russell-t

Thinking of swapping entire drivetrain out of my 63 f-85 in order to get a

more reliable setup.I've read about the Buick 300 ci being a cast iron

cousin to the 215 engine I have now.Although heavier,it will fit in my

Cutlass without much grief.The transmission(real reason for all of this) I

want to use is the TH200-4r. MY theory about all of this is the 300 has

a flexplate system,and the transmission has a torque converter system.

Seems simpler to do this than to adapt the engine,modify the 215 crank

to accept the flexplate,and take the time and effort involved to do it.

Does anyone know if the Buick 300 and the TH200-4r(BOP) are a bolt

up system?

JohnnyBs68S

If you are swapping the entire drivetrain, why go w/ a older engine that isn't compatable w/ the newer transmissions? Seems to me that if the Buick 300 (I assume you are referring to an engine here, and not the Buick ST-300 2-sp automatic transmission) has the same transmission interface as the 215 Olds, its not buying you what you need to utilize a 200-4R. I'm not familiar w/ the differences are between a '63 F-85 and the later '64-'67 A-bodies are, but if a 350 Olds will fit under the hood, a 200-4R will bolt right up to that engine (I'm doing that now on my '68).

If, however, the "Buick 300" bolts to a ST-300 2-sp auto (same as the later Olds Jetaway), then it should also bolt up to the 200-4R, but the cross-member needs to move back ~6" compared to the ST-300.

joe_padavano

The 1964-up Buick 300 uses the traditional BOP bellhousing, so yes a 200-4R bolts up. That trans still won't fit in your 63 without floor pan surgery. I have no reliability problems with my 215 and RH5 trans. The iron Buford motor will require different front springs.

russell-t

Joe,

Thanks for the info on the Buick 300 bellhousing boltup. I may go this

route as I'm considering all options at the moment before I start gathering

parts.

66400

If you get a 64 Buick 300 they are equipped with aluminum heads on the cast iron block. Possible easier route to take would be the use of a Buick V6 231-252 engine.

Henry

1970-W30

I can see why you would want to put in the 300 cu inch Buick, the motor mounts are the same, it would bolt right in. But the 200-4R is huge compared to your current transmission, Joe understates the major sheet metal work that would be needed to get the 200-4R work. There is not much room to play with underneath the car either to get things to fit and work properly. I have read about guys using an Asian (Toyota) 4 or 5 speed automatic with adaptors of course, but I don't know any of the details. These 61 to 63 Olds compacts are completely different than the 64 on up versions. They are a LOT smaller and a unibody style(no separate frame) so removing a lot of the floor pan will compromise structural rigidity. And if you do go this route front springs from a 63 Tempest with the 326 V8 would have to be found to compensate for the extra weight of the powertrain. It will be nose heavy. The Pontiac version of this Y-body got away with it because they used a setup where the transmission was mounted in the rear, a transaxle setup. In my 63 Cutlass I'm running the 63 Buick Skylark automatic, very compact, light weight (96 pounds total) semi-lockup torque convertor and easy to overhaul. And most importantly, no funky weird 1-2 shift. It's no hotrod with this transmission, but then again I didn't buy my 63 to be one, have my 70 Cutlass for that.....

WillCut

I hate to necrobump the thread but can you provide ANY more details on the toyota conversion? where did you read this? Also, is the skylark transmission a drop in? Thanks!

joe_padavano

It was worth it just for that.

Which "Skylark" transmission? The 1961-63 Special/Skylark trans will swap, but the flexplate needs to be changed to match. The Olds Rotohydro5 uses a unique flywheel with a center hub that looks like the middle of a clutch disk. The Buford trans uses a conventional flexplate and torque converter. Of course, the Buick trans is only a two speed.