Started my very first build yesterday! Pretty excited about it. I've seen lots of good pics and info on here so far!
That was my 1st car I bought when I 1st moved here to East T.N. was a very cool car with the straighr 8 motor.I dove it to work everyday.Bruce.
Kool ! Will watch your progress, have a 51 Roadmaster, restored stock, might turn it into a restored rod style, just thinking and talking out loud
I'm thinking lower her down some, maybe even a 2-3" chop as well. Maybe a ridiculous engine that has way too much power. haha. Looking at suspension upgrades too as far as bagged or not, parts from other cars, mustang 2 front etc.....Too damn many options, but that makes it fun right?
Lower it, fix it, drive it. paint it. First car I drove was a 53 Super, when I was 12. All I remember was my dad warning me to not tell my mom. Super in 53 was a V8, but the Special was still a straight 8, I think. First year for v8, too, I think.
Cool - it is easy to take stuff apart but, takes a lot longer and a lot of $$ to put it back together. set it up to drive for a while and enjoy it
Oh ya, I plan to drive the hell out of it. Yes I believe the 53 Super was the first V-8 and a nailhead at that. I'd like to put a modern engine in it tho and use the nailhead in a rat rod. Being the unique engine that it is, I think it'd be cool in an open front end to see it.
A 62 Buick rear end will fit and give you an open driveline but you will need to locate it with something like a 4 bar with panhard bar, or like I used, Art Morrison triangulated 4 bar system. The original rear springs will work but you will need to weld the spring mounts from the 53 to the top of the late axle or make bag mounts if you go that direction. The 322 will not match any late transmission but you can get an adapter from Centerville Auto Parts and Russ has a great web site about Nailhead Buicks. A 401 / 425 looks the same but NOTHING will interchange. It would be easier and cheaper to put a LS engine in it with a 700R4 and make up some valve covers that look like Buick than to install a 401. I really like the 1953 4 door Buick Super as they use the same body as the Roadmaster and Cadillac. I have a lot of pictures on my Flickr page along wit detailed explanations on the changes made to my 55 Buick that might help. https://www.flickr.com/photos/buickfan/albums/72157594218766363
If you decide to stick with the nailhead give Tony over at Ross Racing Engines a call. They build just about anything but have built some nice vintage motors of late including my '322. He got a surprising amount of power from the baby nailhead.
The Jalopy Journal
