Author Topic: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly  (Read 7063 times)

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Offline mikey531

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Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« on: March 14, 2015, 05:44:26 PM »
I have a 1965 2 door post Buick Special 300 4 -speed, (originally 3-speed on the column) I cannot find an aftermarket 4bbl intake manifold, or much anything else. Is it sacrilegious to use another GM smallblock? If not.. what will bolt up to the bellhousing? I have not found an abundance of Buick engines.

Thanks
Mike

Offline elagache

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Need OEM or other "special." (Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly)
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2015, 09:40:52 PM »
Dear Mike and mid-60s Buick fans,

I have a 1965 2 door post Buick Special 300 4 -speed, (originally 3-speed on the column) I cannot find an aftermarket 4bbl intake manifold, or much anything else. Is it sacrilegious to use another GM smallblock? If not.. what will bolt up to the bellhousing? I have not found an abundance of Buick engines.


You won't find much of anything in the aftermarket category for the 1964-67 small block Buick engine.  However, you can find the OEM parts if you are a bit persistent.  Exactly what do you have left of the original engine in this car? - anything?  Lots of guys are upgrading to larger more modern engines like the Buick big-block.  So they have 300 engines with very little value.  This board may not be the best place to find those engines.  You might have to post a query on the more popular board for Buicks V-8 Buick:

www.v8buick.com

It is a much more diverse crowd, but with many more participants.  If you need parts, it is a better choice.  If you need detailed advice on how to actually fix something on your car, this forum is better source!  Although there is a certain GS bias that you need to accept - after all that is the title!  :thumbsup:

Cheers, Edouard  :occasion14:

P.S. there are also aftermarket parts for the Rover V-8 engine that was created from the Buick 300.  TA-Performance has things like the Rover cylinder heads that are a significant improvement over the 1965 Buick cast iron heads:

http://www.taperformance.com/

I was ultimately seduced into a big-block Buick engine for my trusty wagon, but if you want performance out of a Buick 300, it is possible.  You just have to be willing to learn the ropes.

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2015, 11:58:19 PM »
Hey Mike, that's a great looking car!
The bellhousing is a B-O-P, so it'll fit the Buick 300-340-350-455, and likely Olds and Pontiac if the starter is on the correct side.
Bellhousing won't fit the Nailhead 401-425, those are unique.
Easiest engine swap would be a 350 Buick, or a V6-turbo if you can find one.
Intake manifold choices are very limited. You need a cast iron 4 bbl intake that was '65 only, or you can use a '64 aluminum intake but it has smaller runners and may not give an improvement.
It really depends on your goals. A Buick 350 would be a nice cheap upgrade, or build the 300 with the $$ alum heads.
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline mikey531

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2015, 02:25:56 AM »
Thanks for the replies. I wondered about the acceptance as I know it is a Special but this was the closest forum I found for info. I also belong the 67 -72 chevy truck forum but again I have a 69 GMC so it seems I am the oddball in these forums. The engine runs fine just needs a carb rebuild. I was loooking more for visual enhancement rather than pure performance. The usual, headers, aluminum intake, holly four barrel, chrome valve covers just something to look better in my eyes.

Offline Crewser

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2015, 07:28:34 AM »
Hey Mike here is a link to some headers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360876233106?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Here are some chrome valve covers that are on the  www.v8buick.com, site. There is a lot of information on that site also on the little 300 moitor.

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?294469-Update-parts-list

Just going to a 4 barrel intake and carb helps a little but you still have a 8.5:1 compression motor. The 4 barrel 300 cid were 11:1
I think the best thing I added to my 300 2barrel was a Petronix electronic ignition.

Jim C
Jim C
65 Special
65 Skylark

Offline mikey531

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2015, 07:43:47 AM »
Thanks!  I still haven't verified what engine I have, I can't seem to find any letters on it to verify size and displacement

Offline Crewser

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2015, 07:57:22 AM »
Hi Mike,
Looks like a 300 just don't recognize the ignition coil location. I have never seen one located there.

Jim C
65 Special
65 Skylark

Offline Dr Frankenbuick

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2015, 08:20:17 AM »
Use the links below to ID it as a Buick engine and type:
http://www.teambuick.com/reference/ident_engine_where.php
http://www.teambuick.com/reference/ident_engine_63-75.php

Like Walt said, the bell housing and linkage will work with any Buick 300, 340 or 350, and those three engines bolt directly in place of each other.  The 300 flywheel will work on a Buick 350 or 340, but you should match balance your flywheel to the flexplate of the engine you will be using (if you swap engines).

The 64 300 had aluminum heads with smaller valves, intake runners and combustion chambers then the iron head 65-67 300.  The high compression pistons offered in 64 and 65 were the same, but made more compression in the 64 with a smaller combustion chamber.  Same goes for the lower compression pistons.  Since you have a 2bbl and it is iron, I would say you have a low compression 65 300 (could be 66 or 67 low compression also). 

I'd leave your current iron heads and find an iron 65 4 bbl intake if you stick with the 300. The high compression pistons would be nice too.  Adapters are made to fit a Holley to the 300 4 bbl intake.       
« Last Edit: March 15, 2015, 08:32:25 AM by Dr Frankenbuick »

Offline Loren At 65GS

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2015, 08:53:29 AM »
Thanks!  I still haven't verified what engine I have, I can't seem to find any letters on it to verify size and displacement

Not a 300 for sure.  Looks like a 350.

  Loren
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
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 BCA 14371
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Offline mikey531

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2015, 09:51:03 AM »
There is no number stamped on the block on the left hand side (drivers) the only number that is visible is what looks like 1375161 on the back of the block. I cannot see any numbers between the exhaust manifold. So I guess I don't know what I have.

mike

Offline Dr Frankenbuick

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2015, 09:59:04 AM »

Offline mikey531

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2015, 10:09:47 AM »
^ well then 64-67 300 fron this chart: http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/smallblock_casting_numbers.html



I can read the block casting number 1375161 and it crosses to '65 to '67 Buick 300 block so the bellhousing will bolt to a Buick 350 ? 

Offline Dr Frankenbuick

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2015, 10:13:08 AM »
Yes it will (350 Buick), and a 350 will bolt right in place of the 300 with no mods and even use the same accessories.  The exhaust will be different though, and require 350 exhaust manifolds or headers that will fit a 350 in a 65-67 A-body. 
« Last Edit: March 15, 2015, 10:16:41 AM by Dr Frankenbuick »

Offline Loren At 65GS

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2015, 10:31:51 AM »
Pictures of a '65 Buick 300.  Notice the valve covers.

Loren

65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline jmos4

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Re: Buick 300 bellhousing, clutch assembly
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2015, 10:59:12 AM »
Hi,

Good findings as any manual transmission Buick is a rarity,

Buick 300 is a good motor unfortunately not a lot of aftermarket support.
I have heard you can install a aftermarket 215 intake with spacers also a nice cam will help with performance

defiantly check out V8 Buick the  small block tech section there's a interesting 300 build that was in Hot Rod
Also th he U-shift em section

Years ago i spoke to a guy who was running a 64 Special in the 12's so those little 300's can be built

Value covers look to be 67 vintage

Good find again,
Regards,

 
Jim

1965 Skylark post car (65 GS frame 401/4-speed, 2x4's)
1964 Skylark (future 430 stick)
1965 Special 4 door 300 4speed
1964 Special 2 door (future, GS 401 3 speed stick)