1956 Buick special, refined aggression

[sdg0080]

So I thought I'd start a thread on my little 56 Buick special. I've been picking away at it for over a year now. I've grafted a c5/c6 corvette z06 front suspension on it. I used the c5 frame due to it being steel. It has the c6 z06 spring and 6 piston brakes with the 14" rotor. Out back I grafted in a Nascar truck arm suspension with a full float ford 9". It will be powered by an aluminum 5.3 ls engine with twin turbos.

This is how she started

[FANTM58]

Welcome
Waiting to see some progress,,
Keep us posted !!

[sdg0080]

Then started tearing it apart.

[sdg0080]

Then took a major step by cutting off the front clip.




Started to set up the new vette clip

[sdg0080]

Just so everyone knows, I work in product layout using GD&T, I work with measurements down to 3 micron tolerance. Using an actual Buick frame print from 1956 I located the frame datums and measured to several machine surfaces on the vette engine cradle. Diagonally I'm off less than 1/16th of an inch

[sdg0080]

Then onto the rear axle swap

[jaybee]

Oh, I LIKE this one!

I also see I'm not the only one to run my shop air in PEX.

[sdg0080]

Yeah its the rapid air system. Makes it nice to use around the shop.

[Motown 454]

Wow ! Amazing job. I have trouble getting things to 1/4" tolerance. Nice project.

[Godbolt]

Love it. Very cool car. Even cooler build. I'm following!

[Gil]

Already love it...
Crazy fab. work !
Twin-turbo ? Will be a rocket...
Any rendering or scheme you'll follow ?
Going to be one hell of a sleeper
Gil

[sdg0080]

The front tires for my little monster

[sdg0080]

Some brake porn for you

[sdg0080]

Worked on stripping her down so I can work on the new floor braces




Then using some 1/8th inch plate I made a drive shaft tunnel.






I used 1x3 1/8th inch tube for my floor braces and 2x2 inside the rockers. It may seem like overkill, but it adds not only a level of safety to the car. It also adds a ton of regidity.

[sdg0080]

No redering, it's all in my crazy little head. The theme is, well a mix of brute power with a vintage feel. The car started life at a Meer 3600 lbs. With all that I've removed it will be down to around 3000 lbs. The engine and Trans was almost 900 lbs the new ones weigh 650. It will really be a rocket... lol she'll have over 600 hp to the wheels in street tune, and 800+ on a race tune running methanol injection.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

Wow, awesome! Nothing better than seeing something different, engineered from scratch! Hope to do that to my Edsel roadster project soon.

[sdg0080]

And that's exactly why I have a buick. Everyone asked why not a Belair... well everyone has one. And for a pro touring ride, everyone builds nova or camaro or mustang... or something around that line. It's got an awesome front axle centerline, the nailhead actually sits behind the centerline instead of over it like the chevy. So I can run the vette engine setback without setting the firewall back.

[1989GTA]

This is awesome. Signing on to the thread.

[sdg0080]

Wow ! Amazing job. I have trouble getting things to 1/4" tolerance. Nice project.

It took I'd guess about 3 days of fine tuning, believe me I cut a few tac welds in the process. Lots of trial and error, and a bit of luck. It was very frustrating. I missed all the equipment I get to use at work... lol I'd have killed to get access to a fabrication table and a romer arm.

[sdg0080]

A little engine porn, from my other project.