55 Transmission and rear end conv.

[BU55IK]

Hey guys, has anyone had success with a Gm style Turbo 350 onto a 322 nailhead. Castlemaine rod shop here in oz do an adaptor for AU$990.

ive got problems with my dynaflow and now diff seals. Had alot of diff oil come down the torque tube when i was measuring up for airbags. after talking to a few well informed people, made the decision to do away with the torque tube/dynaflow/stock rear end to hopefully save me some hassel and time later down the track.:pray:

I dont know what the best option is for a rear end? 9inch or 10bolt salisbury type. Will have axle's re-drilled to suit buick pattern.

Triangulated 4link is on the cards, which i will make to suit.

If anyone has undertaken such an exercise or similar, thoughts, suggestions would be most appreciated.

Dave.

[Aussie V8]

Dave, read the post below " dropped spindles Buick 55 "
There is another aussie there ( Brad ) who is now doing what you want to do to yous. There is a company in US , Bendstens I think , that make adaptors. But with the current exchange rate probably cheaper through the rod shop.
What are you going to do with the original Dynaflow / rear end ?

Ken.

Oh, and I forgot. Downunder55 ( Patrick ) is also another aussie getting the conversion done at this moment.

[DualQuad55]

You can also go to the "Nailhead" forum on this site and search for transmission and open drive rear end conversions. A few years there was a good thread going with a few different setups. Some good photos as well.
Good luck on the swap, the extra gears will make driving it seem much more fun.:beers2:

[BU55IK]

Thanx Joe, did a few searches and couldnt find much though, maybe my forum skills are letting me down...

When i get started ill post pics up. Trying to find the best diff combo at the moment.

Found a really good couple of articles on webrodder site. Most of the work is carried out on an earlier model (51) i think, but still alot of similarities. Ill keep you guys posted. :beers2:

[BU55IK]

Dave, read the post below " dropped spindles Buick 55 "
There is another aussie there ( Brad ) who is now doing what you want to do to yous. There is a company in US , Bendstens I think , that make adaptors. But with the current exchange rate probably cheaper through the rod shop.
What are you going to do with the original Dynaflow / rear end ?

Ken.

Oh, and I forgot. Downunder55 ( Patrick ) is also another aussie getting the conversion done at this moment.


Hey ken, yeah its definitely going to be a little cheaper through the rod shop.

Not sure whether to keep the original rear end and trans. The trans only needs the rear torque ball seal kit, but the torque ball itself is a little rusted/pitted so id have to find someone to machine it and possible hardchrome it or something. The car had been sitting around for a year or two, which caused the ball to rust. And the diff needs the pinion seal replaced, which from what i can see wont be easy at all...

[56buickboy]

Dave,

Check the link below and the response from "Tagman"

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233358

It looks like the photos are gone but Im sure the ones below I saved from that link a while back.

There is also a 53 Buick on that site with leaf springs fitted from Chassis Enginnering.

Ross

[56buickboy]

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?p=439509#post439509

This thread may also help, it mentions a 77 - 80 Ford Lincoln Versaille rear end as a perfect fit for a 55, and a 63-64 Riviera rear fitting into a 58.

I am also weighing up my options and will be doing a similar swap.

I know of a 57 Buick here in NZ with the Ford conversion using triangulated 4 bars, and a 56 with a Ford rear using the original torque tube trailing arms and a modified ladder bar set up attached to the diff centre to replace the torque tube, with modified front mounts.

Apparently a diff head (with open driveshaft) from a 61 or 62 Buick fits straight into a 57 Buick housing, but I don't know if a 55/56 rear end housing is the same as 57.

Maybe someone can clarify.

Ross

[poison heart]

I know that 61/62 and probably 63 Buick third members (and I guess Pontiac and Olds back to 59) will fit into a 59 rear end which will convert it to open drive.

I know 59-64 Olds and Pontiac are the same and I THINK 61-64 Buick are the same as the Olds Poncho too. So my guess is that any of those will work

[Aussie V8]

Dave, keep my phone no. please just in case you decide to sell the bits.
08 9295 2569
I don't need them as such but would be nice to have some spares for mine and / or other club members cars here in the West.
As for the pinion seal. Yes it's a bugger to replace. :rant: The torque tube and drive shaft will have to come off and in my experience ( and others ) the drive shaft will have to be cut and then the splined piece pressed off.
To do that the whole diff centre will have to be dismantled, then re-assembled, backlash set up etc and the drive shaft to be welded back together by a specialist drive line company. :dollar:

Ken.

[ampops]

Within the first five minutes, we faithful viewers got to reminisce as the Haleys and Nathans were being cast. Even the poncho was brought back as Haley told Nathan off for being a dumb jock. Who would've thought back then that they'd be a stable and happily married couple today?