For all you guys out there that mess with Buicks, this is my first adventure into a Buick build. 1965 Wildcat originally 401 HD400. I have a 455 Stage 1 drivetrain. Just hauled this car home Saturday; body was too good to pass up. Here's the question; will my 1970 445 stage 1 drivetrain sit in this frame? I haven't measured yet. Anyone done this one before? Thanks
Yes, do it! Wild Bill did the swap, not super easy but it will fit fine as long as you use 67/8 engine mounts and oil pan/pickup
Looks like a Craigs ad I saw from southern Mn -looked good-needed a nailhead and front end put back together-I was thinking about it-good luck-Dan
Howdy Ted-still around some .....Sichotic-I have some '65-6-7 cats and believe the frames the same, but as Ted indicates, the engine mounts are different. I have some of the various '400-430-455 pans and other parts even tho I prefer and deal more with nailheads. If you are in the general area and want to measure/take a look I'm in the Twin Cities area-Dan
Cool, I live in Mankato. SpecialWagon '65 says I need 67/8 engine mounts and oil pan/pickup.The '65 frame is same as an Electra, heavy. I trust the info on this blog so i would be willing if you have the parts. TX
I am in the midst of doing one in a '66 Wildcat now. Engine "fits" fine. As stated before you will need a center sump oil pan and pick up tube. If you are sticking with exhaust manifolds, they will fit no problem. I have test fitted the TA shorty headers for the later Wildcats and the pass side is no problem, the driver's side is super close to the steering box. I don't have my engine fixed in place yet, but the header will probably require a 'ding' to clear the steering box. Thing to watch is the tilt back of the engine. I have standard 455 motor mounts on the engine and have not fabricated a frame pad yet, and the engine is tilting back 6-7 degrees. It needs to be more like 3-4 degrees. I have an Edelbrock B4B on the engine which has a 3 degrees built into the carb pad, thats why its ok for the engine to be tilted back 3 or 4 degrees. You will also need to change the yoke on the front part of the driveshaft. The Nailhead TH400 is smaller in diameter than the later model 400's There is an excellent pictorial on here somewhere that Wild Bill did on his '66. I don't know if he experienced the same engine tilt back problem that I experienced or not. Good luck!!!
Seems I recall that your car had a new dual exhaust(will need to be reworked to attach to the "improved" 455 manifolds)-if so, with no single exhaust crossover, I think you'd be able to use the rear sump setup you have. The other stuff should be available at Rohner's boneyard -about 10 miles north of Wilmar. They have quite a number of big 60's Buicks that are double stacked. Hopefully you can find one on the top row that will make drive shaft access and mount removal/cutting off the mount pads easier. In addition to your tools, I'd bring a jack to raise the engine up. They can torch them off for you-good luck
Wow Mike, thanks for the info. Exhaust manifolds will be stock, have the original driveshaft out of my Stage 1, should be good with minor modification,ballancing at the driveline guys. ---------- Post added at 01:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:31 PM ---------- That's great Dan. I used to work up by Wilmar. Fit up this weekend barring unforseens.:laugh:
The reason for the center sump pan is NOT the single exhaust crossover pipe. It is because the Wildcat is a 'rear steer' car, which means the steering box is located behind the main cross member and the tie rods and center link run right where the sump would be on a rear sump oil pan.
the Wildcat driveshaft is a 2 part piece with center carrier bearing...probably longer than what you have from the stage 1 ive got some spares laying around.
That's right-Mike is correct about the center pan need=I have a few as well as the driveshafts-so if difficult to deal with at Rohner's , I have those
