56 Buick Special late model motor swap

[Donzzilla]

I have a '56 Buick Special that I would like to do a late model fuel injected motor swap on. Anybody have any info on any kits or recomendations on what to use or not to use. I am thinking of getting a whole donor car to possibly use the rear and other stuff out of. Thanks in advance for any info.
Don

[DualQuad55]

A donor car might be the best way to go. I might look for a LT1 based full size like a Roadmaster, FLeetwood, Caprice, etc...
The motors make decent power stock, parts are cheap, the trans work well, and believe it or not many Roadmasters with tow packages had posi rears.
They would also still have the 5 on 5 bolt circle.
Some measuring and modifications may get the front disc brakes on your 56 also.

[55spcl]

Booo HIsss. Nailheads rule what you are doing is what we call blasphemy. There is not gonna be any kits for what your doing, None of it should be that hard maybe you should clip it.

[DualQuad55]

Kits? Aren't those what you put together with model glue before you are old enough to build real cars?
Clip a frame? you mean cut a two factory frames to put half of a latermodel frame under your car, then completely fabricate a new rear suspension, hope all your geometry works as well as the factory engineering team did then hope your welds hold up under time? Yeah, sure that sounds good to me.
Seriously though, there are several ways to build cars, each of us have our own ideas and beliefs about how cars should be built.
My cars still have stock frames with the exception of the rear suspension in my 55 Special. It was changed to accept an open drive line Olds/Pont rear therefore using ladder bars with an added crossmember.
If someone is looking to do something to their car we should be supportive and offer help when possible. This is not called "restoredBuicks.com"
Late model chassis swaps are becoming more common in the custom/rodding groups because they offer newer style suspension front and rear, motor/trans mounting, disc brakes, power steering, ball joints, which can add up to better handling, easier to find and less expensive parts with more options availible. I believe this is a better way than doing a frame clip as it does not disturb the integrity of the original frame.
If it were my car, I would opt for a big inch Nailhead, better trans, and open rear (which I did on my car) but this is going to be his car, it should be his choice.

[58buickspecial]

I've done lots of kits, they all sit on the shelf collecting dust. The wife just doesnt understand.....

Common now, is the nailhead totalled? AND do you really want to follw the rest of the herd with another small block chevy? I was going to put a caddy 500 and t-400 in my 58 but couldnt do it. I stayed with the nailhead. Best of luck to you. And not knowing your background, no offense intended, but if youre asking about a kit, and there isnt, maybe it would be too much for one person to handle trying to do a "retro rod". Wish you the best though. This is a great place for advise

[Donzzilla]

Thanks for the imput. I guess using the term kit was wrong. I have been restoring/rodding cars and motorcycles for well over 20 years now. I could probably make anything work. I was hoping somebody had done something simular to save some ag later on. I am doing the car for my wife and thought that a late model swap would have been easy for drivability and such. The project has taken a turn. She wants to make a 60's style Gasser out of it. I already called Speedway to get a straght axel. I am in search for a motor, trans and rear to complete. Should be kind of neat. I never seen a '56 Buick Gasser before. The nail head is complete, I don't know if it runs or not, but will be for sale if any one is interested.