I'm looking into a 66 Buick Electra Convert, said to be "for parts" but "engine runs"; $250 Canadian "firm". Okay, at that price, I'm not looking to restore. I AM interested in that nailhead (dunno yet whether 401 or 425). I'm sold on torque (sorry lil flatheads, you'll prob'ly have to go to finance motor and build up and things). I digress. I DO want to shift my own gears. Everything I've read says that the toploader was one of the strongest gearboxes ever. Sounds MADE for this motor. How hard to lash up$$?? Could I do up a plate btw motor and a ford (GM?) bellhousing? I've heard reference to a Lakewood ****tershield used as a big old adapter. Does a 66 crank even have have provision for a pilot bushing? Then, I think(?) I want to do a top shift conversion on the toploader.
Not impossible by any means, but probably not cheap, and likely to need lots of measuring as well as a little machine work to get it all together. In addition, it is likely to call for a mix-and-match combination for the clutch. The top shift setup preferred for that old-timey look comes from Jeeps, although I have seen early Ford stuff adapted.
Slowlearner That 66 trans will be a switch pitch ( two stall speed torque converter) th400 and sellable to Buick rodders. I've seen trans addaptors on e-bay for what you want to do, though it might be easier to keep the rear wheels on the ground with the SP TH400.
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