Hello HAMB! My name is Matt and this is my first post. I joined the HAMB a while ago while doing some research to buy a car. I just got medically discharged from the Military after 11 years and was never able to build myself a custom car because I had to move a lot. Well I now have a 1956 Buick special 2door and I'm in love with it. I got it after the sacramento swap meet over the summer for 5k. It ran and drove when i got it. Im just trying to figure out what direction to go with it. I figured before I start asking questions i would introduce myself and show you guys my car. . Its all stock, runs good and isn't missing anything. I put an Edelbrock carb and some fender skirts on it recently. I want to build it into a mild custom and a dependable driver. I want to keep it white, french the lights, shave everything but the side trim and port holes. Lower it a few more inches, replace the dynaflow with a 700r and put disc brakes on it so i can get this boat to actually stop in a respectable distance. Ive got some fabrication skills but i will definitely be learning as i go. I want to do all of it myself accept for the interior. Thanks for checking out my car
Welcome to the HAMB, nice looking car, would be even better if you would post a few more pictures, we love pictures
Nice Buick. And Welcome to the HAMB. Your about a 45 min drive from me. After High School I worked for a Buick dealer for about 4 years after getting fired from my job building firetrucks. I have a passion for Buick's. Looks like you got a smokin deal. If you have the stock Buick wheels and want to sell I'd be interested.
I've been through a lot of what you've got planned with my '55 Special Tourback Sedan, Matt, and would be happy to help in any way I can. A thorough cleanup of the gingerbread so that the "checkmark" side trim and the portholes dominate the exterior is all these cars need to look great. Adding extra custom "stuff" just takes away from the very clean original styling. Mechanically the mid-'50s Buicks are a nightmare to update primarily due to the closed drive shaft tube. So unless yours has a terminal driveline illness I'd suggest you keep it all stock except for a very mild altitude adjustment and disc brakes on the front. Good luck and keep us posted with lots of photos.
SicSpeed, The wheels that came with it were 60s riviera and i sold them, But ill keep my eyes open for stock wheels. I would like to get a 56 parts car so if you see one for a good price let me know.
Your 55 is awesome! I love the lines on these bucks. Until I bought mine i never really paid attention to them. Mechanically its good but the dynaflow leaks like its allergic to ATF. I figure if i go through all the trouble of pulling it and replace more seals i may as well update it a little. Ive been on the hunt for the parts to convert it to open a open driveline. The trans adapter isn't hard to source but i need a center section from a 61. After that I'm pretty much set, I even have everything to build a link suspension for the rear.
Thank you for your service to our wonderful country. Your Buick looks very nice and you got it for a good price too. I like your ideas for it because with those buicks the KISS method seems the best.
Building a rear suspension that actually works properly and doesn't ride like a truck or a whale may prove more difficult than you anticipate due to the rear bias of the X-member. There's just not much room for the control arms and you can't stick 'em on just anywhere and expect the car to behave properly. Be sure to have an HONEST heart-to-heart talk with people who have ACTUALLY DONE a SUCCESSFUL 4-link conversion ON A '55-'56 BUICK before you start cutting yours up. There's lots of guys who TALK a good game but do so only to hide the painful fact that they've ruined their car and don't want anybody to know.
Great looking Buick! Had to sell my 56 last year and eventually will buy another. IMO they were a mild custom right off the line. The solid white looks great too.
I don't know how much "permanent" customizing I'd want to do to a car like this. It's already pretty clean and devoid of gingerbread the way it is. A simple two-tone paint scheme could make this a real eye-popper. Years ago Buick used to particularly proud of their brake systems and bragged about them in their ads. It's never going to handle and stop like a newer car but it might be worth making sure that the current brakes are working as well as they can. I can understand wanting to upgrade the Dynaflow but leaks can probably be fixed a lot more easily than re-engineering the rest of the driveline. Either way it looks like a great set of wheels to start with. Check your PMs.
A really nice 56 Buick. I have had mine for a few years and have made some changes. A 401 Dual Quad rest where the 322 use to be. Power Disc Brakes, 700R4 replaces the Dyna flow and a Ford Rear end for open Drive. Heres a link to a video of the first time we fired the new motor. Good Luck with your project.
How about some photos of your rear suspension setup? This is really the big hangup with '55 and '56 Buick updates. If there's a simple way of doing it that will result in a truly pleasing ride and handling car there are many owners just waiting to know about it. Thanks!
Thanks for all the advice and kind words. Some pictures of your rear suspension would be great if you have any. I've done some suspension work before but seeing a proven set up always helps. The buick Wagons are Bitchin! I would love to have one as a project and the 401 is very cool. What sold me on the buick was the nailhead. It's a very cool looking engine and it's nice to have something different. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Super nice looking 56 Buick which has a great body style. Sorry but I can't imagine those huge fender skirts on that great looking car.
I was on the fence about the skirts until I put them on. Now I can't imagine it without them. But to each his own. There are some cars I don't like them on for sure. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Well, since you asked... The installation was done by Carl Meridith at Carl's Automotive in Red Oak, Texas, and is flawless in all respects after 10,000+ miles and a fair amount of drag strip time. Great job, Carl!
Super looking open drive set up. Too bad Buick didn't make them that way. That torque tube was always a PITA.
That is really nice and looks like it came that way in 55. Ive got something simular planned for my suspension. thanks for the pics.
I think every thing you've outlined sounds good, except for the skirts.....I'd leave them off. (and I'm a fender skirt kinda guy). The side trim and the rear wheel opening all flow together as is.
Great lookin Buick and welcome to the HAMB , you will find many great people and a would of knowledge.
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