear suspension, springs, etc.. Believe me, I have been there, done that and don't want to do it again unless there is a real strong reason to do so. I would suggest that you check out "Inliners International" on the web....this is a sizeable group of people who know and use "inline" engines. A great source of information. Good luck on your project. Capt. Earle

 

Any updates?