After seeing the threads lately this might be off topic because it doesnt contain BASHING, asking about money or who is VON DUTCH?. But I will ask anyway. What are decient/ popular swaps for early 60's buicks with small V8's? I am not looking to pitch the fine running motor but it just wont suit my needs. Do these swaps reqire anything special ect? thanks
Uhhh...early 60's Buicks need Buick muscle.... 401 or 425 Nailhead muscle to be exact... basic swap stuff.... any particulars?
can you stuff a 401 into the smaller body styles ? What about the rest of the drive train, bigger ******, diffrent rear? thanks
How small are we talking here? 65 Skylark small....or 62 Special small? Either way it can be done. I've aways wanted to stuff a 455 into an early sixties Special and last year someone did it and got into most of the major mags (Well....Primedia anyway).
62 SPECIAL/SKYLARK WAGON I am worried a 215 will struggle with AC and a car loaded down with the family and surfboards. Plus why not have a big motor? I want a sleeper/hotrod. thanks
A 430/455 would be different, and less headaches on getting a trans than a nailhead. Would definately need to beef the rear up though, cooling system too. Front springs, brakes...lots of work. Might just behoove you to find a 300/340 from a late 60's LeSabre and drop it in. Same motor externally, I believe. Iron block on those though.
Iron block puts you right back into the spring thing, trans for the Nailhead really isn't that hard to find.
The later 60s Buick motor doesn't have the "charm" and following that the nailhead has, but makes kick*** torque in every form, kick*** power when leaned on a little, and is very lightweight for a motor of its size. Besides that, it hooks to the ever-popular Turbohydromatic transmissions, or a manual if you think that a better plan. I guess in the end you have to decide whether style or performance is the driving criterion.
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