1956 buick Special Covertable

[Napoli]

Hi guys,
I'm sure this has been discussed before on the board but I could not find it.

I own a 1956 322cu buick special with a 3 speed Manual tranny (the only one in Lebanon) and although it drives well the first gear tends to slip out if you dont hold onto it and second can grind into sync if you dont wait a couple of seconds between first and second.....

I would like to know a couple of things if possible; does anyone out there sell a trany rebuild kit for this car? or is the practice not to waste time with it and place a converter plate with a 350 Chevy auto and call it good?

If you have links for vendors out there who can help I would realy apreciate it. My mechanic in lebanon is a good shade redkneck but it limitied to parts that he can scavange steal or borrow and the pickins are slim out here :-)

Regards,
Napoli

[Bhigdog]

It sounds like you need new synchronizers. That'sa rare car you have, don't booger it up by trying to change the trans. With the closed drive shaft it's not as easy as you might think unless you convert to a Dynaflow and even that's not as easy as it might seem. Try FATSCO for the tranny parts. Lets your fingers do the walking through Google. You might even find a whole trans out there.............Bob

[Napoli]

Thanks BD,
I will try and contact FATSCO, do you happen to know the Tranny brand/name thats in my 56? i.e its not a dynoflow but its a ????

Many thanks again I do not want to butcher the car up and end up with a turbo 400 and modified frame as I enjoy its originality and its been a dependable cruiser.

Regards,
Napoli

[Bhigdog]

It should just be identified as a Buick manual or more correctly a Synchromesh transmission.
It's important that you specify the model of your car such as a Special or whatever. The parts books are kind of vague on parts numbers and interchangeability............Bob

[Commodore]

Nothwest Transmission Parts has lots of trans parts call them.

NorthWest Transmission Parts

[poci1957]

Many thanks again I do not want to butcher the car up and end up with a turbo 400 and modified frame as I enjoy its originality and its been a dependable cruiser.

This is a rare car even in the U.S--over 95% of Buicks had Dynaflows.

As stated the Buick torque tube drivetrain means lots of work to put in a later automatic (or anything else). Your 3 speed is a conventional manual transmission that should be easy for your guy to rebuild as long as you can buy the parts and a service manual. Should be no problem, good luck, Todd C

[michel88]

I would follow Commodores advice and contact NorthWest Transmission parts. They were very helpful and supplied the parts to rebuild my 1940 Buick Roadmaster transmission. Please don't butcher this extremely rare 3 speed convertible.

[Napoli]

thank M88,
I have been in touch and they do have some kits that will be useful to me! I dont plan to butcher the car hence why I am trying to get her back to original...even though some say the original tranny isnt great. I drove her for that last 4 weeks and apart from the tranny grinding now and then she drove pretty smoothly.