Was 4 speed manual floor shift available on 1968 Wildcat?

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by garybuick, Jun 4, 2016.

  1. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    I know on 1968 Impala SS it was available. What about Buicks and 4 speeds? Any full sizers come with?
     
  2. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Nope! the last floor shift 4 speed was on the 66 Wildcat, and there were probably only a couple made. Wish I could afford one. By '68 no one ordered a Buick with a standard, even the 3 speed on the column was rare.
     
  3. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    Make that last one 65...
     
  4. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Was it 65? I thought it was still on the books in 66 too. Maybe it was and not one of them sold, but I could have sworn it was on the options list in 66 as well. But hey, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, it wouldn't be the first time either.
     
  5. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    The 3 on the tree continued through '66 but the 4-speeds were dropped.
    Denny Manner complained how the dual quads ran with the 4-speed last time
    I got to talk to him. Cracked me up, as this is the holy grail of nailhead
    power to me, and he thought it was less than ideal. Wild Bill "created" a
    dual quad 4-speed 66 Wildcat GS from 65 parts, so thats the only one
    I know about :TU:
     
  6. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Aha...that explains it, I had seen a reference to Wild Bill's Wildcat GS somewhere here and figured "yeah, that's the ultimate Wildcat, I'd love to own it".
    Amazing that the particular combo didn't work out too well...which might explain why there were so few of them built and then dropped for 66.
    How does a regular AFB Nailhead perform with a 4 speed? I know mine performs a lot better since I swapped the original AFB and manifold back on. The 66 Q-jet just didn't work out.But, mine's an automatic; - but I'd love to drive a 4 speed.

    As for 3 in the tree, forget it. Column shifted standards are a total pain. The last one I had was in a 46 Buick. That car in the turns and corners in city traffic was a handful to say the least. Had a couple of Mercedes with 4 speed on the column; - try speed shifting with that, if the linkage doesn't bind up, then there's a tendency to rip the shifter right off, it's not fun at all. Designed for sedate, "Old-Farmer-on Sunday-morning-going-to-Church-style-driving".
     
  7. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    Since I have a 65 Wildcat 3 on the tree, I can tell you the totally original nailhead in in runs better than all my other ones...and
    the three speed first gear is better to get going than the T-10. It is a chore to drive as it has no power steering,
    but the non power brakes are just as strong as any of my power brake cars.
    Jan purchased a 66 Wildcat with the 3-speed- converted by previous owner to
    floor shift and that was a fine car to drive. With Nailhead torque one does not miss the extra gear.
     
  8. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    I hear nailheads were torque monsters but how can that be when they have such a short stroke? Wouldnt they be better suited for high revs? and yet they are low end torque engines. I dont understand.
     
  9. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Good to know, thanks. I have been toying with the idea of building a nailhead powered standard Wildcat, I know of a 62 Invicta with a blown tranny (and a whole host of other issues too), it needs a total resto anyway, it's pretty rotten, so if I decided to get it it would have been a mild custom.
     
  10. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    +1 for mild custom. I should have checked craigslist more frequently, I would have been able to get this 59 Buick rust factory and save it. But alas, I would have had to go into debt for the money and then sell a car, which I would renig on to myself and then I would have 4 vehicles But still. I could have made a mild custom 59 Invicta two door! Nailhead was nice running they said.
     

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