Question: will a 430/455 swap in a 65 Riv?? I guess the biggest concern is that the 430/455 oilpan is different from the Nailhead, but is it possible to do this engine swap o No:
swap There will be many problems. Theoritically You can swap anything into any thing, if you put enough money,time and effort into it. You would have to swap the trans too. and the exaust system. the rad. the wiring harness. trans lines. motor mounts, drive shaft would have to be fabbed. Just not worth it. the 400-430-455 is just not as tough as the nails internally, and the performance gain wont be that much. better to build up the nail head that is in it.
Oh why not, what the hell ! When I was a "kid" , in the early 80's , there was a guy in little ol Orrington Maine that had a 65 Riv and he had swapped a Buick 455/th400 combo in. I only saw under the hood once, I didnt know very much back then [ being like 14 or 15 ] It sat down in nice, where it seemed to belong, a lot of other stuff was hacked..I remember flex radiator hoses, wires running all around and kinda hacky , the exhaust was a welded up mess, aftermarket airbreather, think it was painted Ford Blue, remember overspray on engine stuff not suppose to be bearing paint.... But it DID sit in nice, I "think" he said it was a drivetrain out of a 71-72 boattail riv , so it would have had a riv oilpan...but DO NOT quote me on that, not sure if that was/is correct..but with glass packs on it exiting in front of the rear wheels on 45 deg angles she sounded mean and went like hell..white, black interior, beat up set of "Keystone Klassics" on it...can see it in my mind like it was yesterday... An 'easier" sawp I saw in High School was a 401 and trans from a 64 Buick swapped into a 71 Firebird...welded motormounts, exhaust, moved wires, safety chain hooked up on block to frame in case mounts broke..looked dumb but it got my buddy around for 2 years since he had the engine and had the car, both free....this was long before MIG welders anyone could get, good engineering considering it was done by "burnouts"...same guys put a 350 Olds in a 67 Chevelle..REALLY got the Chevy guys upset..went better than the straight 6 it replaced..... I always wanted to build a 65 Riv with a 455 drivetrain after seeing that one as a kid.....go for it !! :TU:
Off the top of my head, if you used a 67-70 Riviera donor drive train it would the the easiest. Transmissions are all short tail TH400's so that would drop right in with no driveshaft, added wiring (you'd actually loose the switch pitch unless you got a 67 tranny), or shifter linkage changes. The engine frame mounts would have to be removed and replaced by Big Block mounts from the donor Riv, it would have to be a Riv due to the X-frame. Motor mounts would also have to come from the donor. There is no fan shroud so thats not a problem. Radiator would have to be either custom or from the donor, don't know if it would drop in or not but the hoses go different places between the two motors. A 64 LeSabre 300 radiator might drop in and work. Wiring on a carbed motor is cake and if a idiot light doesn't work, swap it for the sensor from the nailhead. Now for trying to get the accessories to work... on your own. I doubt you could use much more than factory manifolds either. I can't wait to get my V6 into my 64 Riv.
