Hey everyone, Just bought a '54 Buick Super with a freshly rebuilt 322 Nailhead and Dynaflow. It will be my daily-driver/project as soon as we can get a windshield to fit the 4" Chop. I have a 28 mile commute to work (mostly freeway). I want it to be as EFICIENT as possible. Not looking to make it haul ***, just want to be smart about it and get the most out of every over-priced drop of fuel. Engine is stock with a 2 barrel and lake pipes on stock exhaust manifolds(NOT headers). Any suggestions? Over/underdrive unit? ****** swap? 4BBL / multi-carb setup? HEI Distributor? Headers? Header wrap (drop under-hood temps)? I'm open to just about anything worth the money. Thanks for the help-
The windshield, as mentioned, is going to be a *******. Me and my dad are building a '52 Roadmaster, the windshield was cracked and replacements were something like $550. Then you have to have it cut. The hardest part is going to be making the rubber fit, the rubber windshield gasket for our Roadmaster was $220, and it's incredibly complex, with wiper shafts and stainless trim needing to be fit inside of it before it can be installed. I don't know how that's going to work with a chop. As for the efficiency, keep in mind that your car has a fully enclosed driveshaft with a wishbone that locates the rearend, so to swap the transmission you also have to swap the rearend, all of the rear suspension, and have a driveshaft made. A friend of mine has a '55 Buick with a big Caddy motor in it and had to replace everything to make it work. Do overdrive units actually exist for the Buick? I've seen them for Model A enclosed driveshafts, and those work surprisingly well, but I don't know that I've ever seen one for your car. There are some stick setups made for the early Nailheads that would be great for your car, they're rare to find though.
I would replace the carb with a Rochester 2G ....pretty easy to find and rebuild. You are pretty much stuck with that ******, if it works good keep it. From time to time I see stick set ups for that motor on eBay but you may not want to go through all that work. Sounds like a good project, good luck.
keep it as is.those dynaflows are bulletproof units.they will not responde quick but they do get the job that you need done. fun with you build and keep us posted,with pics of course!
I daily drive my 54 with all stock running gear. Just keep your foot out of the pedal and its not so bad. the money you would spend doing the ******/rear end/rear suspension conversion to get an OD trans could be better spent paying for gas instead. The dynaflow works great in my opnion. Although, if the PO said it was rebuilt, i'd hope you have an invoice for it, or take it with a grain of salt. Rebuilding a dyna is a lost art. And its really expensive. As for headers, they dont make them, so you would have to buy flanges and build your own. I'm out in Mesa on power and southern if you need anything.
I saw a 56 Buick in a parking lot 4 sale Monday ! If anyone in the Pa. area is looking for some parts for a 56 Buick 4 door with straight 8 , I do know where one is sitting for $995 . Rusted good but I think all the gl*** is there . He says it runs good . Has gas can hooked up so I would believe him . The back seat is full of trim . Just p***ing along the info ! Please PM for questions .
very good point about the saving gas money by slowing down. it may be worth your investment to put an electronic ignition on it. like petronix or mallory. it ****s changings points on the side of the road in the rain.
For tips on how to deal with the gl*** (this could be a tough problem) search the HAMB. A good late Rochester Q-jet will give good gas milage as long as you keep your foot out of it. If you can work an HEI into it with the proper curve, thats a plus. Don't bother with the headers unless you can find a set off of a 56 322, They work real well. Good Luck ,have fun, keep us informed.
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