Hey guys, just joined this morning and posted my intro on the New to the HAMB thread, so I guess it's time to start asking questions! I picked up my new project about 4 months ago - a '56 Century - and have been thinking hard about what I'd like to do with the car. I'm thinking about outfitting the '56 with a 455 and T400 trans from an early 70s (preferably 1970) Buick. The '56 has a non-running 40-series 322 in it and the entire drivetrain, but after doing some research, I found that nailhead parts aren't always readily available or cheap! My goal with the car is to keep it all Buick and make it a solid, dependable daily driver that I don't have to worry about finding engine/tans/diff parts for 10 or 15 years down the road. I've already found several donor cars that I can use, but before I take the plunge, I need to determine exactly what will be required for this swap, which will determine whether I truly want to do it. I scoured the H.A.M.B. and other forums and found some info on this swap, but nothing very specific about what exactly the swap entails. I have seen a few people say the best way is to transplant the body on a 68-73 station wagon rolling chasis, but I'd prefer to keep the original frame. So, I have a couple questions for the pros here. 1. What is required to put a 455/T400 into a '56 Buick Century (2D HT)? Specifically, is there a great deal of fabrication/modification involved for motor mounts, ****** mounts, etc.? Will the wider 455 interfere with the steering box, etc.? Are there any resources that discuss this swap or parts suppliers that make any mount kits, etc.? 2. What driveshaft would be best to use? Could I use the driveshaft out of the donor car? I'm ***uming it will have to be shortened a bit. 3. What rear end can I use that is a good match for the 455/T400? I'm looking to get a rear end that will fit the car with as little fab/mod as possible. I'm not afraid of the fab/mod required, I'd just like to keep it to a minimum. Thanks in advance for all your help! Mike
A friend of mine has a 500 inch Cadillac engine in his '55 Roadmaster. You have to build a new rear suspension from scratch, since the torque tube locates the rear end in the stock setup. To use his Caddy engine, he had to cut down the height of the engine cradle for clearance, and it's still tight. The Dynaflow isn't as tall as the TH400, so the trans was hitting the top of the trans tunnel in the floor. That was throwing the engine angle off. They are also modifying a steering rack from something, I think for clearance issues. It'll be cool when it's done, but it's a ton of work. There aren't any simple swaps for the 50's Buicks. If it's what you really want, it can be done, but if you're doing this to "simplify" the car or to make it cheaper, that's going to be really tough.
The Buick Skyhawks of the 70's used a torque bar that went from the rear end to the transmission (TH350). I have the manual and want to explore the possiblity of using something like that in a Buick torque tube car. You might be able to do this in lieu of a complete new rear suspension. I would think you would just add the torque bar adjacent to the open driveshaft. The old Buick torque tube could be removed and a standard driveshaft would be used with the original torque tube rear end. Might be worthwhile investigating. Maybe you can mate the old Dynaflow up to the BOP patterned 455. Nah!
1st off parts aren't hard to find for the 322, maybe not on the shelf in your local parts store, but a mere phone call away. Now the dynaflow can be a pain, if it's a 3 speed car I'd lean real heavy towards keeping it. But to put a 455 in... There are going to be clearance issues, but with the right exhaust manifolds and motor mounts you should be ok. The mounts will have to fabricated, you can't just buy them. You'll have to fab a trans mount as well. Rear end. I'd say a 80's Caprice would be a good rear and keep the 5 on 5 bolt pattern. You can do the rear suspension a number of ways. I'd lean towards a set of NASCAR style trailing arms and the stock coil springs and panhard bar.
I used a chevy 1500 truck rear 70-mid 80's in my 53 Caddy it was a straight up swap 64 inches wide same as the caddy rear and 5x5 bolt pattern. I am running a bbc in my car .
That's what my buddy's 55 Buick Roadmaster used, it fit really nice. But the car in question is a Century, and I think they have a narrower tread width. Would have to check that out first.
Thanks for all the info guys, this is very helpful. I can safely say I've officially walked away from the 455 swap - it's just more than I want to get into. On another forum, someone mentioned replacing the 322 with a 425. I'm researching that now to see how involved that would be. Anyone here done that swap or know someone that has? Any info I can find, I'm happy to have! Thanks again guys - I'll keep you posted. Mike
A 350 Chevy/TH350 auto makes a nice swap into these cars. Commercial front engine mounts bolt to the block and use fabricated frame mounts with bisquit rubbers. Rear ****** mount is fabricated but is very simple and bolts into the X member using the factory crossmember holes. No floor mods are necessary, but front crossmember must be cut to provide clearance for the fuel pump, or an electric pump used. Starter, exhaust, steering, etc. no problem with manual steering, don't know about power steering. I used a '77 Chevelle rear axle with Chevelle-style unequal length 4-bar setup and coil springs. Fab work done by Carl's Custom Cars in Red Oak, Texas. I don't have photos of the engine mounts, but here's a little info you might find helpful: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=13189 I get a lot of **** from the "like-into-like" crowd for using a Chevy, but I'm very happy with the whole setup. Hope this helps.
I swapped a 455 Olds into my 55 Caddy. Should be similar frames. Only problem was Olds starter on drivers side trying to occupy the space the caddy steering box was using. Made simple engine mounts, & trans mount was a plate welded to the front of the short Caddy trans mount bracket.
The hard part is the rear end and new rear suspension. The engine swap is cake. Wether it's a 455 or a 425. I prefer the 425 personally. The car already had a drivers side starter so there is adequate room. The 425 is narrower and an easier fit than a 455.
I am working to transplant a '70 Buick 455/t400 into a 55 Century 4 door riv and am hoping to use a 69 Riv 342 posi. Not sure what is going to happen with the torque tube yet... Looking into air bags and 4 link setup now and will share learnings as I come across them over the next few months. Good Luck with your '56! Jim 55Buick455 Seattle
Hi all, the 70 455 went into my 55 Buick Century easily with no mods except the motor mounts and the torque tube is long gone. Turbo 400 freshly rebuilt and a ford 9" 3.50 posi is 4 linked and installed. Next will be 4 wheel discs and air ride then the car goes back together for some burn outs. Anyone out there have a similar rig? Jim 55Buick455 Seattle
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