CAR:1965 BUICK SPECIAL 2 DR SEDAN ENGINE:1965 WILDCAT 401 TRANS:1965 WILDCAT TH400SW ORIGINAL ENG/TRANS:V6 AND "THREE ON THE TREE" - ANY COMMENTS/TIPS/PARTS NEEDED/INFO/SCAREY STORIES/ETC ??? INITIAL INSPECTION LOOKS GOOD / ONLY MAJOR STUMBLING BLOCK IS FRAME MOUNTS IT SEEMS ????? THANKS IN ADVANCE!
You need different wiring, frame, and engine mounts, and headers/manifolds specifically for the 65-66 Gran Sport. You will have to relocate the battery to the left side too. It's much easier to transplant a 455 but the nailhead can be done if you get the GS parts. Good Luck!
ADAM - THANKS FOR REPLY/INFO - HAVE GSCA NAILHEAD HEADERS ALREADY , BATTERY IS GOING IN THE TRUNK , I'M LOOKIN' FOR THE MOUNTS NOW AND THE WIRING SHOULD BE PRETTY BASIC STUFF 'CAUSE I KNOW A FEW "TECHS". THANKS AGAIN !!
More Things to Change Drive shaft, transmission yoke and front springs will also need to be changed. Did you know that typing in capitol letters is equivalent to screaming on the internet? Anyway, we hear you! Cheryl
Other parts You need what I bought last month at a swap meet! More 65 GS specific parts: Frame pads Motor mounts Block pads Oil pan Oil pickup tube engine wiring harness You have the headers, Wiring can be done new, engine block pads could be fabbed from like 1/2" steel. All they do is relocate the engine mounts about 6" further to the back of the engine. Frame pad is to hold a engine mount central to the frame. The Oil Pan has the sump in the front(check for sure) Wildcat is in center. I wonder how far off the 67 big block frame pads are off from the nailhead's... They relocate the engine mount forward, kind of different idea than the 65 GS. I can take some pix if you want. I have a 65 Special with 455, had to get 67 engine mounts. I can compare to the GS, let you know.
Oh yeah, pan& pickup is probably the most important part! I *think* some of the late 50's cars pan will work too?
thanks to all for replys/info!! sorry about the "caps" yellin' at ya' but not internet literate at this time - BUT MY WIFE TOLD ME !!!!
Hi Del If you do a little parts hunting you will find that the 1962 - 401 oil pan is listed as the same number as the GS pan. Buying for a 62 is a lot cheaper than for the GS. Also get the oil pick up. Jim Schlf / palbuick@aol.com
Nailhead Oil Pickup You should give Carmen Faso of J&C's parts a call for the pickup. He sells a better than stock part for about $70 bucks. Many feel that the original pickup is one of the weak points of the nailhead. I don't have the number with me but the nailhead boards have that info all over. I'll bet he has all of the mounts and stuff too. Call him
nailhead-nope/350 yep! i want to thank all involved repliers for good info but have decided to leave the 350 in the special (see user info ), but fear not the nail is not " leavin' the building" ! that WILL be used at a later date, early 60's lesabre i hope. (Carmen-?- he is someone i have spoken to before i believe). i have left this whole post on here in hopes that it may help out someone with similar questions."tanks" Del deadmanscurve@stny.rr.com 607-369-7770