Rusty Bowtie

General Category => Other Manufacturer Discussion => Topic started by: billy on July 10, 2013, 01:39:23 PM

Title: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: billy on July 10, 2013, 01:39:23 PM

ok
i have a 53 special and i cant afford to restore it.
so now i want to put a different drivetrain
chevy 350 and 3 speed auto as well as probably a ford 9" rear
from what i understand a 4 link rear would be easiest and cheapest.
i am just gonna sell the 2 straight 8's i have and probably scrap the dynaflow and rear end.
the dynaflow and floating rear parts are insanely expensive and nobody knows how to work on them anyway.
so away they go.
it is such a cool car we cant bear to not make it usable.
and drive it a LOT.
ANY IDEAS?

Title: Re: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: EDNY on July 10, 2013, 03:11:16 PM

If that Buick has leaf springs..I would thinks it's easier to drop an axle on top or below them? Of course they should checked out and rebuilt or replaced.  Might consider a Ford Explorer 8.8 axle..common with posi and disc and not real wide.

Here's some 8.8 info:

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html

My .02
Ed

Title: Re: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: billy on July 11, 2013, 03:41:51 PM

I Have all chrome ect. except for the hood ornament and a headlight cowl.
the engines are on a concrete slab under a tarp.
supposedly this car was a runner before the previous owner pulled the engine.
he had 2 of these cars and yanked the engine out of the other one and installed a (you guessed it) chevy 350.
he has been driving it around for a few years now.

Title: Re: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: billy on July 12, 2013, 10:02:21 AM

there is a 3000 acre pull-a-part nearby with VERY low prices.
i have already restored a car 63 willys jeep and while the end product was great.*
it wasnt safe to drive on modern roads (too slow)
i am going with a modern drivetrain with cheap and readily available parts.


*lost big money when i sold it.

Title: Re: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: billy on July 16, 2013, 07:13:38 PM

update
my gal just veto'd my 5.9L 24 v turbo cummins diesel idea.
i found one for a fair price
but that woman just wont listen to reason....

Title: Re: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: themoose on July 16, 2013, 08:22:57 PM

billy

Happy wife = Happy life!!!!

Moose

Title: Re: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: billy on July 17, 2013, 09:17:21 AM

if this build was for me
i would be tempted just for the fun of having the freakish union of a classic car with the clattering racket of the 5.9L and a ton of power
not to mention smoke.....

Title: Re: 53 buick drivetrain swap?
Post by: EDNY on July 17, 2013, 10:52:52 AM

Here's 39 Chevy Ratrod with a Cummins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVlov_t4fjg&feature=player_embedded