Tranny swap

[skylark63]

Can anyone give me some info on a tranny swap on a 63 skylark,215cid eng,I know it's not an easy swap.I am willing to change motor & tranny but don't know what will fit.Can cut and reweld drive shaft tube.Will a chev 350 motor and 400 tranny fit,Or is it to heavy for springs? Thanks

[telriv]

Google trans. adapters. Most likely Brendstens will pop up 1st. Bob makes adapters for just about ANYTHING. Other than a Buick V-6 will have to do mucho fabrication. Not saying it can't be done, just lots of work & engineering. Heck, I know someone who installed a 401 into a 1st. gen. Skylark/Special back in the 70's.
IMHO the adapter would be the easiest.


Tom T.

[bob k. mando]

Will a chev 350 motor and 400 tranny fit


i'm pretty sure you're going to have to do major surgery to the floor pan to get a TH-400 in there. the 400 is pretty damn big and beefy while the Dual Path is very small for an auto. best surgery option is probably to go to the junk yard and sawzall a trans hump out of a truck or something.

i suppose a TH-400 is what you've got? there's no reason to be putting a 400 behind an SBC 350 unless the 350 is a full on race motor. TH-350 or 200r4 ( overdrive ) would both be far better choices for your application.

http://www.teambuick.com/forums/show...nsmission-bell



I am willing to change motor & tranny but don't know what will fit.

Small Block Buick family motors ( 215, 300, 340, 350 v8s and 231, 3.8L and 4.1L v6s ) and Rover v8s ( 3.5L is a metric version of the 215ci, remained in production up to 2004 in common displacements to 4.6L ) will all match up pretty close on all of the wiring looms and engine mounts.

the Rover would also be a tranny source as they also kept the 215 bell housing pattern.

if you swap in a ~2000 era Rover drive train you'd get EFI, serp accessory belts, gerotor oil pump, cross bolted mains, etc.

[bob k. mando]

forgot to mention another obvious bell adapter source:
http://www.aluminumv8.com/new/newstuff.htm

[skylark63]

Google trans. adapters. Most likely Brendstens will pop up 1st. Bob makes adapters for just about ANYTHING. Other than a Buick V-6 will have to do mucho fabrication. Not saying it can't be done, just lots of work & engineering. Heck, I know someone who installed a 401 into a 1st. gen. Skylark/Special back in the 70's.
IMHO the adapter would be the easiest.


Tom T.

Thanks for the info ,will try to locate an adapter first.