I have a 1963 Riviera need help with swap

**moshady** · 10-12-2008, 10:15 AM

I have a 1963 Riviera, Am trying to swap everything From a Chevy van. 350 engine, tranny everything over to the Buick. Would it work. The Riviera Has nothing under the hood.

**Straight Eight** · 10-12-2008, 01:13 PM

DON'T DO IT!!!

Take the time and use a Buick engine. Time effort and value will be wasted using Chevy stuff.

**SFC ROCK** · 10-12-2008, 08:15 PM

Put it in a chevy!!!!

Would be cheaper and easier to keep it naihead

**69stage2** · 10-13-2008, 09:15 AM

Do you want to sell the Riviera, seems like a backward swap.

**bob k. mando** · 10-13-2008, 12:47 PM

that should probably have a 425 Nailhead in it backed up by an SP-400.

see www.Rivowners.org

**Straight80** · 10-24-2008, 06:51 PM

I thought the 63 Riviera had a Dynflow transmission in it? The 64 Had the turbo 400. I took the transmission out of a 64 Riviera, and put it in a 64 Cadillac, the only difference was the dip stick tube.

**gag67sky** · 10-25-2008, 03:40 AM

Hi, it would be like swaping a VW combi engine in a good old year 911TURBO Porcshe ! Would you do that silly thing ????

I've been surfing the net for quite a while and you've got the chance to have plenty of spare parts or parting cars all around the US for ridiculous costs, 'think a 63' Riviera is worth spending little time/money to get back a descent engine/tranny inside...
If I ever had only one parting car twin of mine in the whole French ground, I'd manage to have it, but there's nooooooo

**smith63riviera** · 01-23-2009, 06:52 PM

Newto buicks just traded a torn a part 55bel air for a "runing" riviera63 today degreasing/cleaning it find a lot of unusual things wrong:
1-original engine replaced by a 90`vintage 350 or 305 chevy (the oil sump was beatten up so that the tie bar for the steering would clear (i am supposing this maybe they just did not buy original kit for front end rebuild and did this contraption where the bar was chopped welded,etc). The owner has the original engine with the 2 speed semi incomplete.
2-apart from the steering mess they adapted a disc brake (chevy) that does not look 100% functional it touches suspension parts.
Does anyone sell a spindle to spindle kit with the disc brakes/rack&pinon?
If not someone that would sell the complete suspension rebuild kit.
Also the springs a very soft and the car is listing to one side were can i call to replace them with a stiffer spring/shock stup?
Is it worthwhile to try and repair the old engine? Here in venezuela the chevy has plenty of parts and the serpentine pulleys are a nice feature to have.
Thanks