Very nice looking engine. You will love that little 350 in your 64. I put a 350 in a 65 Skylark ragtop. It was an easy swap, as easy as pulling a 300 out and putting it back in.:TU:
Later Sunday..... Should I use a carb spacer for the Edlebrock 600cfm carb??? Is 600cfm going to be big enough for this motor??? TA recommended the 1406 based on my build.... Also, I have a TA 1524 multi-keyway timing set. Do I need to install the set with 4deg advanced??? (just like the stock set that had 4degs built into it) Damn it...I sure have alot of questions....ou: Mark
Whew....got alot done today in 3 hrs. Engine pretty much done. Another 3 hrs underneath fighting with trans & crossmember, starter & exhaust and I'll be ready to pull it tomorrow.:Brow: I'll finish the few engine parts that need to installed while the paint is drying on the engine bay detailing....I better get some degreaser for the pressure washer. Mark
Mark, something just occured to me. What are you planning to use for engine mounts? If you think that you can just go buy a set from the local parts store, allow me to rain on that parade. Engine mounts for 64 Skylarks were a one year only deal, and are no longer readily available. So, you are left with reusing your 300 mounts, or replacing the frame pads with a set from a 65 or 66 Skylark. Doing the latter allows the use of the much more readily available 65 engine mounts. I think that you could also send your original engine mounts out to be revulcanized, if it came down to that. Steele Rubber offers this service, with a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks IIRC.
Hi Tom I have a complete set of '73 350 motor mounts too (NOS)...If I have to do any fabricating n welding, I can handle it...:TU: Thx for the heads up....no rain here! Mark
Do you also have the matching pads which bolt to the frame?? If not, you will need to get them.:TU: BTW, didn't you guys get a thunderboomer yesterday afternoon? :bla: I was in S'toon from late Sunday night til Monday morning. It was chasing me all the way to the MB border, when it magically disappeared.:laugh:
yup...have the pads too... all I need is a buddy to help with the work...my best friend passed away las week....54 yrs old..massive heart attack....my other buddies arent car guys... We had the major thunder & clouds...but very little rain. It was so hot I think the rain evaporated before it hit the ground...it's so dry....farmers gunna have a tuff time with any kinda of crop yields...not enough moisture mark PS next time your in Toon town...give a shout...wud like to meet you...I'll PM my phone number:TU:
Good stuff.:beer Sorry to hear about your buddy passing away at such a young age. We would gladly send some precip your way, as we've had a fair bit around here, plus all the floodwater. PM replied to.....:TU:
It's gunna be alive soon.... Got the engine bay detailed today, the ST300 cleaned up and bolted to the 350...no problemos:TU: Good thing I had a set of 350 mounts...my 300's were split in two! I assume the 350 mountes will work...they bolted in the same holes. We'll see as it's going in Saturday ...come hell or high water...:laugh: Tight lines & good fishing Mark
mark, it appears that you still have the original 300 fram pads on the front crossmember. They will not work with your 350 engine mounts. You will need to change the frame pads before the engine will bolt up correctly. To verify this, take your new engine mounts off the 350, and place them on the frame pads. Then you will see what I've been saying, as they will not fit tightly together. I'd call you, but I have to head back to work in a few minutes, and will be gone for a few days.
Cool.:beers2: :beers2: It looked like you still had the old ones in those photos. :TU: All should work well then. Good luck, and I'll bet you'll be smoking the tires by Monday.:grin: A few years ago I had a 64 Skylark convert, which some prior owner decided to install an inline 6 into.ou: ou: I drove it like that for a year or two, then bought a 64 complete parts car, just for the 300 engine/ST trans. When I did the swap, I had to change the frame pads, so that's how I knew about it. Fortunately, the engine mounts were in good shape, and I didn't need to go through any more hoops to make it work.
