I pulled a buick -69 th400 a while a go will this tranny fit into a Buick Wildcat Nailhead -63? ANY one knows? Do I need any adapter? thx
No it won't directly bolt up. The Nailhead has a unique bellhousing pattern. Most adapter are set up for the more common Chevy bellhousing flange as well. You crank is also setup for the dynaflow transmission, it requires the use of a nailhead ST/SP400 flexplate and adapter to correctly mount the smaller nose of the converter in the pilot hole in the crank shaft. It is possible with work though to use your transmission.
I have a 400 from a 63 Buick if you would be interested I would trade you for yours if its a short tail trans.
The thing is that '63 is the last year for the Dynaflow-the 400 was yet to come and, and as said, there are issues (crankshaft/starter) between the two-
starter, no, thats the earlier ones according to all the adaper resources I've seen. The '64 ST400 is the fist application of the ST/SP/TH400 family for Buicks, available in Nailhead patterns in the Riviera, Wildcat, and Electra and BOP-C pattern for the LeSabre behind the Aluminum headed 300. I'd get that tranny from Mike and modify the crank to use the ST/SP400 flexplate from a 64-66 nailhead and get the pilot bushing adapter from one of the adapter makers.
I should probably just let this go, but see that yeri is posting for the first time and don't want him confused. I'm sure that Mike knows the diff between a Dynaflow and a 400, so likely a typo on calling his 400 a '63. yes-the Dyna starter has the long snout and the '64-6 for the 400 the shorter. Yeri-do a site search on this as it's been discussed before-
I put a th400 [1966] behind a 59 nail head. the flex plate [1966 th400] had to be machined out to where the center hole would fit over the 59 crank. Also I had to put in a short nosed starter. raced it for a loooong time and never had any problems. The torque converter bolts and holes are the same. The flex plate to crank holes are the same.
Ah... ok, thats the thing, I didn't know about the starter nose, its the mounting bolts or something thats changed. Sorry for the confusion, I am free to admit when I'm wrong when trying to help.
