1958 Buick Special w/ a 401 V/8 & Turbo 400 ????

[Carbuff2]

I am in the process of purchasing a 1958 Buick Special w/ an engine in need of repair .... I have two 401 V/8s out of 1965 Rivieras and the corresponding Turbo 400 trans .... The question is "How much of a job is it to install the 401 in the 1958???? (blocks appear the same)does the dynaflow bolt up to the 401? Is there an adapter? what do you do about a driveline? Is it a bolt up installation? Or would I be better getting the engine that is in it rebuilt and re-installed? Your advise, and opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Paul

[Guest dabecker65@gmail.com]

If memory serves me - '58 40 series hasa 364 c.i. Depends on what you want to do with it - in my book having the original 364 would ultimately add value...

[Centurion]

The 1965 401 engines would not have a Dynaflow crank, and will not bolt up to the Dynaflow. (Earlier, pre-1964 401's would be more readily mated to the Dynaflow, since the Dynaflow was used through 1963.)

And the Super Turbine 400 from the '65's will not work with the '58 Buick's torque tube set-up. In order to utilize this transmission, you'd be looking at switching over to an open driveline and different rear-end.

Ultimately, the easiest, least expensive route is to rebuild the '58 364 engine and utilize it with the Dynaflow. These cars are entirely roadworthy and comfortable to drive with the stock powertrain and suspension set-up.

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> In order to utilize this transmission, you'd be looking at switching over to an open driveline and different rear-end. </div></div>

Not to mention a totally refabricated suspension system to mount the rear end (as the torque-tube setup has none of the location providing ability needed for a Hotchkiss setup), which would mean major frame mods/additions and some serious re-engineering.

The later Dynaflows (called Twin-Turbines) are indeed very roadworthy. Although their "feel" isn't quite the same as a Turbo 400, their efficientcy isn't appreciably lower in a road car.

Add to that the later market value of a cobbled-together mismatch of parts and it's hard to see the advantage of a Turbo 400 retrofit. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Carbuff2]

Thanks for your prompt responses .... I didn't know for sure what was envolved but suspected the mating of the Dynaflow to the 401 and that the enclosed driveline would also present a problem .... lastly that the value of the car would suffer without much appreciable improvement in performance. So I guess the right thing to do is to rebuild the endine and enjoy the car as it was originally made. Thanks for helping me make up my mind so fast. Paul

[Pontiac59]

You'd need to add a couple of truck arms or similar to the rearend BEFORE taking anything else apart and make them work before you did anything else. Or else change it to use leaf springs - they make kits to convert some cars, it probably wouldn't be too tough to change it if you were a fabricator.

But they are correct, have a '53 carcass with no motor and the rearend moves back and forth a good 4" with nothing to hold it in place.

Supposedly you can convert the rear itself to an open using a 61-62 Buick fullsize pumpkin.