In the next few weeks, I'll be installing new rockers, front and rear floor panels in the Nifty Fifty. Along with new carpet. Would like to keep the old fella stock with just a few mods, keeping the original engine and tranny, was thinking of a floor shifter. All input would be appreciated. :TU:
Does your car have an automatic or manual transmission? I dont know about the Dynaflow, but assuming it already has a manual transmission, for floor shift I think there are only three choices: 1) Find a shifter made by Ansen (called a Posi-Shift) or Drag Fast. They are both rare. I have only ever seen one Ansen shifter for sale. See this article for a picture of an Ansen shifter: http://www.webrodder.com/article.php?AID=84&SID=4&CID= 2) Make your own like they did in this thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123830 3) Use a Buick floor shift main case. Buick made two versions of the Syncromesh manual trans, one with the 5-bolt top cover used in the small series cars and one with a 6-bolt top cover used in the big series cars. The 6-bolt top cover trans is much stronger, but I think the 5-bolt trans in your car is probably fine for a straight 8. The 6-bolt top cover transmissions are basically the same from '36 - '60 and I think the 5-bolt top cover transmissions are basically the same from '37 -'55, except they both were floor shift until '39 when they went to column shift. The trick with the 6-bolt top cover transmissions is to use a '37-'38 main case, shift rails/forks, and top cover/shifter with '41 or later gears (stronger) and appropriate year tailshaft. I don't see why this wouldn't work with a 5-bolt top cover trans. You would need a floor shift trans out of a '37-'38 Special and then use the gears, tailshaft, and probably the front bearing retainer from your '50 trans to get the floor shift. I found an article in the August 1956 issue of Hot Rod Magazine that talks about this for the 6-bolt top cover trans, but I think it would be the same for the 5-bolt top cover trans. You can get it in a book called "The Best of Hot Rod Magazine 1949-1959". The title of the article is "Big Gears for Any Engine" (starts on page 164 of the book). See this link: http://books.google.com/books?id=UX...ts=A279vyspN5&sig=2e81kZ9_5KCiFHOZvP7Z2yx5w-E I am planning on doing this with a '57 Special/Century, you can see this thread for more info: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=141007 This is what Ive found out from my research on this, but if you have any more info you could share that would be great. __________________ Sean Smith BCA# 42746
The Nifty Fifty started right up after charging the battery a bit. I took it for a ride before dropping it off Saturday at the Shop where they are going to replace all the floor pans. I also ordered toe kick panels from Classic Parts 4 U.
Today they started on the Nifty Fifty, and going to need some more items that I can't locate, the first is the center sheet metal between the toe kick panels (referred to as the Dog House) and the most serious part is the floor or body supports, there are 4 of them, the body mounts to them, these were rusty and must be replace. :rant:
No further work can be done till these brackets are located, can't even lift the car because the body will shift due to the brackets being rusty and not holding. Any help in locating these would be appreciated.
Can they fabricate those??? You'd have to find a junkyard that has 50s cars, probably out west...I don't believe those pieces are reproduced...
Aaron, you are correct, spoke with some local fabricators and they are willing to give it a try, will have to remove them off the car so they can measure and study the best way to recreate them. They will have to hold long enough till I start on the custom project I have in store for this body style. :TU:
Got the brackets back from local fabricator and they look great. Now can proceed with the installation of the floors and toe panels. Ordered new carpets and mats from CARS-INC.
Picked up the Nifty Fifty today, but too dark for pictures, will have some pics Friday evening when I go to the Cruise :TU:
[COLOR="black"The Nifty Fifty is home again, with new floor pans, mat, and new carpet. The car came up almost 3 inches with the new supports and floors.][/COLOR] :beers2:
Yeah man, that thing is sweet! Nice work.:TU: I just picked up a 4dr 1950 Special Jetback and I'm pretty stoked on it. If you've got any tips/secrets/advice specific to this car I'd love to pick your brain.
