A while ago I posted a question about using my 64 401 and STT with the existing torque tube in my 53 Roadmaster convertible. Well, I finally found a two page article about someone who did this to a 53 Skylark. The Jan 1955 issue of Speed Week has an article about Bill Frick of Long Island NY who installed a Cadillac OHV V-8 into a 53 Skylark! Apparently, installing Cadillac V-8's into various cars was his specialty. Anyhow, this conversion took him 300 hours. Below is the narrative explaining the torque tube conversion (there are pictures, too, with the actual article): An open drive shaft was installed, "requiring the fabrication of a special pinion shaft adapter to the Buick rear end. To beef up the installation still further, the adapter (made from the cut off portion of the original torque tube) is supported on double-row ball bearings and provided with its own grease seal. Additional stiffening up of the rear end was accomplished by using special, heavy radius rods, attached directly to the frame cross-member with special rubber bushings." The result of the conversion, which included some performance work to the Cadillac engine, installation of a second 20 gallon fuel tank in the trunk and other miscellaneous stuff resulted in a 53 Skylark that could turn the quarter mile in 16 seconds. My guess from reading the article is that about half of the total hours, or 150 hours, were needed to convert the torque tube to an open drive shaft. Materials cost would not be large using this technique, but hours are significant. I'm not sure how this would stack up against the other conversion suggestions that were offered, i.e. 9" ford with leaf springs, 71-76 Electra rear with Chevy truck links or Jaguar rear end. These other methods obviously require alot more parts/materials, but perhaps not as much labor? Any thoughts? Dan
I think there are some old posts with photos of this type of conversion. I was considering doing this to my 57 but have decided to go with a 9 inch posi rear. Easier to repair and find parts for especially if you want to make a gearing change. I am putting a 66 dual quad 425 with a 66 switch pitch trans in my car. Good luck with yours John Zeleznik
