I've just found this board and joined. I'm an electrician by trade but lately I've been working part time at a friends shop in Scotts Valley called Replika Maschinen. It's a racing head and engine shop with 30 years experience in racing from NASCAR to Ed Pink to Salt Flat racers(thinly disguised pitch for my buddy there ) I'm from Santa Cruz. It's a little oceanside college town with a lot of great mountain roads. I've had and messed with all kinds of cars and bikes over the years from El Caminos to turboed, all wheel drive Toyotas. Anyway, that's my introduction and on to current business. I've had a 48 Super for a while now and been driving it around all original. Not in great shape, but original minus most of the trim. The ole' fireball 8 just decided to drop a piston a while back and about that time a friend of mine kicked me down a fairly freshly rebuilt '66 425 Nailhead in trade for some electrical work. Hmmm, that would be a great engine to drop in the old boat. I've never been a resto/stocker guy anyway.... Heads are going to Replika Maschinen for a mild workover. Just located a TH400 for it and have a couple of 12 bolt rear ends floating around. So I have a couple of questions. How sturdy is the frame on the 48 Super? Since I am going to near triple the torque and lose the torque tube I don't really want to twist the thing into a knot. The other question is what's the easiest way to get disc front brakes on this thing? Do I need a clip or has anyone found a way to adapt spindles or something? I look forward to getting to know the members here. Been on a few other boards such as this and it kicks booty to have that kind of resource at your fingertips.
Hello Bob: There is a classic Buick section on the Board that has a couple of guys on it that have made a similar swap in cars your vintage. and have faced the additional torque issue. You will see they discussed the need to brace the stock frame. Some have installed a new sub frame. There is a guy here that is finishing a 48 Roadmaster convt. that mated a GS frame and suspension which he says was a pefect fit. It is powed by a 455 OLDS because his son smoked the 455 Buick engine towing a boat after the engine lost its coolant.
Thanks for the tip, I had looked there before but didn't adjust the search date far back enough I guess. Looks like I'll have to do some bracing.
