1963 lesabre

[Guest]

FOUND OUT THAT MY 28000 MILE LESABRE SPUN A ROD BEARING INSTEAD OF THROWING A ROD AS FIRST DIAGNOSED. A LOCAL MACHINE SHOP HERE IN JACKSONVILLE FL. SAID THEY WOULD REBUILD COMPLETE FOR UNDER 1500 DOLLARS. THATS NOT BAD TO KEEP CAR ORIGINAL BUT CAN I STILL GET A BETTER DEAL BY JUST TRYING TO FIND A USED 401 THAT WOULD BOLT TO MY CAR????? ALSO I DON'T KNOW IF JUST ANY YEAR 401 WOULD WORK???? IN THAT CASE WOULD A 425 BOLT TO MY DYNAFLOW??? IF SO I'D LOOK AND LIKE TO BUY A ENGINE IN THAT CATAGORY. I'D WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEED BACK ON THIS MATTER FROM ANY ONE THAT COULD STEER ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO??? THIS IS TO NICE OF A CAR TO SCRAP OUT. IT STILL HAS A LOT OF GOOD ENGINE PARTS. THE HEADS AND STUFF LIKE THAT LOOK LIKE BRAND NEW. I BOUGHT THE CAR TO RESTORE BUT NOW I'M A LITTLE ON THE DOWN SIDE ABOUT HAVING TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THATS THE LAST THING I'D HAVE TO DO TO THIS CAR.

THANKS FOR ANY ADVISE

WAYNE PARROTT JAX FL

[Guest]

The cranks on 64-66 nailheads are different and won't accept a Dynaflow torque converters. Hope this helps.

[Guest John Chapman]

Wayne, for my two cents worth...

If the engine is otherwise sound, complete and original, I'd go for the rebuild. Any near-40 year old engine you find as a replacement would likely have far more milage and just as likely require a rebuild now or in the near future -- and you're out the cost of the engine, too. Combine that with the requirement to find an engine that will bolt up to the Dynaflow.... rebuild is the least risk approach.

Be sure to find a rebuild shop that knows Buick engines. They don't rebuild well using Chivvy/Ford-type sloppy tolerances.

Finally, for what it's worth, I grew up in the early 60's listening to WAPE-AM 690...then the first all-rock format radio station on the east coast... and the only connection to civilization in south Gerogia, besides Ranger Hal on WJXT....

Cheers,

John