55 Buick Special

I just bought it. I'm bringing the car home tomorrow. I also just became a member today. Here is what I know because I'm not very fluent in car talk. It's a 4 dr 55 Buick Special. There's no motor in it now...I know they originally came with a 322 nail head but me and my bf found a 401 nail head out of a 63 Wildcat 325hp with the trans (2 speed) The body was $400 and the motor w/ trans was $200. We don't know if the motor is seized yet. We're not bringing the motor home until the guy pulls it out of the wilcat for us then we'll pick it up. Here's the car and the motor

 

hell looks like a good start to me, good luck on your build!!!

 

Hey BB...

55 Specials came with a 264 and a Dynaflow. Your car is a tourback sedan. Putting in a 401 won't be a simple bolt in swap. The 264's torque tube will be different for starters, as will motor mounts and so on. I'm sure it could be done with some fab work.

An easier way would be to find a 264 or 322 out of a 54 to 56 car, that would be a simple bolt in deal. The dynaflows are different between 264's and 322's so keep that in mind.

I have that exact same car (55 Special Tourback) with the original 264 and I love it. Every time I take it out I come back with a smile on my face. It's possibly one of the best cruisers out there. It motors right along, but its never going to be a drag car. If that's what you want you might want to search out Jay Leno's 55 Roadmaster, he dropped in a giant crate motor with a modern tranny to push that 3 ton car around.

Tomo

 

I'm counting on my boyfriend to just tell me what to do as we go through this. He's on this forum as well. Moloko I know that it's not just a simple swap. I definately don't plan on drag racing it. (That's what my Thunderbird Turbo Coupe is for) I don't know too much about older cars yet. I'm learning as I go and just letting my boyfriend lead the way. I'm definately open to suggestions. My bf told me I can do whatever I want to it ( I want to put the 401 in somehow because my dad seems to like the idea) I know what color I want it and I know we're going to put air bags in it. And the only other thing I'm sure of is that we're putting a different rear in. Other than that only Moloko (my bf)knows what's going on with this car and I have to research and figure out what i want to do with it. That's my reason for joining the forum.

 

I feel like an idiot posting anything on here because I don't know much about cars. But I guess this is how I'm going to learn...

 

Cool ... It sounds like you have put some thought into this project. It will be fun. I'm not the world's foremost Buick expert by any means, but PM me if you need some help or info. There are tons of Buick posts on the HAMB so start reading..... Use that "search"

 

thanks toystoretom. I'm sure we'll need a lot of help.

 

I put a 401 in my '55 Special a few years back, along with a 4-speed. I kept the stock rear end and got rid of the torque tube. If I can be of any assistance, let me know and I'll try to help you out.

 

hey ,,I know that car ,,it was 264 3 speed,,the motor that was gonna go in it was a 322 though

 

Hey Bean, i have been doing this stuff for 41 years or so ,and I still don't know whats happening mopst of the time. I bought a 57 Buick last year and although it runs good I hate the Dynaflow.
Your in the right place to ask questions,they know most everyrthing here.

 

I think we're putting a different rear in and using something that works with the torque tube. I'll have the bf check out this thread and correct any wrong info i could give. But right now i'll take all the help, info, and suggestions i can get.

 

I recently put a Small Block Chevy, Turbo 350 and 10 bolt rear all out of a '79 El Camino in my wife's '56 Buick Special. All in all it wasn't a dificult swap. It has proven to be a fun car this summer.

If you would like any more info on this, feel free to PM me.

Have fun, Don

 

i just sold my 55

 

Well, I got the car home today... Our friend towed it for us on a flatbed trailer. Right now this car has no brakes, and no motor in it ofcourse so when we went to back it off the trailer into my yard we found out some fun stuff with the rear that's on there now. First of all, the tires that are on it are shot. One of them completely blew out on the ride home. That didn't help the situation much but that could be dealt with. The problem came in when we started to back it off the trailer the rear shifted forward and the tires caught on the frame stopping the car halfway down the ramp coming off the trailer. I don't know how the guys got it off the rest of the way cause I had to go to work but I came home tonight to find it parked and all parts intact...I was warned that a lot is going to go wrong in the process of fixing up this car but I wasn't expecting that...

 

Well that was simple, hun, I just laid under the car and ratchet strapped the rear back into place while the car was slowly rolling onto my head. Also, get the damn transport out of your sig, no one likes your space shuttle.

 

I guess I'll keep asking questions in this thread.... since you can keep an eye on me

Anyway, its going to be open driveline. I was actually horrified when I saw the rear suspension setup on this car. The rear control arms look like something off a swingset, but I couldn't get a real good look at it because the coils are shot and it was laying on the bump stops.

Looks like the hardest part of this whole car is going to be re-engineering that rear suspension to use a driveshaft, and not wrap itself around. I liked the idea someone said in the other thread about using chevy truck arms, and I guess I'll have to fab up some upper control arms out of tube.

 

BTW, the car originally was a 264 nailhead with a 3spd, not a dynaflow.

 

I have a 58 that I pulled the torque tube and rear end out of. this is how my friend set up the rear hope this helps. also I put a 425 nailhead in on the original motor mounts.

 

Well, hun, I changed my signature just for you. I hope you like it