I recently picked up a 322 Buick V8 (early nailhead) and hauled it to a guy across town. Over lunch, we were talking about those motors and the subject of what transmissions can go behind them came up. I know that the later (401-425) nailheads used a variation of the TH-400, but what are the options for the earliest nailheads? (The guy I got the motor from didn't have a transmission to go with it, but all he had to offer was that the original automatics (Dynaflow, I believe?) were "total garbage" in his opinion, so he didn't save the ****** when he yanked the motor.) Were these early nailheads available with manual transmissions from the factory in the early/mid 50s? I know that there are adaptors to use early Ford manual transmissions behind 'em (as the motor's new owner intends to do)...but did GM have anything to offer back when?? I think a small cube nailhead like that would be great with a five speed behind it, but from the look of the block casting, I think that might be a tough swap...anyone done it?? Just curious...it was a very cool looking engine, and it got me to wondering if any 'modern' open drive transmissions could bolt up to it. The dude who bought the motor didn't know, but he said hooking them to old Ford drivetrains wasn't tough. How 'bout it...can ya go modern with an early nailmotor???
The factory did indeed put a manual tranmission behind these. The Century/Roadmaster ****** is the one to have. The ****** in the Special was pretty weak. There are also aftermarket bellhousings available (Think swap meet or Ebay) to put the Century ****** behind them as well as one to put a later model T-10/Muncie or even a late model Five speed back there. I've been shopping for the T-10 Bellhousing but may end up machining my Century /Roadmaster bell to take a five speed. Unless someone has a Roadmaster ****** taking up space under the bench they want to unload (Wink,wink)
I have seen '53-'56 standard shift bell housings modified to take a modern 3/4/5 speed. The center hole has to be enlarged, and the transmission centered on the bell so that two new holes can be drilled for the lower transmision ears. Aftermarket adapters for anything other than '32-'48 Ford trans are few, far between, and expensive. I settled for a cracked Transdapt for '55-up GM transmissions and had a friend TIG weld it for me. I believe there's a stock early stick bell on Ebay right now.
By the way, the casting number on the early factory bells I have seen is 1345121. There is also a bell on Ebay from a nailhead powered Chevy medium duty truck (they did that through '59), but I'm not sure about depth problems trying to adapt a p***enger car trans to it.
Thanks for the good info so quickly, guys! It seems that when the old 322 motors come up for sale, they can be had REAL cheap (as I've found out!) and knowing that it IS possible to run a five speed behind one is pretty cool! I like these motors alot, and when I come across another one for a song, I may be tempted to stash it away for myself! Thanks again!
As you've found out, the bellhousing mount for the 264/322 ('53-'56) is unique for these engines. Special transmissions (264, though everything pretty much interchanges, but the flywheels are balanced differently), has a 5-bolt cover on the top of it. The Bigger 322 manual trans has a 6-bolt cover. They required different bellhousings. The 6-bolt cover, as Stevie said, is the one to have, and hard to find. Those transmissions are 3spds. Besides the early Ford Flathead trans adapters, there are a couple other options (swaps and ebay). I have a Cragar bell that adapts a later '57-early '60s Ford (and have a 3spd OD manual trans to go with it). From here I also got a Trans Dapt to Chevy TRUCK 3/4spd. From everything I can find, the mounting pattern is the same as a car 4spd, but the bottom holes are secured with a nut from behind, rather than the bolt threaded into the bellhousing. I'll probably weld a slug into the hole/drill/tap it. Watch ebay for a while--they pop up a few times a year. Typical price seems to be around $235+ for the bellhousing. Unless you find one with it, you'll need to have a new pilot bushing made to plug into the back of the crank. the bottom of the bellhousing, oil-pan side, is open on both my Cragar and Trans Dapt. There are no bosses on the Cragar to secure the stock sheetmetal cover that covers the lower half of the flywheel. I think there are bosses on the Trans Dapt, but I'm not sure if it uses the Dynaflow torque converter cover, or the stock manual trans sheetmetal cover. I kept both of mine to figure that out when I get there...but if you come across a sheetmetal Dynaflow torque converter cover, might be good to grab it. -Brad
They are probably really rare, but the GMC school buses I rode in during the late '50s had 322 Buicks with a 5 speed truck transmission behind them
Another rare possibility - the manual trans behind the 264 in my '55 Buick had the same bolt pattern as early '50's Pontiac 3-speeds. I cracked the case in mine and found a Pontiac 3 speed; changed the tail-shaft to the Buick torque tube and had no problems That would be an simple way to convert a Buick to open drive line - if it was still 1960 and you could find stick-shift 50's Pontiacs in junk yards Of course the Pontiac trans wasn't the stongest gear box ever built, and IIRC it also had that goofy shift-lever arrangement the Olds and Buick had I don't know, but I'd guess the 264's had the same bell-housing pattern as the 322's
While we're at it...and just for yucks...is there any way to to put a "modern" automatic behind a 322 nailhead? Something like the "Flatmatic" conversions to run C4 ******s behind Ford flatheads, only in this case, say a TH-350 or Powerglide behind a 322??? (Might as well keep all the possibilities in one thread!!)
Can the 5 bolt case be upgraded to be as good as the 6 ? or is it a totally different animal? Could a Lasalle box be fitted with the torque tube tailshaft and used?
I've got a low mile 61'401 with a factory stock "dual-path" hydra-matic behind it. I'm going to try running the original ******. If I'm not happy with it, I'll do a more modern conversion. Time will tell. Good luck with yours!
If yer looking for a 5 speed behind a 322, I see no reason why an Offy adapter for a toploader 3 speed couldn't be bolted up to a flathead to T5 adapter. All the spacing should be perfect. I have all the parts and I've done all the measuring, just haven't had the time to do the swap on my roadster. I know I know, it's just another idea that hasn't been done yet, but you said you were lookin for options.
There are really no upgrades to be made to the three speed with the five bolt top cover, other than finding a rare Ansen or Drag Fast floor shift conversion for it. The larger, six bolt trans is the same basic design as the '51-'63 Olds standard transmissions, as well as the '36-'38 Roadmaster floor shift transmission.
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