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| | | | Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 19 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 19 | Hey Guys,
I've got a 1969 Chevy 350 bolted to a Turbo 400 in my 1957 GMC right now. I've got a 1970 Buick 455 that I want to swap into the truck. How hard of a swap will this be & will this motor bolt right up to the turbo 400? What else will I need to do?
Thanks | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | The bolt pattern for the bellhousing for a Buick engine is different than the Chevrolet bolt pattern. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | You can get a TH400 with the BOP bolt pattern easy enough if needed. The Buick 455 is a sweet engine.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 | There's a Chevy/BOP adapter plate available that allows a swap to be done in either direction. The kit includes a set of spacer washers to reposition the torque converter back from the flex plate to make up for the spacer between the block and the bellhousing so the pump drive isn't compromised.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 | I have done this swap on a 51 Chevy 1/2 ton panel truck and the motor fits great…a little tight if you use a column shifter (like me).
Through trial and error I found that a TransDapt tubular engine swap crossmember
for a Ford 460 can be easily trimmed to accept the Buick 455 using stock Buick
motor mounts. The motor mount centerline (17 1/2") for the Ford 460 is almost identical
to the same dimension on the Buick (17 3/4") ….. You'll have to elongate or ream the Ford crossmember about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch to accept the Buick dimension.
Also, you'll have to trim an inch or so off each of the Ford engine mounting perches; so that the stock Buick motor mounts will sit squarely.
This arrangement eliminated the need to trim or remove any part of the stock frame cross members.
Lastly, get your self an oil filter re-location kit to eliminate the headache of
oil filter interference….. I put mine of the inner fender where its easy to service.
Use the stock Buick exhaust manifolds with 70-72 GS down pipes. Use a firewall mounted master cylinder to make space underneath for exhaust pipes.
To save space upfront at the radiator , I used a good sized trans cooler mounted to the rear of the trans, where the panel's fuel tank used to be...
hope this helps | | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | Cadillac is another source for a th400 that will bolt to BOP
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