Anybody know what chevy front end will work with a 55 Buick. Suppose I should measure the dang thing and start search.. but thought I'd do a quick check and see if anybody has swapped one out. thx.
I am sure the Buick is a much bigger car than the Chevy. I just sold one and it makes my '57 Chevy look small.
It's bigger, but the distance between the wheels is narrower.. obvious by all the "space" in the wheel wells.
I am using a 1989 caprice. Fits very nicely between the rails. I have seen others use a firebird/camaro. I am quite happy with mine though.
I have seen early 60's Buick upper and lower A frames with ball joints and spindles and big brakes, bolted in place of the 54-56 Buick stock pieces. If I ever get another 54-56 Buick that's what I am going to try. The newer A frames are suppose to improve the ride, handling, and the front end geometry. Then grab the newer bigger sway bar too.
I don't either.. wasn't the plan. A later model, yes.. not a '55.. the Buick is a '55. 89 Caprice.. that may be a good option. Thanks!
the jag front ends have been used, gives you power rack steering which while I know nothing about rack steering, seems it makes getting headers or startermotors in easier.
I have Caprice Classic frame stubs, early 90's, under both my Pontiacs, a '48 'vert and '51 wagon. I like them, good brakes, steering and suspension geometry in one fell swoop. You can score a limited slip rear from the Caprice/Roadmaster wagons, lots have 'em, or limited slip and disk rear brakes from Impala SS. In this way you can use the Buick stock rims, or later 5 on 5 wheels. The track is a couple of inches wider than Malibu/Cutlass frames, so beware if you're planning on having it dropped on the ground. Brian
I know a guy using a 2002 Ranger front on his 38 Buick . He said it fits perfectly . I suppose the 55 frame is about the same as the 38 , so this may work for you .
Well , he also swapped the STR 8 for a V8 , I don t remember which .. As a result , I bought the engine , trans , rear and front suspensions and the front of the original frame I ve been under his car , and I fits really well . The question is to know if 55 and 38 frames are the same ... It seems to me they didn t change for years since 1936 .
You're going to get all kinds of suggestions, 73super, most of which are firmly grounded in complete ignorance. It's always good to ask questions, but as with good lawyers, don't ever ask a question you don't already know the answer to. Do your own homework, like measuring the original track, front and rear, so that you can knowlegeably evaluate the suggestions that come in. Keep in mind also, that the smallest deviation in front track is going to give the car a whole different look, a look that you may not like. Most swapped front suspensions are too wide for the car they're swapped into, and using some kind of funky wheels won't fix it. If it's the same as the '55, your '56 Buick can tolerate 2" wider front track, 1" per side, but that's it. The rear axle can be a touch wider as well, but go too far and you'll be forced to use inset wheels. You've seen the setup under my '55 Buick 2-door, so you know what my suggestion would be for your car. Unless you need to go crazy low, my setup is as near perfect in terms of looks and driveability as I could imagine. Unlike the vast majority of people who make suggestions, I've got a ton of miles on mine already and it's absolutely great! And please don't get to cutting on your hardtop until you've got every detail worked out well in advance...and have run them by the HAMB to be sure you've made the right decisions. You've got a car that will be absolutely striking...if you do it right. Let me know if I can be of more help.
I've officially decided to keep the original front end.. just rebuild and update.. cut the springs a bit. Rear is '78 El Camino. Now to figure out power plant. Nail head is long gone.
Good choice on the suspension. It's a lot easier to rebuild your old front end than change it. Don't forget to get an alignment done. If everything is working right they are a great front end, for ride and easy steering, not so much for race car handling lol. On the power train, there has been some discussion of this before. It seems the 61 and 62 Buick full size cars use the same rear axle as your car but with open driveshaft. If you can find the center section from one of those it bolts into your car. Then, you have to come up with some radius rods to take the place of the torque tube. 67-72 Chev and GMC 1/2 ton pickups and Suburbans with coil springs have suitable ones, or you can make something up. For engine and trans a Chev 350 and automatic will work about as well as anything.
350 is always a fall back if I can't find anything else, but I'd like to hide something unexpected under the hood.. not so unexpected that if I ever wanted to sell the thing I couldn't.. I know there are purists out there and then there are those that say.. put whatever in there that makes you happy.. and that's most likely what I'm going to do.
Why not attempt to keep it in the family? Look for a 350 or 455 Buick to put in it. You may even run across a good donor car with everything you need. Bob
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