Buick Nailhead transmission

I've got a chance to buy a 401 Buick Nailhead and the Buick Super Turbine 400 transmission. I have an A roadster that I thought would look and run real good with a Nailhead. I have a T-5 I was going to use, but I'm a little leary that it wouldn't be strong enough for the Buick. It is not a WC transmission. This motor is out of a 66 Skylark. Is there an adaptor for the T-5?

 

More specifics please. What's the intended use? Light duty street cruising? Part time drag strip duty? Or?

Bob

 

WC would be the way to go......I don't think your tranny will cut it. A stock Buick bellhousing and flywheel with a Chevy trans will work if you don't mind a four speed.
Do a search, there is lots of info on the HAMB

 

I don't plan on racing it, just driving around having fun and just acting like the teenager I was 60 years ago.

 

At least you have the ST400, which is otherwise known as the turbo 400. Good trans and if you decide to go manual, there will be someone with a nailhead that would be very happy to buy your ST400.

 

http://www.transmissionadapters.com/

Here you go

 

the nailheads are torque monsters, i had a 66 riv with a 425, it came stock with 465 ft/lb of torque, the stock auto trans never held up, i know a few people that went through more then one.

 

Wouldn't that be a "switch pitch" trans?

 

Shoot, I'd stick with the switch pitch. And if you're really wanting to pretend you're a teenager again bolt it up to a '39 Ford trans and start busting clusters.

 

I think in '66 you could get the switch pitch or the ST400. There are a few guys here that know a lot about Nailheads. I'm sure they will offer their advice

 

Your T-5 will be just fine as long as it's not an S-10 version. I ran a non WC behind my strong SBC and it's still going as far as I know. Ditch the old slushbox, for one it's really big and two fixing it will be tougher when it breaks.


Good Luck,

Tim

 

If the price is right I would recomend going the nailhead 401 route.
If the T400 is a switch pitch, so much the better, as you have the
best of both worlds, high stall for a quick launch and regular stall for
cruising.
I have the same set up in my roadster P.U. and its great. Lots of
umph with the stock engine. Shoe horning the engine in was tight,
but I'm able to run a full hood, so the engine is coverred.

 

Check out nailheadbuick.com they have all of the do's and don'ts on there.