My brother has a 50 Buick fastback, it just feels like it needs to go to 4th gear on the interstate but of course there isnt one. Can a 5 speed be installed in it's place?? Has anyone ever done a swap on such, it has a straight 8 in it.
The Buick has an enclosed driveshaft/torque tube. This means you will need to change the driveshaft to a regular open style or convert a 4-5spd transmission to closed drive. Most people convert the drive shaft to open, but this means you also need to take into account the rear end. Although most people swap the whole rear out for an open drive shaft style rear, a few guys on the 'v8Buick board have converted their original rear to open style. You will also need to purchase or fabricate and engine to transmission adapter. As far as I know, Bendstedt (sp?) is the only who make one, although you could contact WilCap as they make some less than common stuff also. Another option would be to contact GearVendors and see if they can make and adapter to use their overdrive on the original transmission, then you might only need to shorten the torquetube/driveshaft. Any way you chose will require a fair amount of fabriction/work. Another option is to check what ring and pinions from other years and or an automatic will fit. I know in the fifties, the automatic cars ran different gear rations than the stick shift cars did. This may be enough of a difference to help and might be the cheapest/easiest way out. p.s. just going to a 4spd will not necessarily give you an overdrive/lowering the engine speed at highway/cruise speeds. SOme 4spds were overdrives but not too many.
How so? Every torque tube setup I've seen ('cept for early Fords) is a pair of parallel leaf springs. Is the Buick set up differently?
Yes, Buick is much like the early Fords with wishbones that mount to the toque tube. This is where the idea of a G.V. overdrive and just shortening the torque tube would save some fabrication. It is similar to putting in a 1940 ford rear and torque tube into a model A or '32. SHorten the rear of the shaft (or cut, sleeve, and weld the shaft) then take a section out infront of the wishbone mount. Althought there is some work to be done here, there is no need to engineer a new rear suspension, swap rear housing, have a driveshaft made new, new brakes etc... This may not be best for everyone, but should work for some people.
I believe the '50 buick is an x frame. If it's anything like my '57 then the gear vendors unit isn't gonna fit....
Check this out http://gamma.nic.fi/%7Emarlin/august01.htm If putting a manual back in, the bell housing can be modified to accept it.
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