300 v8 four speed

[juscruzin99]

I recently purchased a 1964 Skylark with the 300 ci v8 and factory four speed. Does anyone know how many were made. I would also like to know what larger engines will match my bell housing and bolt right in. Thanks.

[the skylark]

All Buick Olds Pontiac V8 64 up will bolt up to your bellhousing, but flywheel will be the main concern. I believe 340 and 350 Buick might use same flywheel, but doubt if big block Buick would.

[Dr. Frankenbuick]

Some BOP engines have the same transmission bolt pattern, but the Buick manual bell-housing has starter clearance on the right while the Olds and Pontiac manual bell-housing has starter clearance in the left. The BOP automatic 300 and 400 transmissions have starter clearance on both sides so any BOP engine with the same transmission bolt pattern will bolt up to an automatic. There is also a universal BOP manual bell-housing with starter clearance on both sides, but it is not likely to be in your car.

That being said, a Buick 340, 350, 400, 430, and 455 will bolt to your bell housing and have clearance for the starter. The 400, 430 and 455 use an 11" flywheel and pressure plate as opposed to the 10.5" set up you currently have. The 340 and 350 will drop in using your current motor mounts and frame pads. The 340 and 350 also share the same flywheel, pressure plate disk combination as the 300, but it would be a good idea to have your flywheel balanced to the 340 or 350 you want to use.

[bluewhale13]

Dr. Frankenbuick is right about the interchange. If you are planning on anything extreme with the car I would consider upgrading to a Lakewood bell housing. They make one that bolts up to the 300, 340, 350 and is approved by all sanctioning bodies for racing applications. I like using a Centerforce clutch also. It uses a built in inertia ring with weights, so that the faster is spins the more pressure is applied to the flywheel surface. This clutch also allows for lighter pedal effort at low speeds.

[juscruzin99]

Thanks for all the great info. If I were to find a good running used 340 or 350, how do you balance the flywheel to that engine? Also, no one mentioned the 401 or 425 nailheads. Are they not interchangable with my combo?

[Dr. Frankenbuick]

You may be able to have the 300 flywheel match balanced to the flexplate of the 340 or 350 you want to use by your machine shop. Otherwise, you will haver to have the complete 340 or 350 rotating assembly balanced with the 300 flywheel on it by your machine shop. That will cost over $100 whever you go. The 364, 401 and 425 all have a Nailhead bolt pattern that is not the same as your bell-housing.

[lebu64]

Does anyone know the first part of his question? I too would like to know the production numbers of the 4 speed in 64.