Hi All.....just bought a completely rebuilt 1963 401 with Dynaflow trans that is going into a highly modified 1958 Morgan. The car when completed is targted to weight 2000 lbs. Everything that can be removed has, no top, wipers, door handles, windshield is now wind screen. i got the engine/trans mounted in the frame, barely as I will need to get an oil filter relocation kit and will need to get after market headers as the driver side extends to far into the firewall. I have a couple of initial questions......of which i am sure will create more questions. Any recommendations on oil filter relocation kits? Any suggestions for headers that dump out in the middle? There is a rocker arm on the drivers side of the trans that i understand connects to the gas peddle and to the carb....as my targeted weight is dramatically less than the buicks that this 401 powered, do i really need it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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New Member with 1963 Buick 401 Nailhead with DynaFlow trans
- Thread starter WRRMDOVR
- Start date
I would want the stator actuator to work. It puts the converter in high stall under heavy acceleration. This will multiply torque more and allow the engine to slip up and into a better RPM range for power. Since you have reduced weight to go faster, you might as well take advantage of what the transmission also offers to the same end.
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fair enough and appreciate your input. any ideas on a floor mount shifter option? i have been searching and calling everywhere and nothing. attached is a picture of the current status. the engine and trans mounts have been fabbed up and painted....just awaiting installation.
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Todd,
Welcome. This is where I got those sections of the 63 Chassis Manual.
Welcome. This is where I got those sections of the 63 Chassis Manual.
1963 Buick Chassis Manual, Special, FREE ONLINE
www.teambuick.com
I was looking at your picture and saw a road draft tube. That means 62 or earlier engine. What is the two letter code on the right side valley pan rail in the front? That will tell us the year and type.
Not sure if these will help, but here are some Nailhead center dump headers: https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Patr...Header-Street-Rod-Universal-Buick,301509.html. Maybe you could heat and bend them away from the frame if they dont clear?
You could drill and tap the block for some elbow fittings or this guy said he already had the relocating plate for a 53-60 Nailhead and is working on the 61-66 plates: http://www.rod-o-rama.com/products.html.
Not sure if these will help, but here are some Nailhead center dump headers: https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Patr...Header-Street-Rod-Universal-Buick,301509.html. Maybe you could heat and bend them away from the frame if they dont clear?
You could drill and tap the block for some elbow fittings or this guy said he already had the relocating plate for a 53-60 Nailhead and is working on the 61-66 plates: http://www.rod-o-rama.com/products.html.
Lots of OE interiors featured the floor mounted dynaflow shifter. This is a 63 Riv for example. If you found an OE shifter and linkage, you could make it work!
4I1005705 is the vin number of the vehicle:
4=LeSabre series
I=1962 year
1=Flint MI assembly plant
005705=vehicle production number
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4=LeSabre series
I=1962 year
1=Flint MI assembly plant
005705=vehicle production number
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The 4I on the other side should be the engine code and a date code. 4I was code for a 1962 401 four barrel with 10.25:1 compression. The Buick Wildcat 445 as it was called related to the torque output of that engine. It could not be a 64 as Buick changed the crank flange to work with the ST400 trans beginning in 64. The Dynaflow converter would not fit a 64 crank flange and pilot hole.
The road draft tube was used to evacuate the crankcase before the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system was used beginning in 1963. The tube used vacuum to evacuate the crankcase when the car was moving. The PCV system used engine vacuum to evacuate the crankcase at idle and while moving at lower throttle positions. The PCV was much better at removing these fumes and allowed them to be recycled and burned through access to the carb. It was much more environmentally friendly!
The road draft tube was used to evacuate the crankcase before the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system was used beginning in 1963. The tube used vacuum to evacuate the crankcase when the car was moving. The PCV system used engine vacuum to evacuate the crankcase at idle and while moving at lower throttle positions. The PCV was much better at removing these fumes and allowed them to be recycled and burned through access to the carb. It was much more environmentally friendly!
Update on the floor shifter.....a great big thank you Wildcat GS who was kind enough to part with a '63 Riv floor shifter. Got last week and mocked it up over the weekend and once i get the linkage adjusted will work just perfectly. on to the next big challenge.....swapping out rear axles.