For the most part it is a bolt-in. Only major problem, if it can be called that, is the bellhousing area is about 1" larger on the older engines than the newer engines. The bellhousing & torque converter would need to be swapped from the 364/401 DynaFlow to the existing DynaFlow.
Russ martin makes a conversion set for $50 bucks. If you going 364 why not go 401 seems to me more avaliable on parts.
I'm not the one doing it. My friend is thinking of doing it. I need to get her to join up here. 364 is a good engine. I have one. Just not quite as many aftermarket parts avail, right?
If I were going to do a swap in a 55,,,, I would go with a 401 or 425 and do it like Tom says........that combo would have hair on its chest......it would be a full grown bear.....
Doc X 2! The 364 is kinda unique - it shares some parts with the 401-425, but not all. The intake manifold fits only a 364. If you (or the owner) already have a known really good 364 I'd use it. You can get a dependable 300 hp from it. If it needs to be rebuilt, bear in mind that it will cost the same to do as a 401 or a 425, and the larger engines will give 25 to 40hp more then the 364.
Just trying to make her see the light... She's still thinking that the only way is a chev engine.. I've explained that it's like a turd in a punch bowl etc,,, still working on her.
Alex I Feel you pain. I have a friend that bought a 55 special and he wanted to put a 454 in it. Thank god he sold it to another guy that wants to keep it all buick. Im hoping to be able to help him build it right with a 401 and a th400.
A lot easier to put a later nailhead in it... it has more torque at a lower rpm.... Putting a chevy engine in a 55 Buick is like cussing in church......
If it's any help at all, I can take some pictures of the dog ugly SBC that the previous owners dropped into my '57 Special. And then you can place those pictures next to a really nice 364 Nail in its proper place. It makes me sick every time someone asks me "what's under the hood?" Can't wait to get rid of it.
> 364 is a good engine. I have one. Just not quite as > many aftermarket parts avail, right? If anyone is interested, I have a nice Weiand WB3D dual plane 3x2bbl intake for a 364. It has adapter plates for 3 bolt carbs or I think you can mount Rochester 2GC 4 bolt carbs (have a box of those). Dan Jones
