Need to upgrade drivetrain in 64 Special

New to Buick
I just picked up a 64 Special with the 215 V6 and looking for some advise. I've been a chevy man for years so I have sbc 350s and 400s around. But I want a buick drivetrain in this new project. This a going to be a daily driver but still want something moves when I nail it. I may have a chance to get a 455 from a 71/72 lesabre. But not ectched in stone yet. Any suggestions on what to put in it and if I can get the 455 how much is it worth. Or course this engine will have to be rebuilt. And also I've heard that the buick 455 is lighter than a small block chevy, any truth to this. And last do I need to change front springs if I go big block, just trying to get some info. in the buick world.

I think the 455 would be a great choice and it is a nice light engine but you will have to change the front springs in the Skylark. You might like the lower ride height with the original springs though. A 66 Buick GT rear end should bolt right up to your spring mounts and the midsize GM were preety much all the same so look for a good used 12 bolt with pozi if possible. Don't forget to add a can of the whale oil GM sells for those units.

And also I've heard that the buick 455 is lighter than a small block chevy, any truth to this.

close. in factory iron manifolds a BBB is only ~40lbs heavier than an SBC. you put headers and an aluminum intake and heads on and you'll be well under the high 500's that an SBC clocks in at.

the problem is that the all aluminum 215, at 320lbs dry weight, makes the BBB look as bad weight wise as the BBB makes a BBC look.

as Jim says, maybe you'll like the 'raked' look. i'd make sure the front suspension had all new bushings and shocks in it though.




I just picked up a 64 Special with the 215 V6

i think you're either wrong about the year or the displacement. the 215 was 1961-63 only. a 1964 engine would be an iron block 300 with aluminum heads and intake.




Any suggestions on what to put in it

a Buick 350 / 340 v8 would be a near direct drop in and a mid-80's Buick Turbo v6 would also be an excellent choice. all of these engines are directly related as descendants of the 215. the 300 is the final

the downside is that performance parts for the v8 engines ( the Turbo 6's have a thriving aftermarket ) is extremely far and few between. that may change in the next year or two for the SBB 350 as www.TAPerformance.com is talking about production Single Plane Intakes and Aluminum heads.

Yes I could be wrong about engine size, I just know it's a v6.

Yes I could be wrong about engine size, I just know it's a v6.

ooops, i missed the v6 part. i hit "215" and went straight to v8. i think you've got a 225ci 'oddfire' v6. which is still part of the SBB v8 family and all of the stuff i said earlier about swapping would still apply.

off the top of my head, v6's derived from the seminal aluminum 215 v8 include a 198ci in 1962-63, the 225 'oddfire' from 1964-66, the 231 'oddfire' from 1975-77, the 231 'evenfire' from 1977 to well into the 80's as well as the GM corporate v6's at 3.8L and 4.1L.

you have plenty of options.