Hello buick friends I bought my first classic 56 Special 2door post from CA delivered last month. I've been going over it and finding more issues along the way, bought this one from pics. and not quite what I hoping supprise!! my knowledge of these cars is small butmy love for these classics is great. My father in law has a nice 57 chevy and tried to convince me to look for a chevy because of the avalability of parts but I always liked the Buick styleing 55,56,57 and see lots of Chevys at car shows. Finding out parts avalilability is nice a nice thing to have? but I have an all solid body 56 Buick Special, except small area drivers floor pan. The trans was repaired a while ago 69 have receipt but there is a bracket missing at rear which need help finding, been searching the net with no luck. I have seen this bracket in a restoration video and it is ell shaped and bolts to the bottom of dynaflow 4 bolts and then to a solid rubber spacer with 3 bolts to the support cross brace. I'm looking for both pieces. My trans is leaking alittle at rear and want secure it in hopes it will maybe stop wishful thinking I know. Well I could go on but that is all for now, hope someone can help me with these pieces, I enjoy reading about your babies and the knowledge you guys have hope it rubbs off for my sake. Looking forward to posting some pics and sharing more about this journey. Happy Restoration and Thanks Dan P.S. it has factory duel exhaust niccceee.:grin:
Welcome Dan, I'm sure someone will pop up with knowledge of what you are looking for. I'm from Cincinnati originally, what part of Ohio are you in? BTW, I can remember my father owning a new '56 Special, Tahiti coral and castle gray. I also remember it went through several transmissions and rear ends, hope yours is not like that! ou:
Thanks for the wellcome and reply Doug, We are in an eastern suburb of Cleve. what does BTW mean dont post alot so not up on the lingo. Nice looking lesabre how long have you had it and was it like that when you got it !
BTW is short for "By the way". BTW, I have a '55 Roadmaster Riviera in Columbus. I find locating parts a fun part of the hobby.
I bought it on Ebay in the fall of 2011 from a guy in Minnesota near the N. Dakota border. Fun trip going after it from southeastern Indiana. I haven't done anything to the body, but it was not running when I got it. Once I got it running I've been slowly fixing things that needed fixing. It is licensed and drivable now, but I don't go too far in it just yet. Still a few things to do for it to be really roadworthy. I've been to Cleveland once, we went up there a long time ago when my sister had a winning ticket and got to appear on the lottery show. You probably know how long it's been since they did that show.
Welcome Dan You will benefit from purchasing a 1956 Shop Manual. I tried scanning the page regarding the mounts but had scanner issues. I have attached some photos with some names which hopefully should help. (excuse the poor paint writing) The Buick is an enclosed driveshaft (torque tube). The drive or momentum from the rear wheels is transmitted to the chassis through these mounts. I have the bracket you need but have not finished with it until I setup my rear end again to fabricate mounts for open driveline, so If you don't find one get back to me, but shipping could be expensive from NZ. I am sure someone closer will have one. Try this link, they were dismantling a 56 Special http://stores.ebay.com/rpmmotorsportsinc (Click on pictures to enlarge)
That's the bracket Ross, your calling it the trust bracket makes sense to me. I talk to someone that rebuilds dynaflows from Ohio and he tells me that when the trans is removed because the bracket is fastened to the trust pad it not removed and he tells me he hasn't seen that bracket elsewhere. They show the bracket in diagrams but with no identification. Anyway couldn't I make a bracket from some good steel if I can't locate one. Also Ross I've been looking at manuals and not sure to go with paper or disc form. Thanks for the pics and parts info. Dan ---------- Post added at 09:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 PM ---------- I'll keep in mind what you said about the part but hope to come up with something else. Is that New Zealand your from.Thanks
Dan, the bracket is called a " Thrust Plate". Another bracket could be fabricated out of heavy steel if one is not located. Yes New Zealand is home for me.
Hi Dan. Remember that with a torque tube drive system, the rear transmission thrust plate and mount is what transfers the driving energy from the rear tires to the car. The transmission mount is critical. Good luck with the car!
Re: 56 special Hi Dan, There may be a specific web site for the 56 out there. I know there is a site for the 54's that may have some info, swing by and take a look! http://www.hometownbuick.de/1954/forum.php
Thanks John, I just read about that today somewhere, It transfers torque to the chassis I think but I don't know how long its been like this I'm just glad I found it since I bought it I have only driven it once. Hope to find part soon if not going to make it or have someone else make it for me. My brother in law is the machinist and could mill something for me most likely but need to figure what metal to use .Thanks
Here is a thread from the AACA forum about changing transmission mounts on a '55. It might be helpful for a quick read, not very long: http://forums.aaca.org/f162/how-change-transmission-mounts-1955-buick-231116.html
Hey Dan, the Buick Club of America has a webpage with some '56 Buick info at: Here Robert Budd's site has everything a '56 owner would ever need except a car! LOL!
Hey Roberta, checked that site out before, good site talked to someone there also but no thrust plate. Thanks Dan
If you look at the next post from 56 Buickboy below your post, he has a lick and good set of pics of the bracket I'm looking for. It bolts to the bottom of trans. and then to the cross brace. Just click on his link to see pics. Thanks for interest. Dan
