Here's some pictures of the 1955 Buick four door beast that I recently procured! It is incredibly solid and needs very little in the way of work to the floor pans. It has a rebuilt 322 nailhead that came with it and I think I am going to put the three speed standard back in it and leave it on the tree! I really like the look of the back driver's side tire on it so I am going to source a set of those and possibly re-stitch the interior, run some exhaust out the back and cut the coils front and rear. Pretty stoked!
If I'm not mistaken, your rear springs are "pig-tailed" (taper-coiled) top and bottom. If so, cutting is not an easy option. Eaton, or some other spring company, can supply you with shorter springs.
Hey thanks! I was wondering about that actually. It sits pretty low already so after getting the tires on it and on level ground I will take a look. I will probably take your suggestion as I'm sure springs aren't really very expensive.
I am luvin it! My first car was a two tone blue 55 Special that my dad bought new and I got when I was in the 8th grade when he traded up to a 63 Wildcat. I drove the wheels off that old Buick and it was bulletproof. Good luck with it, can't beat them old nailheads!!
If your rear coils are pig-tailed,you can use rear lowering coils for 67-72 Chevy Pick-ups. They make coils that will lower the trucks up to 5". You will want to take a measurement(height) of your coils and estimate the drop based on the height of the lowering coils. Understand,it will be guessing. The spring rates vary. Another thing you can try is 68-69 Chevelle coils. They are pretty cheap,maybe $50.
Great old cruisers, I had a 55 Special 4 door hardtop in 1966/67 that I had a lot of fun in. Keep it simple and don't get caught up in sticking a lot of chrome doodads on it.
Yes your springs are pig tailed. Eaton will make any size drop you want. Used them on my 56 and they bolted right in. Good start for a custom, keep us updated.
Hey Holt, where are you located. Did I notice a double T sticker in the back window? I am in Lubbock and really need some HAMBers with Buicks. I have a 1955 four door hard top. I need parts including an automatic tranny..... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Get in touch with Bob at Owens salvage, Wellington Tx 800 798 2581 great people long time H.A.M.B. vendor
hey holt, i recently ordered some rear 3" drop coils from jamco. $220 and two weeks later i had them installed.
Hey Texasred, thanks for the advice! I got ahold of him..... He has two 55 models both missing the trannies. Oh well, looking is half the fun... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Looks Great!! I too just bought a 55 special this summer. I was hoping to "wrench on it" this week during my vacation, but tweaked my back. so keep us posted on your progress.
I had a 55 that was a Special that I think had been made into a Century. Four holer, emblems, but not the interior. Anyway, it did not have a 322 but a 264. It was a stick like yours. Anyway, Specials most often came with the 264, not the 322. The 3 speed behind a 322 is a lot stronger than the one behind a 264. The 264 transmission has five bolts (on the top cover, I think), the trans behind a 322 has 6. The 322 will kill a 5 bolt trans real fast if you abuse it. A 264 does not have a harmonic balancer, a 322 does. These are wonderful cars, but it is challenging to change the suspensions or transmissions. I have some stuff if you are interested, but it's not cheap.
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