[tryn2rest]

My grandson and I are restoring a1970 Chevy C10. We wanted something different than a SBC and have a chance to pickup a sound 455 Buick engine very reasonable.( No bell-housing) For now we want to keep the Chevy 3 speed, which will eventually be replaced with a 4 speed. How can we mate the engine to the transmission? What parts are needed, are engine mounts available etc? Are we biting off more that we should? Thanks for your help

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

Three speed trans? Automatic or manual?. BOP to Chevy trans adapters are available from most hot rod trans suppliers. If the trans is manual. You will have to find a Buick stick flywheel.

Mounts are easy basic fabrication. I've done Caddy's into these bodies and love them. Buicks should be near the same.

[tryn2rest]

Sorry, we want to keep a manual transmission in the truck, so we will use the original 3 speed until we can pickup a Muncie 4 speed.

[joe_padavano]

You need a BOP bellhousing, but the problem is that the truck transmissions have a larger bearing retainer than the car transmissions. As a result, the hole in the bellhousing that locates the transmission must be opened up to match the truck trans. A machine shop should be able to do this.

[oldbogie]

Originally Posted by tryn2rest

My grandson and I are restoring a1970 Chevy C10. We wanted something different than a SBC and have a chance to pickup a sound 455 Buick engine very reasonable.( No bell-housing) For now we want to keep the Chevy 3 speed, which will eventually be replaced with a 4 speed. How can we mate the engine to the transmission? What parts are needed, are engine mounts available etc? Are we biting off more that we should? Thanks for your help

Way more effort and cost than it's worth just to be a little different. Chevy big block is a drop in and way more of them are out there than BBBs.

Don't know if the 3 speed will put up with any large engine, Chevy used either the Saginaw (weak) or the Ford top loader (strong) depending on engine and VGW rating. If its the Saginaw it will not put up with a 455 or any other big block nor many small blocks.

As has been said; the BOP pattern on the block will not bolt to the Chev bell-housing, you'll need an adapter or a BOP bell housing.

Bogie

[C.A.R.S.005]

i think summit or jeg's sell's the tci adapter plate for around $60 ? if no local place sell's it .

[OLNOLAN]

I think the 455 Buick swap idea is great, the are torque monsters. I had a Boattail Riviera with one. If it were me, I'd just find a BOP turbo 400 and call it a cool swap. olnolan

[willowbilly3]

I also love the idea and I think it's a worthwhile swap since you have the engine sourced already. I'm sure some of the other BOP bell housings might work but I'd stick with one from a Buick or get a new aftermarket one. For instance an Oldsmobile one will not work, starter's on the wrong side. I also would hesitate to carve out the center hole in an original housing just to fit the truck transmission. Since saggys came in both cars and trucks and if in fact the bearing retainer is too large to register in the housing, I would be more inclined to have the bearing retainer turned down to fit.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by willowbilly3

I also love the idea and I think it's a worthwhile swap since you have the engine sourced already. I'm sure some of the other BOP bell housings might work but I'd stick with one from a Buick or get a new aftermarket one. For instance an Oldsmobile one will not work, starter's on the wrong side. I also would hesitate to carve out the center hole in an original housing just to fit the truck transmission.

Nearly all BOP bellhousings since the late 1960s have the starter notch on both sides to accommodate Buick starters as well as Pontiac/Olds starters.



Machining the center hole in the bellhousing to fit the truck bearing retainer is very common. I don't think you want to use the automatic transmission adapter plates on a manual trans as the extra thickness will space the input shaft out of the pilot bearing and may also cause a problem with the throwout bearing having enough travel.

[mattrv24]

I put a 430 buick big block in my 83 c10 a while back. As far as the mounts go, i just got an angle grinder work my magic on some stock 68 riviera brackets. And I don't know about mating it with a 3 speed manual trans, i just had a 70 model th400 bolted up to it and it worked fine. These engines have alot more torque starting out than a 454, i roasted the tires off that truck with the 430 in it.

[mattrv24]

Here is what it looked like after i finished putting it in.