Technical 69 Nailhead in a 60 LeSabre?

Hi all,

I posted a while back about my father's '60 LeSabre, which had a piston disintegrate. It's not an original engine to begin with, so rather than rebuild that block I'm looking into a replacement engine.

We found a '63 401 from a one-owner car that needs a rebuild, and brought it to a local machine shop. The owner said the rebuild would be upwards of $3000, and offered us an alternative. Someone had brought him a 69 Nailhead and had it built up into a 375 HP engine, then skipped out on the bill. That was two years ago, so now he's selling the engine.

So, here's my question: I know the bellhousing is different on this engine. That would normally mean chancing out the auto trans, and then the driveshaft and rear end, but my father doesn't want to open that can of worms. I told him I'd get on here and see if there are any alternatives.

Is it possible to run this engine with the existing transmission? Maybe an adapter plate? And if so, would that Dynaflow and stock rear be able to handle the 375HP engine, considering it'll be driven pretty conservatively?

Thanks for any suggestions or opinions.

Nick

 

I don't consider anything Buick made in 1969 to be a "nailhead", what most of us here would call a nailhead ended production after 1966. What cubic inch is the '69 engine? That will go a long way in figuring out what will fit and what won't.

However, most adapters are made to eliminate the Dynaflow and enclosed driveshaft, I have never heard of any adapters to put any kind of other engine ONTO the stock trans, although I suppose it could be done, probably not going to be cheap or easy though.

 

On the receipt for the work done, the engine is listed as a 430 and had been bored .30 over.

Think it's worth it to go all the way and switch out the trans/driveshaft/rear end? Anyone who's done this conversion before want to weigh in?

 

Nailheads have valve cover mounting surfaces that are very nearly horizontal.
Later Buicks have mounting surfaces at 45º to the horizontal.

Cosmo

 

Using the 430 would allow you to use TH400, TH350, or 2004r transmissions without adapters. As far as the driveline/rear end, well using 60-72 Chevy truck trailing arm setup would be what I would look into. Some welding needed but fairly simple. They have kits for the trailing arms and bracketry.

 

why would you change the driveline and rear end, I think 60 was an open driveline and the rear end is more than strong enough.

 

60 was last year for the TORQUE TUBE drivelines. 61- up are open drivelines.

 

Thank god for that.I hated the torque tube drive line.In the earlier buicks.Bruce.