1966 425 starfire engine
April 8th, 2011, 08:22 PM
#1
1966 425 starfire engine
Just thinking out loud, and I don't know some of the answers to a few questions I have.
1 - 425 engine with a forged crank. Should this crank have a pilot hole for a standard trans? I have had mine apart, but it's been close to 20 years and I forget if that was there when I rebuilt it.
2 - Could a 66 425 have come in a 66 442 with the 4-speed?
3 - If it did come in that chassis, would it be an easy swap to put the starfire engine into a 442 that originally came with a 400? I seem to remember the oil pan was a bit odd on the starfire 425. I believe it had a front sump, and not a rear sump. Would it be as easy as changing the oil pan and pump/sump to make it fit, or would it be a direct bolt-in?
3B - If the above would work, are there other issues with accessories/brackets/etc?
Just bench racing and contemplating a possible project.
Much thanks to anyone that can provide some insight.
-Jeff
1 - 425 engine with a forged crank. Should this crank have a pilot hole for a standard trans? I have had mine apart, but it's been close to 20 years and I forget if that was there when I rebuilt it.
2 - Could a 66 425 have come in a 66 442 with the 4-speed?
3 - If it did come in that chassis, would it be an easy swap to put the starfire engine into a 442 that originally came with a 400? I seem to remember the oil pan was a bit odd on the starfire 425. I believe it had a front sump, and not a rear sump. Would it be as easy as changing the oil pan and pump/sump to make it fit, or would it be a direct bolt-in?
3B - If the above would work, are there other issues with accessories/brackets/etc?
Just bench racing and contemplating a possible project.
Much thanks to anyone that can provide some insight.
-Jeff
Last edited by GTI_Guru; April 9th, 2011 at 08:54 AM.
April 8th, 2011, 09:11 PM
#2
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 13,769
Hi Jeff
I don't know a lot about Starfires, but here's some thoughts about the engine.
1) Manual transmissions with 425's were very very rare. So it probably doesn't have the hole drilled for a pilot bearing.
2) The 1966 442's all had 400 engines. There are rumors that some 1965's had 425's but all 1966's would have had the 400.
3) The 1965-67 400 and 425 are identical on the outside, so it would bolt in just fine. They even shared the same crankshaft and rods, it's the bore that was different between them. The sump is the same too, as are the oil pan, valve covers, heads, intake, brackets, all the bolt ons. Piece of cake swap! John
I don't know a lot about Starfires, but here's some thoughts about the engine.
1) Manual transmissions with 425's were very very rare. So it probably doesn't have the hole drilled for a pilot bearing.
2) The 1966 442's all had 400 engines. There are rumors that some 1965's had 425's but all 1966's would have had the 400.
3) The 1965-67 400 and 425 are identical on the outside, so it would bolt in just fine. They even shared the same crankshaft and rods, it's the bore that was different between them. The sump is the same too, as are the oil pan, valve covers, heads, intake, brackets, all the bolt ons. Piece of cake swap! John
April 8th, 2011, 09:25 PM
#3
Ahhh! The critical piece of info my brain couldn't recollect. The fact that it's the same basic block. I was worried that it was different...
Very good to know that frame is identical enough to do it without swapping the oil pan as well!
Now to figure out who the best place to drill the crank is if I end up going through with it.
Thanks a ton for the info! I'm sure I'll have some more questions eventually as I progress along with whichever project I settle on. So far I'm very impressed by this community. Everyone I have talked to so far has been friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable. Makes me wonder how anyone got anything done before the internets...
-Jeff
Very good to know that frame is identical enough to do it without swapping the oil pan as well!
Now to figure out who the best place to drill the crank is if I end up going through with it.
Thanks a ton for the info! I'm sure I'll have some more questions eventually as I progress along with whichever project I settle on. So far I'm very impressed by this community. Everyone I have talked to so far has been friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable. Makes me wonder how anyone got anything done before the internets...
-Jeff
April 9th, 2011, 08:14 AM
#4
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 13,769
I agree with you Jeff, the internet has opened all kinds of doors for us to enjoy this hobby. I remember going to swap meets in the 1980's looking for Oldsmobile parts and feeling lucky if I found one or two vendors with parts. Now we can buy/sell/trade parts with people from all over the world. Also we can also find others who have been down the road before us in restoring cars like ours. 
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