Upgrading Carb on 401 Nailhead with Carb Ignition?

[ReaperKDF]

I have a 1959 Buick Invicta 4dr Hardtop, with a 401 Nailhead and 2 barrel carb. I have got a good four-barrel intake of a similar year 364 Nailhead, which sould work (the bolt holes line up and meassure exactly the same). I use that znd replace the old 2-barrel carb with a new Holly 700 cfm Double-Pumper with a manchanical choke.

I understand the starter is on the OEM carburator, how can I do this and still change carbs? Is the another ingition or starter option/change over. My key cyclder (the starter on/off switch) is broke, so I have to replace that anyway. What are my options?

The 2-barrel leaks badly, enough I can't safely start it now, so i figure a four barrel would be better for performance and highway gas mileage with the smaller secondaries. Performance is my main concern, I will be having the motor rebuilt with new parts, bored over, ported and polished heads, etc.

I'm open to any ideas of suggestions for this car, the body and interior are already being restored, but I can't find any real street-rod parts or ideas for the '59 Nailhead, just the 63+ and Wildcats.

My goal is to have a nice looking street-rod, be it 4 doors or not, with a lot of low end HP and Touque.

I known the '59 401 Nailhead came stock with 325 HP and 445 of Touque, I want to increase that as much as possible, but more importantly get it from the motor to the rear weels. So changing or upgrading the transmission and rear end are also on my to do list? Open to suggestions there too?

Thanks...

[raycow]

If you aren't totally wedded to the gas pedal start feature, the easiest and cheapest fix is to install a separate starter button or replace the key switch with one that has a start position. This will also make your job easier if you ever want to upgrade to an alternator.

An automatic transmission upgrade is doable, but requires changing to open drive and replacing the rear suspension. This is rather serious surgery, so first you need to decide just how badly you want to get rid of the Dynaflow. If you are willing to shift gears, the stock 3 speed manual (from a LeSabre) is a fairly easy swap and will let you keep the torque tube.

Ray

[telriv]

A '59 Invicta would have come from the favtory with a 401 & 4 bbl. carb. NOT a 2bbl. Although a 401/2bbl. carb. was standard on a '62-'63 LeSabre. A 364 manifold will NOT match the ports correctly if in fact you DO have a 401. My guess would be that the engine may have been changed to a 364