Ok, my car was a 350 with 350th trans, I bought a 455 with 400th trans. Im going to use the 455 with m21 trans. Here are a list of parts and my OPGI parts order. I have the bellhousing, clutch and brake pedels, Sach clutch kit, M21 trans and hurst shifter. OPGI parts list 1 CH26522 68-72 4SP TRANS HUMP 1 S240058 68-72 BUICK CLUTCH P 1 C980157 68/72 A-BODY CLUTCH 1 MMP5220 64/72 CLUTCH/BRAKE P 1 EM23005 68/72 SHIFT BEZEL & 1 G240853 Clutch Fork,1964-74 2 C990016 CLUTCH PEDAL SHAFT B 1 S240012 68-72 BUICK 400/455 1 CH20300 64-72 BELL CRANK REB 1 KR00584 68-72 A-BODY BELLCRA 1 L240156 64-88 CLUTCH FORK PI 1 PZ00784 68-72 W/O CONSOLE SH 1 CH25293 68-72 CLUTCH ADJUSTM 1 KR00508 68-72 A-BODY CLUTCH 1 CCP0499 64-81 CLUTCH FORK RU 1 AM50521 1968-72 A-BODY FIREW Can anyone help me by telling me I got all the parts to make the trans swap complete and working? I have never worked on a buick before and Im just trying to get my project on the road so I can drive it!! I cant wait.Thanks guys for all the help!!
why did you choose an M21? If youve never had one they arent alot of fun for a novice...what rear gear?
My 67 camaro had a 327 with a M20. This is my first M21 but I was told its not much different. I went with the M21 cause it easier to get here in Hawaii and my driveshaft don't need to be changed for the swap. My dads friend built the trans and they chose the gearing to match my 3.90 final that they put in. Anyone who did the swap got any advice?
:idea2: manual trans = BIG PAIN IN THE ASS... ou: SOMETIMES, I WISH I WOULD HAVE LEFT IT A AUTOMATIC...ou:
M-21 And A 3.90 Will Be Fine.... but.....becareful alot of so-called buick part are just chevy stuff.....post some pix....of what you have.....
I want my car to be a manual trans and Im ok with a challenge. This will not be daily driven even though Im setting it up so I could drive it every day if i wanted to. Some of the parts I got from OPGI are for a Chevelle, Im ok with it. This is not a number matching rare car. This is my project that Im building for ME and no one else. My dad and his friend are nice enough to help out as much as they can but their Mopar guys at heart and never worked on a buick ether. This is a car that I wanted since I first seen one on my dads old race videos. Oahu is a chevy Island and I love the shape of our cars, but I want the best and fastest one ever made! Thats why I went with this buick. This is my chance to beat my dad's dart! LOL, his 340 dart used to kill my camaro... Its pay back time!!
Swapped my 70 to a 4 speed this past winter season, best modification I have made so far!! Much more fun to drive (though I admit it is probably slower as far as strip time, my 400 really hammered when it shifted). jt
Awesome! Looks great! I can't wait to get my GS on the road. I see stock 4speed guys running 12's to low 13's on the 1/4. My engine came out of a Stage1 car and its not stock. The auto might be better for the drag strip but I'm not that bad of a driver. I just want to beat my dad!! LOL!
I have an original 71 GS 350 with 4 speed and just installed my 455 in its place. It been going good so far with the exception of getting the clutch, shifter and linkage all lined up and able to shift in all the gear without any issues. I am on my second time taking the exhaust, drive shaft, and trans out figuring out what is up. When I had my 350 in the car all was well, shifter worked great, clutch was also good and I replaced the clutch 25 years ago without any issues. I might give up soon with the clutch, trans and shifter and just continue with getting my front suspension and front end completed so I can get rolling and hopefully over to the expert Nick who owns Ivyland Collision to make the final adjustment with the clutch, trans and shifter! So far the luckiest part of my restoration is that Nick's place is only down the street from me and hopfully soon to get my GS finally painted! George
Im praying that everything goes in smoothly and I wont have some of the problems that a few of you have gone through. All I can do is take all of your guys advice and learn from your experience. I have read the stickys and I thank you guys for putting up so much helpful info. I wasn't feeling very confident about the swap since im doing it on my own. But Im starting to feel a bit more fire under me and im being razed everyday by my dad that my car wont even start.... Well see..uzzled:
Be careful on the bell crank (z-bar). This is BBB specific. The SBC & SBB do interchange (done it) but the 455 is completely different. The pedels will be hit or miss as well. SBP (Pontiac) pedels do work, as I used them in my swap. I believe that the OPG pedels are Chevelle units. Be sure that the hump interchanges with GTO & GS, floor is the same on all A-bodies but the hole might not be. Clutch actuation rod shows the same part number for SBB & SBC, including I-6. Mike G. has the correct BBB unit. I was using the SBB unit in my car w/o any problems, so.... Oh yeah, your gonna have to bore a 2" hole through the lower steering mount at the firewall for the clutch rod to pass thru. Just sayin! Good luck with the swap. Jim 1969 GS California Former 455 Stage 1/Muncie 4 spd/12 bolt posi Soon to be LSx powered 1982 GN Clone 455 Stage 1/TH400 "Guess where the GS motor went!"
"...bore 2" hole...."? No. Use the correct firewall steering column / clutch pedal rod pieces. No boring hole.
