Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[GS66]

The gal at ESPO Srings & Things has been helpful to several here.

[cwmcobra]

+1 for Laura at Springsnthings.com!!

Chuck

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks guys...   Just sent her an email! Kinda looking for "re-purposed" LOL. maybe new is the way to go...?    ws

[GS66]

Yes, Laura. She?s knowledgeable and that helps. You can get stock springs or +/- inches. I also got Moog front end parts there.

[yachtsmanbill]

Laura got back to me with a cost of 90.00 plus the truck. I was hoping on a set of used ones. The MOOGs I can source locally and avoid the shipping.   ws

[197064buickspec]

The aftermarket frame mounts that I used and have used work well. I think the first set I had were Poston. But I bought some TA's from some members and they are the same from what i remember.

One if the key things is to pick the right holes on the mounts to use. One set of holes is higher than the other. One worked better for my header clearance than the other. My engine has a b4b edelbrock intake and matching carb. I do run just the standard edelbrock air cleaner too. I tried to put a one inch spacer under the carb years ago and at that point I couldn't close the hood without the carb stud trying to poke through.

If you're running a stock style set up and not going to run a SPI intake or anything like that you shouldn't have an issue with TA mounts. I use the cast version mounts.

With your front springs.....my 64 Special I had was a 6cyl and the original springs were still in it. I had no issues unless I made tight turns then the tires would rub. I had 225/60/ 15 tires on cragars.

I was more worried about the headers hitting the ground.....they hung low . Once I put the rear end in with a 390 gear and a mini spool I couldn't hear the front tires rub.....just the screeching of the tires fighting each other.

That car is the picture in my Avatar on V8.

[yachtsmanbill]

AH HA!!! The secret guy from Plainfield! Do you know a cop named Frank Jawowiak in town? Used to be a big time Buick guy from Darien originally...

The pads Im getting from T/A are the cast iron jobs. I just looked at the special and theres access holes in the crossmember to get at the bolts; Hallelujah ! I know the 455 has front or back spaced mounting holes in the block for the motor mounts, which is good. I am going off the Z bar set up at the end of the block for a datum point. Everything to the back or to the front should work from there. Do you think Ill need to do a mock up and mark the frame to drill holes for the mounts? The trans X member will probably hafta go back a bit for the 4 speed.
   This job is gonna run cast manifolds with a stock intake and a quadrajet. Finally dropped the block and heads off today and then the guy tells me that the start is 2 weeks out. That'll give me time to work on the car. So ya think the V6 springs will hold the 455 up? The original F78 x 14 tires that are low on air are a little misconceiving.  Id kinda like to stick with black wheels and poverty caps or baby moons. Hows G70 x 14s gonna play out (how ever that works out for TA Radials...)??     ws

[197064buickspec]

The original holes in the cross member will work. It's bolt and go. Just gave to figure out which holes on the ta's moun to use the high or low holes. The frame has 2 sets of holes for the trans cross member. When installing a 400 trans you have to use the 2 rearward holes. A 300 or 350 trans the front 2 holes.

Mocking it up is totally up to you.

I would suggest when changing the frame mounts us to wrap a piece if wire around the bolt .... Loose enough so you can pull is it to get it out once you start the bolt. I list a few bolts down in that front cross member......it's a pita to get them out.

That officers name sounds familiar but I don't know many police anymore. Joliet patrols my hood.

[TrunkMonkey]

Stuff rags in the access from the bottom of the first member where the lower A-arms attatch to catch the bolts when they fall of the wire. 

(Axe me how I know) 

[yachtsmanbill]

That sounds like an old Model T Ford transmission band trick!  I'll use that tomorrow!   ws

[yachtsmanbill]

Had perfect access with a socket on a 10" extension for 4 of them. Broke them all loose first and captured a few with a box wrench. The worst one was by the hole where the fuel line runs up through.
Cleaned up some stuff after pulling the front wheels, as in that wasp nest and a bunch of mud daubers. I think the tires would be a shakin'...  ws

[yachtsmanbill]

So reading Ronnies thred, Ive seen several 67-72 A bodies with a partial rear sump oil pan installed. The partials were cut out for the Y pipe to cross over from the drivers side. Isnt the true center sump pan from a Riviera with steering linkage behind the crossmember?
If Im w-w-incorrect, I guess Ill be on the hunt for another pan... Exspurts??   Bill   (Howdy Ronnie!)

[jmos4]

Hi,

The pan you have I believe should work, the center sump pans are more centered, I tried to put a 430 from a 67 Electra in my 65 a year before I went the nailhead route, and I had a center sump pan, hence 1 of the reasons it never got installed.

I thing to note there are 2 positions you can install the motor mounts on the block, I believe you need them on closer to the trans but can't remember, as it was 12 years ago.

Good luck with the project

Regards,

[GranSportSedan]

I thing to note there are 2 positions you can install the motor mounts on the block, I believe you need them on closer to the trans but can't remember, as it was 12 years ago.

Good luck with the project

Regards,

The two sets of holes in the frame pads are mainly there for when a person is installing headers, they give the option of moving the engine back for a little more clearance. if you're not running headers i'd strongly recommend the stock position. All rear sump oil pans have the Y pipe relief formed in them except the 67 pans and those pans have clearance issues with the 5/8 pickup tubes.

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks guys! Just looking back in the pic files, my 72 455 XGS shows the motor mount bolted to the rear set of holes on the block. Is that gonna be the same on the 64? The other pic shows the relative frame to pan clearance on the 72 as well. Hopefully theres that much room.  The 64 is gonna run on iron manifolds. Headers for more reasons than one, arent my choice anymore; heat, longevity, not that much net gain on HP etc etc... The iron flows surprisingly well...

I hafta ad that the T-10 is almost exactly one inch longer than the 3 speed manual. Ive already got to shorten the driveshaft. Thats no biggy, but MAYBE, the rear mounted mounts will add the inch I need... exspurts??   ws