hey everyone .helllppppp, lol..its a 1980 cutlass salon, with a 3 speed manual on the floor.........................what do i need to bolt the 455 up to the 3speed, im pretty sure its a saignaw, oh, and, its a buick 455 out of a 75 riviera gs, thanks

 

you're going to need to find a turbo-400 transmission to hold back a 455..even if it is a buick motor i'd say.

 

The Dearborn (aka Ford Toploader) three speed was the factory base trans behind the big block in the 68-70 442s. This particular car probably has the weak Saginaw three speed.

 

i think it has a turbo 400 on the 455.......but id like to keep the car manual, i was told a saiginaw would take around 400hp for a bit before it died...not true?....then id have to swap....m22 maybe.....why make a rare factory manual car an auto.....

long term plans = new trans, 9 inch,aluminum heads ect....but id just like to get it running in there with the stock heads and what 250 hp or whatever it is

 

I don't know about Buick motors, but I believe Oldsmobile 455 blocks after 1972 do not have a hole for the ball pivot in the back of the block, and therefore must be machined to accept a manual transmission.

 

If you have a Buick 455 with a TH 400 then you will have to get the crank machined and install a clutch on your flywheel. I believe the flywheel is different for a manual transmission.

 

I don't know if Buick drilled cranks for the pilot bearing or not, but a manual trans flywheel is definitely required. An automatic uses a flexplate.