I'm looking at purchasing a 1953 buick special. It has the nailhead 8, and isn't running. Is there an easy way way for me to swap a small-block Chevy and manual tranny into it? I know I'm offending some purists here, but that's how I roll. Thanks for your help.
How would we know? We have Buick engines in our Buicks! I've never heard of anyone here ever doing that swap, much less even thinking about it! The Nailhead is one of the most unique looking engines out there. Lots of cool intake systems and dress-up items are available for them. Hope you change your mind about the swap. Welcome, to V8 Buick anyway....:beers2:
It shouldn't be too much trouble to do. You might look for a site where tri-5 chevy guys are since the frame rails are probably (not sure) about the same and they go to small block chevy engines all the time. I'm not a purist. I love hot rods and as you know with hot rods, anything goes. I would like to say that the Nailhead is a classic hot rod engine, and not just in Buicks. I think it became so popular because it's got good power and it fits well in so many cars. Doesn't matter why it became a popular hot rod engine, it's just a cool retro hot rod item like the flathead. If you want something newer, you might look into a more modern design buick V8. The Chevy is the cheapest horse power out there though, and as long as you don't open the hood, people will think you did something different by building a Buick. This 30 ford has been nailed.
Unless you can do your own fabrication work, it will most likely be more cost effective to repair the Nailhead or find a good used one. Mounts, exhaust, driveshaft(can't remember if 53 has the torque tube, if it does you'll need a rear too) will be different.
Double check the car. Specials in '53 had inline 8s, the last year for them. All other models had nailheads. They also have torque tubes and Dynaflows. The entire driveline needs to be swapped out for something else, including the rear suspension. Some people add leaf springs (coils originally). It's a big undertaking with a lot of fabrication. If you are really serious about trying it (even though I don't personally like the idea--not that it's any of my business), you may want to try the HAMB forum over at jalopyjournal.com. A few guys over there have done it.
fatman fab in north carolina makes a replacement stub for your 53,you remove your old stub replace it then you will have an updated front end mustang II disc brakes,power steering,drop spindles,and plenty of room to put a v8 of your choice in there,there is also the gm stub swap(monte carlo,cutlass,grandprix, 76-84) problem is finding a nice stub.then you move on to the rearend since the torque tube holds that back end back there.its alot of fab work but well worth it.
friggin waste of time and $$. If you want power, build up that straight 8, it can be done!:spank: :spank: and DRIVE IT, no fun sitting in the garage. Slap on a '41 Dual carb setup, dual exhaust, shave the head. Hit the road in weeks instead of months-yrs. Compound carburation offered 10% better power and 10% better fuel economy
(sigh) You're better off getting rid of the Buick to a purist, and buying yourself a Chevy. It would be far more work than you imagine to convert that car properly. You'd probably have an easier time stuffing in an early Olds V-8 or a nailhead V-8 in it, but a modern Chevy powertrain involves a lot of cutting and fab work. Like the previous response said, cut off the stub, and start there, while you're at it, take out the rear-end and torque tube. Better yet, mount the body on a Chevy truck chassis, it's probably the easiest thing to do. The biggest problem with hot-rodding a Buick is the fact that unless it's done to a certain degree of taste it'll be only worth something to the guy who builds it. The world is full of cars with incorrect powertrains customized and rebuilt with modern components that only appeal to one guy; - the guy who built it. No one else wants to pay for the kind of work that went into it, it is after all only a Buick, not a Chevy, Ford Deuce, or some hairy Mopar, so be prepared to be stuck with a car that you'll have forever, because Buicks are only worth big money if they are dead stock and restored to show-room condition. I wouldn't do it.
You Sir have picked the wrong car to put a small block Chevy in that would be cost effective. A small block chevy in your 1953 Buick would look like a Briggs Strattion engine in 1955 Chevy. No Pun Intended. Now it can be done. But you would be much better off and it would be much cheaper to get a 94-96 Club Cab Chevy or GMC full sized PICK-UP and set the Buicks body on the trucks frame. If you want to HIGH "ROLL" then go for the 4x4 model. If you want to LOW "Roll" go with 2 wheel drive model they are easy to "Slam". The whole drivetrain would be up dated and you would or could have a 5 speed, Power Steering, Disc Brakes and Air Cond. You could get in this baby and drive cross country. If you don't want to go all Chevy then there's always the 71-73 Buick Estate Station you can set the body on. But one is about as easy as the other. You may need to get some off-set wheels to fill the fender wells. Like I say it can be done. Keep us posted on your thoughts.
My '53's engine is out of the car right now, resealing all the engine's oil and gasoline leaks. It's been in the hospital since end of July - my mechanic doing the work on a "cheep hourly rate" so I patiently wait. He has already replaced king pins and rear shock links. Your Special is a 6 volt car ! It is an in-line 8 - unless someone else snagged a V-8 out of a Skylark, Roadmaster, or Super - those were almost all V-8's and 12 Volts, and installed it into the Special - along with the wiring harness (?) and generator etc, etc, etc. . . The same mechanic has a '54 on the lot, owned by a Medical Doctor who just paid $14,000 for a new Hot Rod frame to slip underneath the '54 Special's body. The MD has BUDGETED $50,000 BUCKS to completely redo the car. If I were you,I'd either collect $20,000 to refurb your Special, or spend $20,000 on an existing Hot Rod that you can toss another $5k to $10k at to repaint or redo interior. Life's too short to put a Chevy into a Buick. It's not sacrilege, but darned close . . . But ,Of Course - I am biased. Rip Rohring :error: :error: :error:
Regarding your idea of putting a 50's Buick body on a 94-96 Chev-GMC Club Cab pickup--I am curious. I am looking to buy a 1956 Super 2 dr hdtp. I love the look of the car but I am not a purist. I want modern reliability, regular gas etc. Would your idea or anything else work with the 1956 Super? The Super is the big body, and I am thinking (don't know really) that the wheelbase is shorter than the 4dr hdtp.
All Supers had the same wheel base. But really, is there a reason your current powertrain setup can't be reliable?:idea2: Not a trick question, answer is simple and two letters: NO. And your car won't be worth anything if it's chev powered. Chev engine in a Buick is a turd in a punch bowl:shock:
