Nailhead/trans question

Hey guys, Anybody running an early nailhead with a dynaflow? I have a '55 264 for my '29 roadster and I'm trying to figure out what trans to run & keep things fairly simple. How hard is it to convert the dynaflow to open drive? Open to any other ideas... Thanks

 

Converting the dynaflow to open drive is not a possibility. Use an open drive Chevy transmission with an adapter.

 

I don't know if it has been converted or not. I believe it is a 62 trans and 401 package. It was mated to a nine inch ford rear.

 

Check '53? Olds, Pontiac, and possibly Caddy. The Hydromatic plant burned down and they used Dynaflow for a while. Jim

 

Buick went to open driveline in '61 (finally). I believe a later Dynaflow can be adapted to the earlier 264/322 by using the early bellhousing, but get a second opinion. Happy motoring, Frank

 

Ponchos used the late great Powerslide in place of the hydro during that time.
Olds and Cad were STUCK WITH DYNAFLOW. Yes, the dynaflow of those were open driveline, but still would need to get the Buick Dynaflow converter and bell housing mounted to the box.

Sounds feasable, along with the early converter.

Too bad the 65-66 Sp or St 400 transmissions had the 57 up bell patterns.

 

You will be way ahead in time, money, effort and performance if you start hunting for an adapter bellhousing. Transdapt and Cragar made 264/322 bellhousings to mate to Chevy 4spd (the most desirable one) and late 50s/early 60s Ford 3spd (which could be had with OD).

You could also get a very common Nailhead to Ford flatty adapter, and then stack a Flat-o-matic or 5-speed adapter behind that.

-Brad

 

Yes that is correct, good luck.

 

Just ran onto an old pickup with a 322 Buick and a Dynaflow Transmission from a very old Buick Mechanic (He started working in a Buick Dealership in 1946).
The pickup has a open drive line behind the Dynaflow.
He told me the story about the fire at the plant and that GM came up with an adapter to convert the Dynaflow to run it in the place of Hydramatics.
Will try to get some pictures in a few days.

Later, Dave

 

Nobody used Dynaflow in hot rods, they adapted another trans. There were adapters for Ford transmissions for installing the engine in Ford hot rods but the Ford trans didn't last long behind a Buick. The heavy duty option was Cad/LaSalle.

Today there are many good 4 speed and 5 speed trans, I'm sure someone makes adapters or bellhousings.

 

Someone should tell Tommy Ivo.... sucks that he set all those records with DynaFlows...

 

I have a Cragar Nailhead-to-Toploader (off the top of my head, I think #310) PM if you would like to talk.