I bought my 55 Buick over the summer and did a good amount of work to it: I installed power brakes with a dual piston master cyclinder, changed the valve cover and intake gaskets, rebuilt the carb and gave it a full tune-up. As it sat it ran pretty well....until today, lol. I had it running in the driveway while I cleaned the garage. Out of nowhere I heard it knocking and watched smoke belch out of the tailpipe. Before I shut it off the coolant temp was normal as was the oil pressure. Pulled the plugs one by one and when I got to number 4 (2nd from the front on the drivers side) the plug was completely destroyed, as if the piston failed and reaked havoc. The fact it failed doesnt really bother me, Ill fix it. But....I want to replace the engine with a Chevy 350 for the time being. Please dont hang me from the cross. I have 8 cars and no money tree, so swapping in a 350 for the time being while I have the original engine rebuilt makes sense so I can use the car next year. My question is, has anyone done this? I want to use the original transmission, as It works well and I just put a new rear seal in the torque tube. Im pretty sure the bolt pattern is not the same, wondering if a company makes a transmission adapter to mate the 350 to the transmission. Any help is much appreciated! :TU:
Its a 55 Buick Special so Id say it has the 264 V8 and a DynaFlow Trans. Please forgive me as ive not gotten a chance to get really intimate with this car. Im a Cadillac expert and new to the classic Buick world.
Also, I am not opposed to a Buick 455 if it will mate to the transmission. Hell, I have a 472 Cadillac here that Id swap in (permanently) if it will mate to the trans. Does anyone have a link or info to what engines/transmissions share the same bolt pattern? This would be far less complicated if the stupid rear end/torque tube wasnt there, lol
The Buick 322 is the only other engine that will directly bolt to that transmission. You can swap the Nailhead bell housing and converter from the later 57-63 Dynaflow onto your transmission to use the 364, 401 and 425 Nailheads. You would need a rear sump oil pan and pick up for those engines to use those engines. Most adapters go from Nailhead engine to Chevy trans. I have not seen one that goes from Chevy engine to nailhead trans. Cheryl
Thanks for all the help so far. Maybe its most logical to just pull the engine and have it rebuilt. If it were'nt for the stupid rear end/torque tube, Id be able to swap anything into this car. :blast:
If you really have 8 cars then just use another one until you get the funds to fix your nailhead. I can't understand the justification for all the effort to put an oddball engine into that buick.
I am not aware of any Chevy to Dynaflow adapters. My guess is that it would be cheaper to use a Buick 264 or 322 then to attempt to install a Chevy. If it were my car (and I wish it was), I would yank the head off the 264 and see if it is salvageable. I once had a 264 that broke a piston and did no damage to anything else. ou:
Just take out the dynaflow and the nailhead. put in an up to date 455 smogger engine and you will be so much happier with your ride. It will be easier to maintain and get parts for if it breaks. More than likely it will get better mileage too
Our 322 did much the same thing 35 years ago. We sleeved one cylinder. rebuilt the heads. replaced all the bearings. replaced two pistons. re-used six pistons and the crank. No, problems, now. Despite popular myth, the Dynaflow is a tough transmission. Good for driving. (If, not for winning races).
I don't have problems getting parts. But, other than a leaking brake cylinder, nothing has broken in while. And, I can get 22mpg on the highway at 70mph. :idea2:Maybe, you should swap your fragile 455 for a nailhead:Brow: :grin::TU::laugh:
Lots of good info here, thanks. Since the engine only ran 10 seconds after the 'event' took place, Im hoping for the best. Now to find some pistons that dont require a bank loan....
I reread your original post and found that money (the lack of which is the root of all evil) is an issue. The least expensive way to get your '55 Buick going again will involve a 264 or 322 Nailhead. More cubic inches will cost more cubic money.
Here are the cars I own: 03 Mercury Marauder: Runs 10.8 03 Marauder: Runs 11.9 03 Cobra: Currently getting a TH400, made 670 rwhp on E85 94 Town Car Beater 59 Cadillac 55 Buick 69 Eldorado 76 Cadillac Luckily the 55 Buick is partially owned by my good friend, which means I only get half the bill, but all the labor ou:
I don't know where you are located. I see a used engine advertised on the AACA forum; http://forums.aaca.org/f119/1955-buick-special-running-gear-293516.html
There is a good running 264 local to me for 900 bucks as well. After doing some research on these piston failures, ill just save up and have the engine done right with good stuff. Thanks for looking out though!
