Hello, I am new to this forum and I am gonna ask a question that's probably have been asked before. I want to put a Buick 455cid w/TH400 into the old lady instead of her rather worn out 322 w/Dynaflow - and the question are of course what rear end to use and if there are any other issues I should be awere of before starting the swap?
You can probably use any rear end you want, assuming it has the width your looking for. Personally I would use a A or G body 8.5 - commonly available and relatively cheap, with good gear range options. Thing of this is, you'd better be (or know) a terrific fabricator, cause this is the kind of project complexity you're looking at: http://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/not-pure-stock-but-what-ive-been-doing.340188/
I saw I guy with a 57 Buick Super? who avoided the fabrication hurdle by mounting his body to an early 70s Estate Wagon Chassis. He used the 455 driveline, brakes wheels, rear, suspension steering, etc. He said it was an easy swap.
My 53 is sitting on a 67 Buick Sportwagon frame it is a good way to go, like Jim said it is an easy swap. If you keep your 54 frame you might want to find a rear end with the same 5 on 5 wheel bolt pattern. Bob H.
I am impressed. Wonder if a 60 Buick 4 door could be bolted to a 70-72 wagon frame easily? I see that as the most beautiful body ever, but I will not be giving up my 12 inch dual circuit brakes, TH400 switch pitch, and emissions happy 403 drive train. Bruce Roe
I met a fellow who used a 57 0lds rear end and leaf springs to convert his 54 Buick to an open driveshaft. Many 8.5 10 bolts with leaf springs are common alternatives . But frame swaps offer many more modern upgrades, just a bit more complex.
