help on my 55 buick, please...

[hammerbowler]

I currently have a 55 buick special that im going to drop in a 56 322 nailhead into but still keep the original dynaflow trans. the question i have is... are they compatable with out modifications? Im just nervous because there doesnt look like there is enough space for the torque converter cover and the flywheel to fit in the housing when i go to bolt it to the block. I just purchased the 322 from someone who dropped it into his 55 buick but sold the whole car to me (ran out of time and money) but his dynaflow trans lookes different than mine, but fits to the engine. His trans i believe is original also, but needs to be rebuilt. It just seemes weird that in 1955 they would make 2 different trannys for the same special. well... the only difference between his and mine is, mine is a model 43 4 door rivera while his is a model 41 4 door tourback sedan. my torque converter has teeth on it and threaded holes to attach the converter cover to it while his torque converter has no teeth and D head bolts that that slide thru from the back and thru the cover and nut tighten by lock nuts against the cover. Right now there is a chain between the flywheel holding the engine up so im not sure if the flywheel will be able to be sucked tighter to the housing to give me the clearance I need for the trans. Right now the flywheel is flush with the dowel rod. Any one with idea, I'd appriciate it a lot, thanks! Ya know I was just flipping thru the parts guide for 55 and 56 and neither torque coverter cover has teeth, so know I have no idea what year my dynaflow is. ARRG! If any one has a good website i can go to to view the differences between years, I'd appreciate it, instead of buying all kids of manuals. Thanks!

[old-tank]

The transmission with the teeth is not a 55 or 56 transmission; and the engine it attaches to is not a 55 or 56 engine. My guess it is a 57-63. Hopefully someone with this range of cars can help...I just know 55's enough to comment.

Willie

[Guest kevinshea]

I have a 54 and ended up with 2 transmissions, a 54 and a 56. I was thinking about using the "better" 56 until I determined that the 56 is about 1/2" longer than the 54 (same as used in the 55). S0, if you use a newer tranny be sure to check all the measurements. After I found the differences, I reasoned that the rear end drive tube shaft must be shorter and that that would need to be a 56 also. With that question I chose to remain standard.

[Roadhog]

Hammerblower, I think the first thing to do is to identify your engine. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />The '56 322 engine serial # will be on the top outer edge of the left cyl bank, between the middle branches of the exhaust manifold. You may have to remove the plug cover to get a good look. If its' a 57+ up engine as Old Tank suggests the ser# will be on the top of the engine crank case fore ward of the lifter cover on the left (drivers side, behind the water pump) This is the first year that Buick stamped the car ser.# on the block as the legal engine#. If it is a 57+ I can decifer the ser# for you and tell you what it came out of. When we ident. the engine then we can work on the tranny! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Where are you in Illinois? I am in Alton, just North of St. Louis!