It is definately possble I sure hope it is possible because I just did it.Lot of fabricating,but to me that is what hotrodding is all about o No: .Center sump oilpan of course.I have everything in and ready except,shifter and I need to find a top radiator hose.Hood clearence is tight,but it will work.I am waiting on my B&M shifter and then will see how she runs. :3gears: The only way to run the original shifter would be to convert to cable operated.My car is going to be a custom so I am not concererend about original.I did alot of reasearch and believe the B&M Star shifter will fit into the console nicley with some light mods.I will soon find out.I was able to use stock 455 alternator and power steering brackets.Had to modify driver side inner fender for power steering pump clearence.So it will work.The biggest reason I did it is because the 455 is the Buick power plant that got me into Buicks in the first place and besides when someone ask"whats in it?" sounds so good when you say "455" :TU: Jeff
Awsome !!!!!! Jeff , that is GREAT ! I KNEW someone else out there must have done this swap other than the hack I saw some 25+ years ago ! One thought, would the 455 frame mounts from a 70 GS 455 work in this application ? Love your reasoning for the swap too ! :TU: :TU: :TU: Just Freekin' AWSOME !!!!! GREAT WORK !! :grin:
Gary,I used frame mounts from a 75 Park Ave,mostly because that is what I had.What I did was cut off the mounting tabs a then with several times taking them in and out grinding them dowm to set on the frame just right.Then tacked them in place with the engine in the car.Then pulled the engine back out and welded the mounts.Some people frown on welding in the frame mounts,but why not.This car will always have a 455 in it anyhow.I also had to cut out the original frame mounts as they were in the way of the engine.I also used a trans crossmember from a 67 Riv.Looks almost the same as the 64 crossmember,but alot beefyer.The crossmember has about a 1" rise which I cut out and welded in a flat plate.I could have just used the crossmember as it was and a 67 trans mount,but they are hard to get and exspensive so I modified the crossmember to use a newer more common mount.I am not sure what radiator I have,I had several laying around,but I belive this is the one out of a 67 Lark that I had.Four core.I had to fabricate some brackets on the bottom of it to raise it up to meet the top mounting bracket.Those I made out of sheet metal,but will be fabricating out of stainless later on.What I am doing is trying to get the car driveable with this combo so I can address any problems that arise before I make it pretty.In other words thru this years crusing season I will leave the beast ugly and try and iron out all the mechanicals,disk brakes,etc....then this coming winter tear it all back down and start making it pretty.I figure if things are going to go wrong which I am sure they will,that way I can address them before everthing is painted.As I said in the first thread,I still have the top radiator hose issue to deal with and the shifter.Then test drive,for all I know she may fall apart when I take her out for a spin, :laugh: but she sounds good and the 455 sits in ther niceley,tightly,but it fits.Other problems are the fuel lines and battery are on the wrong side.I am using an electric fuel pump and a longer heavy starter cable.I plan to move the battery to the trunk later on.It has been a fun project so far and I am itching to take her for a spin.Jeff
awsome ! Cool stuff man ! I sent this thread to another guy contemplating the same swap. Weather is trying to break here in Maine, might be able to haul a few more Buicks home !
One test drive down Well she runs pretty good for a 75 smoger engine.Finally solved my radiator hose problem,got the B&M shifter installed(that was no cake walk) and took my first ride.That switch pitch t/400 is sweet. :3gears: I have'nt got it out on the hard road yet,I do not have any wheels that fit correctly.The old Rivs have a bigger centering hole.I turned down the rear axles so they are fine,but I have spacers on the front and don't trust that for anything over a short slow run,but I do know the posi works. :laugh: I plan to put disks on the front so it may be awhile before I get to take her on the road.The car has to go to the back burner for awhile so I can whittle down my honey do list ou: .My shop has to be transformed to a wood shop for awhile :ball: All in all it has been a fun project so far. :TU: Jeff
cool Hey Jeff, Glad to hear you got the ol clandestine test drive in :TU: My first test drive is schedualed for 2012 , so I should be good and ready for it ! Bites when "life" gets in the way of our projects but when you get back to it that will just make you appreciate it that much more. Keep me/us posted on it ! Pics welcomed !!!!!! :laugh: All the best ! GF
Well a 502 fits I had to take a picture of this Rivy at pomona swap meet yesterday, even though it has an error under the hood, its a nice car, and bet its a blast to drive :TU:
I know why they used that low profile air cleaner :Smarty: Wish mine was that pretty,but at least mine has a Buick engine in it and it will look that nice in 8 or 9 years o No: :laugh: :laugh:
No I stopped working on that car and built a rat rod.There is a post on it somewhere on here.I did get it to the point of driving down the road,but then tore it down for restoration then...................well you know the story.I do plan to get back to work on that car soon.Of course now I have a new honey do listou: .Jeff
