New guy needs help!

[h-bot]

From: johnny96us_REMOVE_721469_THIS_@yahoo.com


This is a bit off the wall, but here goes:
My
friend was recently given a 1979 Buick Skyhawk. It has a
231 Buick V-6 with a 2-bbl. carb & a weird 5-speed
(shift pattern is strange); along with 13" 4-lug wheels,
power brakes & steering, & no A/C. We also have a
totally rusted 1974 Buick Le Sabre with a 455 & TH-400.
We want to put the 455 into the Skyhawk. I know it
will fit--I saw a 430 Buick in a 1978 Monza last
summer. Will the trans fit/live? If not, what will
(manual only, please)? What mounts should/could we use?
What about cooling? We're willing (though not eager)
to remove the power brakes & steering if we have to.
What about a 5-lug (hopefully a GM 4.75" bolt
pattern)conversion? The rear is the dinky 7.5" 10-bolt--it should
last a while (no posi; tires should spin before
anything lets go), but what will fit without too much
fabrication (ie, $$$$)? I heard an S-10 axle is a near-bolt
in--is it? If so, the S-10/Blazer ZR2 & Sonoma Highrider
have the 8.5" HD axle from the full-size line-same (I
think) as the Grand Nationals & WAY beefier than the
7.5".

If the 455 is too much hassle, could the current 3.8
be upgraded to T-type status (EFI &
turbo)?

Thanks for the help!
Johnny


[This is message #495 by user johnny96us on Yahoo! Club v8 hbody: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/v8hbody ]

[h-bot]

From: zlilo_REMOVE_515854_THIS_@yahoo.com


Woahwoahwoah! Hold up there
partner!

What's the shift pattern on that 5 speed? Is it like
this?:

R24
135

Or like this?

R 135
24

Either way,
the 455 is *not* going to bolt to this transmission
safely. You're going to blow that 5 speed all the way
into next YEAR. If you tell me the shift pattern, I
can tell you a bit more about it probably. A 5 lug
conversion shouldn't be a problem at all, but the only
SkyHawks I'm aware of that recieved the 5 speed in '79
were the RoadHawks and the turbos. And if that's a
genuine SkyHawk turbo, you definitely want to keep it
stock. Let me know!

-zlilo


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[h-bot]

From: Murfys_1_REMOVE_648517_THIS_@yahoo.com


Johny,

Whole lotta questions there, but to
start off, congratulations on your new project. Sounds
like it is going to be a fun one. As for your
questions, I can't answer them all, but I'll take a stab at
some of them.

1 - 455 in your Skyhawk? As far
as I know, they are dimensionally similar to the
Buick 350, and there is a guy on the main club
(<a href=http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/gmhbody target=new>http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/gmhbody</a>) with a Buick 350.
2 - stock 5-speed with a
455? Only for a minute or 2... they are pretty weak.
If you want a manual behind that monster, a Muncie
would work, or a Nash/Richmond.
3 - Mounts? I think
the guy with the 350 used custom mounts, but not
sure. All the factory and aftermarket stuff was for
SBC's.
4 - Cooling: you will likely need at least a
4-core radiator with the best of shrouds and an extra
pusher fan. Probably be better off with a dual 1" core
aluminum radiatory from Griffin or someone like that.
5
- Power brakes and steering removal? Not sure.
6
- 5-lug conversion? that's easy: S-10 spindles and
rotors from a pre-87 (I think) 2WD truck or from a 78-87
GM G-body (Cutlass, Monte Carlo, etc.). there is an
adaptor available to mount the smaller Monza ball joints
to the larger spindles.
7 - Rear axle: yes, it's
a dinky 7.5" ring gear, and yes the S10 axles will
slide right into the Monza tubes, giving you an easy
5-lug upgrade. This would live okay behind a very mild
SBC, but not behind a Buford 455. But, no, the rear
axle assembly is not a bolt in. S10 uses leaf springs
and no torque arm. If you want to upgrade the rear
axle, you will have to custom order or custom build
it.
8 - Too much hassle? That all depends on your
threshhold. Sure, you can Turbo the 3.8, but if you want
something different and all out power, the 455 would be
cool, however, quite nose heavy as compared to the
3.8.....

Just some thoughts. Hope it helps!!

- Joe


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[h-bot]

From: monza_tyger_REMOVE_312401_THIS_@yahoo.com


Hi johnny,
I had a buick 350 in a '78
Skyhawk.
I used the stock v6 motor mounts and modified the
frame mounts by making the slots longer.
The stock
TH-350 bolted up and fit perfectly.
I actually had a
y-pipe (not stock) into a 2 1/2" single exuast.
It
was quiet and fast.

The 455 is a little bit
tricky to install.
It does swap into 350's mounts
yet, it's taller,wider and the exuast manifolds will
not fit.
THE LIGHTER SIDE :
Talk to Kenn-Bell.
These guys can make that swap happen. They sell a
H-body v8 kit for the 350 that lets you mount a TH
400.
The catelog is $6 phone# 909-941-6646.
Good luck
and keep us posted
T.D.


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[h-bot]

From: johnny96us_REMOVE_481273_THIS_@yahoo.com


The trans is the kooky one: R24

135

It's not a RoadHawk or a turbo--my friend's (his car)
aunt bought it NEW in 11/78, & it's original, but we
think the 5-speed was dealer-installed. Now that I know
just what the 455 swap will involve (what a project!),
how about a turbo on the 3.8?


[This is message #502 by user johnny96us on Yahoo! Club v8 hbody: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/v8hbody ]

[h-bot]

From: Phantom402_REMOVE_227390_THIS_@yahoo.com


Use the standard s/10 rear not thses you listed
unless you can verify the width.
I used the 7.5 diff
and it fit perfect just cut down the springs to 12 in
long fron center of spring bolt hole to centering pin
in leafs and leave some out the back9abou 15 to 15
1/2 inches total use died grinder to open up control
arm bolt holes in car and put bolts in from outside
grind slots to clear ublots weld spring pads on and use
panhard bracket only if you want to do road courses cut
out side part of shock brakets off of rear end and
weld to spring pads use competition engineering axle
mounts or you will have to grind the welds off of the
old ones and reweld them shoot for about 2.5 degrees
down pinion angle ant reast dont use more than 5 or
ujoint failure is a result. Y ou can use it as is but
will have an up pinion angle and this is not conducive
to planting the rear for racing.
there is an 8.5
rear in some s/10s that are in 89 and up 4.3 s/10 2wd
but I do not have the axle codes for these
yet.
Any questions can be directed to me at
Xanadu4024@aol.com
Lee Abel


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