I have a project car that I am searching engine options for. I have access to a 59 Buick 364 Nailhead and transmission. I have heard the engine run, but the car is not drivable. It supposedly has a "twin turbine" automatic which I don't know about and there does not seem to be any simple transmission swaps for these engines. The trans may work fine, really don't know but if I was to go that route, are these transmissions any good and/or rebuildable? Parts available? This is going to be driver type car so the performance is not important. Thanks in advance.
Buick had the Dynaflow torque tube transmission in 1959. The Dynaflow continued thru 1963, with the torque tube thru 1960. The Nailhead went to a ST-400 (Buick speak for Turbo 400) in 1964, and using the switch pitch in 1965-66. If your project car has an open rear, a 1961-63 Dynaflow is a bolt in swap, but not a favored transmission as they had a lot of issues. Converting to a ST-400 requires a special flex plate, crank adapter, and starter.
Wow, I have worked on a 58 Buick long ago with the torque tube, what a pain that was. I thought maybe they quit that by 59, but I guess not. Sounds like the ST-400 is the way to go but is the flex plate, crank adapter, starter hard to find/expensive? And a 64 only? Thanks so much. There is such great info here. You guys have saved me so much time and money over the years, I really appreciate it.
Like others have mentioned, your Buick has a Dynaflow transmission. It has 2 gears plus reverse. However, when put in drive the transmission is in high gear and stays there. All torque multiplication is done in the twin turbine torque convertor. It is super smooth because it never really shifts. Someone mentioned that they were problematic, but I don't remember that. The only problems I remember with Dynaflows are leaks and really no more than other transmissions. Other than that, they run forever.
Somewhere recently I saw a " car magazine" I think it was, of a performance test , Buick against Oldsmobile, Dynaflow and Hydramatic, in which the Buick/Dynaflow bested the Olds. FWIW. Ben
I remember the first Dynaflows behind the straight 8's to be pretty sluggish at low speeds. My Uncle bought a new 62 Electra and when it was a few years old (maybe 7 or 8 years) it became the delivery car for the grocery store. I drove it quite a bit in town and that car wasn't sluggish at all.
I knew a guy in 61 with a Henry J with a 364 Buick and Dynaflow on the street. Nothing could touch it. It didn’t stop for **** tho. I worked for his family owned Hamburger stand.
The ST-400 with the Nailhead bolt pattern was made 3 years- 64, 65,and 66. The 64 was a one year only, and used a turbo 400 style converter. The 65-66 model used a 2 speed torque converter, hence the name switch pitch. The 64 model, although 3 speed, only had D and L selection. The 65-66 had D 2 L as choices. A good explanation of that, plus the required parts, are available from Russ Martin at Centervilleautorepair.com
years ago, a close friend of mine was a professional GM mechanic and specialized in automatic transmissions. I recall it was his opinion that the Triple Turbine Dynaflow was a very good transmission, certainly the best of the breed. Ray
Dynaslow. Not a bad trans if in a cruiser. Not a performance trans though. If you want performance, go the ST400 route (or SP400 switch pitch). Since most Dynaslows are around 60 years old, they leak due to age. They're also pretty heavy weight wise. Even better, if set on a Nailhead, get a 401 or 425 with the ST/SP400 trans. Lot more parts for the 401/425 engines. The 364 is kind of limited for high performance parts.
Drove a 58 Buick Super for a while. 364 was strong, but whenever I got on it, I didn't like hearing the RPMs going up without much of an increase of forward motion. Felt sloppy. Grew up riding in Buicks in the 50s and 60s. My Mom liked that she couldn't "feel all that jerking around". My Dad got tired of having Dynaflows rebuilt on every Buick he ever owned. Maybe that's why he always drove easy. When he traded for a 61 Bonneville with an automatic, I loved it. My Mom hated that car, cause of the way it felt when shifting gears. My Dad finally started driving more aggressively, I guess cause he wasn't afraid of another Dynaflow ****ping out on him. Until he blew a hole in a piston in that 389. No more Buicks for him.
I have repaired quite few dynaflows. What i have noticing is that torque conventer total end play is always way over max specs. There is so many stacked moving parts...stators impellers etc and they all have thrust bearings.
Weird! The '59 Invicta and the '66 Electra would leave black marks on the pavement. Still have knots on my head from something in the right front seat. Ben
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