Buick Build thoughts?

I can't believe I'm doing one of those stupid "How should I build my car?" posts. But here it goes:

I've got a '54 Special. I've got a '56 322 that I was going to build for it. Not happy with the pistons that are out there, so I was going to have a set made. Since I was going to have forged pistons made, I figured I could move the pin location, offset grind the crank .250-inch and use Small Block Chevy rods. All said and done, it comes to 350 cubic inches. I could also just put in the set of vintage .060-over pistons I've got for it and be done with it--I never know when to say "When."
I found an NOS '56 cam BLANK, so I was going to send it to COMP. Planned on doing some fancy things with the valves, valve springs and then putting in 401 aluminum 1.6 rockers. Cast iron '56 exhaust manfiolds that look like cast iron headers with 2.5-inch openings. Weiand 2x4 intake.
I've got a flywheel for the 322, and a Cragar-to-'60s Ford 3spd manual trans. I've got a 3spd manual overdrive trans.
I've also got a Chevy 3spd OD manual, and will run it with the shifter on the column ('56 Chevy column, which I already have) if I can find a bellhousing for it.


New problem: The 364 Nailhead I just got will probably run with a budget rebuild. Don't know for sure, but it turns with a bar on the crank, and it ran when parked. Made 300hp and 400lb/ft of torque from the factory--that's without a dual carb intake, Pertronix ignition, headers, 1.6 rockers, cam, bigger valves, etc.
There are modern auto trans adapters available for this engine, as well as Marty's new bellhousings for the Chevy trans.

Questions: would the car be better with a modern OD trans and decent rebuild on the 364, should I stick with the 322 and manual column-shift trans?

Other things to consider:
Cast iron manifolds for the 322, have to have headers made for the 364.
Can run an ididit tilt column with the 364.
I'll be converting to open driveline, so that isn't going to be a factor.

Thoughts, advise and comments would really be nice from some guys who probably understand what I'm going after--not from the crowd who just says "Go with a 455 or a small block Chevy." The point is to have a cool cruiser, not a race car. I plan on driving it as my daily when it's on the road, so the overdrive trans is the source of all my problems (manual or auto)

Thanks,
-Brad

 

No subs***ute for cubes, the old saying goes. Cubes are good. I switched the 364 in my 60 LeSabre out for a 401 out of a 60 Electra. 100 extra hp and ft/lbs of torque really picked the beast up.

My cheap *** would go the cheap *** route, fix the 364, drop it in, and be done.

Save the 322 and related stuff for a hairy yet fun roadster or sedan or 32 or 5w project.

 

I also have a 54 BuickSUPER project["would be"Woodie]thats miles down the road from now......OH WELL.....
I would suggest the 364 and a modern trans/open rear end treatment.
These are not suited to high performance anyway as they are heavy as three cars!
Mine will have a stock 322 and 3 sp stick from an 81 chevy OneTon and an open chevy rear end.I have a 67 impala[no key]3 speed column for mine.......also have some Caddy wire wheels too!

 

I'd do the 364 with a S/P400 out of a Rivi instead of the modern overdrive. I'm not a fan of the adapters they make. You can use any of the cast iron exhaust manifolds from the 364,401, or 425 for it if you don't want to go throught the h***le of making headers. The Nailhead has enough torque to pull a taller rear gear than your average small block offsetting the need for the overdrive.

 

Choprods: Your project sounds a ton like what I was originally going for with mine--period correct, looks like it just rolled out of 1959. I was/might still convert to 4wheel aluminum drums. I've got a trunk-mount A/C system, too.

I hadn't thought about the Nailhead making enough torque to pull the highway gear off the line--good point. It's not gonna be a race car or anything, but...still, an old custom car is still supposed to at keast make your head move when the light turns red!

Why specifically don't you like the trans adapter plates?

-Brad

 

I love your plan for the 322 engine...but I'd save that particular motor for a lighter car down the road and go with the 364 in the 54 instead. I think it's cool that you want to trick out the 322 like that, but you'd likely get more out of it if you dropped it into a svelt roadster or something.

The 54 needs some ooomph to get it rolling, using the 364 backed with a 700R4 would give you a torquey mill with a lower first gear to get off the line and the benefit of an overdrive for highway cruising. I'm not usually a fan of overdrive autos, but it seems right on the money for this project.

 

Brad- we may have to sell the farm just to rechrome the grille and 2 bumpers!thats the killer on these cars............damn sure wouldnt wanna paint em......

 

The Nailhead has about 2 inches of bellhousing built into the back of the block. That makes the bellhousing on the ****** about 2 inches to long. Depending on the adapter it either uses a spacer on the back of the crank/and or two flexplates. I just don't like the idea of the spacer on the end of the crank. Don't think it'll be reliable under a real driver. If someone did something along the lines of a superbell for the Nailhead I could see it. But you can pick up a good switch pitch or turbo 400 for a Nailhead pretty reasonable.

 

I'm 15 and I have a 72 chevy C-10, extremly easy to work on. In the proccess of swappin the 250-6 banger for a sbc 350. If you can, get a 67 to 72 chevy c-10, all parts interchange and they are extremly plentiful and can be had for cheap. I bought mine with 65,000 original miles for 1 grand

 

And this has what to do with a 54 Buick?

Drop the 364 in and run it.
worry about the 322 later.

DRIVE IT!!
You know you want to.