HELLO EVERYONE, NEW MEMBER HERE. I HAVE A '59 BUICK WITH A BAD REAR END NOISE. IT'S A GROWLING, ROARING SOUND AND HAS ALOT OF VIBRATION TOO. I'M WANTING TO SWAP THE REAR END OUT AND CONVERT IT TO AN OPEN DRIVE. I'M RUNNING THE 364 NAILHEAD WITH THE DYNAFLOW. A GUY I KNOW HAS A '59 ALSO AND HE TOLD ME HE PUT A '62 LESABRE 3RD MEMBER IN HIS '59 REAREND HOUSING THEN 4 LINKED IT FOR SUPPORT SINCE THE OLD TORQUE TUBE WAS GONE. HE ALSO USED A ST400 TRANNY AND DITCHED THE DYNAFLOW. HAS ANYONE DONE THIS SORT OF THING? ANY IDEAS AS TO WHERE I CAN GET A ST400 TRANNY AND A '62 LESABRE 3RD MEMBER? ANY TECH ANSWERS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. GOOD LOOKIN '59 LESABRE 2DR POST---SITTIN IN GARAGE GUYS, I NEED TO GET HER BACK ON THE ROAD.......THANKS, TROY( LOSABRE59):kodak:
The ST400 transmission was Buick's name for the THM400. From 1965-67, Buick had the switch pitch feature. In your case, you will need an ST400 with the nailhead bell housing pattern. It is not the same as later BOP pattern. Post in "Parts Wanted" for starters.
To do this conversion you will need a third member from a '61-'62 full size (Lesabre, Invicta, Electra). A '63 won't fit. Also, they came in open and posi form. Do you know if your '59 has a posi? I've heard of people using '60-'72 Chevy Truck trailing arms to locate the rear end once the torque tube is gone.
THE YEAR WILL HAVE TO BE '62, MAYBE A '61 MIGHT WORK BUT A '63 WILL NOT FIT ACCORDING TO THE COMMENTS I'VE RECEIVED, THANKS TROY
I have a '61 LeSabre with the rear still in it. Never taken apart & when I was driving it made NO noises. $250.00+ shipping. Tom T.
HOW LONG ARE THE AXLES? THEY SHOULD BE 31 SPLINE AXLES...YES? OR ARE THEY 29 OR SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. Please clue me into this one... Coarse or fine spline? What axle ends are used? olds pontiac ends? or does buick use there own? Jim I need to learn on this one... Jim
I think I found the answer to the spline count at 28 and 30...??? Yes / No? then where did we go with spline count? 1964 1965 1966 etc. to 1970...I know the 1971 and up. Yes believe it or not I do not know about every Buick rear. lol. Thanks for the help in advance ou: ou: ou: ou:
Wow that big of axles huh... why were the earlier ones bigger than the later models??? Like olds pontiac went from coarse spline to fine spline 29 to 31 fine... Buick went backwards? Jim
I am trying to gather this info to try to help out the Full size car guys that just need driver rears and make something custom that will bolt in from something we have newer. Like 8.5 rears which have a LARGE supply of parts. Jim
IS THAT FOR THE WHOLE REAR END OR JUST THE 3RD MEMBER? ALL I AM LOOKING FOR IS THE 3RD MEMBER, THANKS TROY
Looks like 1965-1970 Buick 9 3/8 are all 30 spline with buick having its own axle flange ends OR they may share them with Cadillac. Still working.
Just the complete 3rd. member. I am a auto tech by trade & have been doing this for 50+ years so I know what good is & isn't. Want to take a chance on something else not knowing anything about it??? Balls in your court, it's your decision. Tom T.
