The basic question is, will 455/ TH400 drive train from a 1976 Cutlass Supreme swap out to 69' Vista Crusier recipient? Work or not? Open to all comments, thank you kindly

 

Why wouldn't it? You'll need to mod your drive shaft and e-brake cables if your going from a T350 to the T400. You'll also need an electric kickdown for the T400.

 

Short answer: yes.
Long answer: the 455 is externally identical to the 400 that was factory available in the 1969 Vista. The only issue is that due to the wheelbase, the Vista uses a long-tail TH400 and the trans from a Cutlass will be a short tail The 76 motor will have the J-casting smog heads and pistons with soup-bowl sized dishes for a dismal compression ratio. Swap those restrictive 1976 exhaust manifolds for either real headers or the repro W/Z manifolds. And as always, use the water pump, pulleys, and accessory brackets as a matched set to avoid belt alignment problems.

One more thing. You CAN use the existing 350 frame pads and motor mounts with the 455. If you need new rubber mounts, get 2261 mounts, NOT the 2328 mounts when using the original frame pads.

 

No reason it shouldn't be an easy drop-in. 400 was available in VC and are identical externally to 455. If VC is currently a 350 car transfer all the 455 accessory brackets with it.

Even with a Jetaway 69 already has the wiring for TH400 kickdown.

Sounds like fun. A smogged fury 76 engine won't be like driving a 69 455 but the torque is still there.

 

Actually, the 1969 brackets will fit both SBO and BBO. I'd use them (along with the 1969 water pump and pulleys). I should have added a larger radiator to my post above, however.

Unfortunately, a TH350 car will not have the kickdown switch on the pedal, though the wiring is incorporated into the harness.