Well it's late Sunday night and I'm pooped. YAHOOOO...it's in...done....:beer Did a final check....connected the battery...hit the key...it turns over great! and over and over...n over.....lolol hmmm....so I dump gas in the carb....bang!!! fires right up then dies...uzzled: I'm not getting fuel....I reused the fuel pump from the 300 as it's brand new. hmmmm...I wonder if the actuator arm is the same profile as a fuel pump for a 350????? or I dont have the fuel pump eccentric installed correctly....ou: I'll pull the fuel line tomorrow and check to see if it's working....if not....guess I'll have to pull the timing cover and check the eccentric. Damn....sure hope it's just the fuel pump.... Off to bed.... Mark
:TU::beer IT'S ALIVE...IT'S ALIVE.... no....it's not Young Frankenstein...it's a SBB 350!! Although it sounds like it without the exhaust pipes connected...lol I resolved the fuel pump issue....removed the 300 fuel pump. The eccentric was installed correctly as you can see it thru the opening in the timing chain cover. Reinstalled a 350 fuel pump...and ..BINGO...she fired right up. Runs great, sounds great, idles great...but...ou:dooohhh...it's leaking oil & antifreeze like a sieve from the front of the heads?(where the intake meet 3 ways) 50lbs of oil pressure at 2000 rpm and a rock solid 25lbs at 800rpm. I used the thin steel head gasket rather than the thicker "fibre/steel" combo. Anybody have this issue with the thin gasket? I sure hope I dont have to change the head gaskets..... I let er run for a good 10mins at 1500 to 2000rpm till reaching oper temp of 180degs (using 160 degF thermo)....nice and steady....whewww! I shut it down after 15 to 20 mins to cool down a bit and did some checks. Retourqued the intake and whatever head bolts I could reach without removing the valve covers. The passenger side is a bugger to get off n on!:af: Hour later I "FIRED IT UP" (lolol Paul Sr....I love that guy)...leaks look like they are pretty much gone. Guess everything had to expand and a retorque tightened it up.... Even took it around the block....that got some neighbours going...lol Only things left to do are some new plug wires that fit, new power steering hoses, get it to the muffler shop (exhaust down pipes need some rebending to fit) and put the hood back on. All in all a straight forward swap. Easily done at home with simple hand tools. I'll post performance once I get out for a cruise. Happy motoring Mark :3gears:
Good day.... First I want to thank those members that provided info & nice comments. It's done 'cept for a few minor details....I'm working on a bit of tuning...trying different initial timing setups...What is the correct timing for a 350??? Pings a lil bit when the temp gets up to 200 degrees. I have the timing set at 10degs @ 900rpm....may have to run premium as I have approx 10:1 compression. Runs great even with a bit of overheating...it runs pretty much at 180 to 200 degs for now with a 160deg thermostat. I'm sure it'll calm down temp wise once it loosens up a bit.:TU: If not, may have to look at getting a larger radiator. Here is what I learned and wish to pass on to those contemplating the same swap...those that have done it already can add to my list... 1. Use the 350 motor mounts & frame pads (thx to Tom & Sean) 2. Use a 350 fuel pump...dont reuse the 300's. 3. Mount the starter before installing motor....lol. I got a nice bruise on my chest when the friggin thing fell on it lieing on my back... 4. It's a hell of alot easier to remove the drive shaft before installing motor & transmission together. 5. Have the heat crossovers on the heads blocked off. I didnt do that and you can see the high temp paint is burning on the intake. I live in a cold climate so I wanted easier starting in cooler weather with elec choke. 6. You'll spend more than planned....lol 7. Remove the stock switchpitch/kickdown tranny switch. I have an underdash switch....works great! 8. Save money for new tires!!!!:laugh: Went for a cruise last nite and crushed a Mustang...not sure of the year...but it had power....he got me off the line as I have a highway geared pegleg....but once I got to 30mph....swooooshh....the ole torque kicked in and left him in coughing in exhaust fumes. Now he knows what the ass end of a 64 Skylark looks like.... I highly recommend this swap to those that are sitting on the fence. You'll love the power.... Tight lines & good fishing Mark aka Sparkdog
ou:doooooohhh a major doooohhh one more item to add to my previous list.... 9. make sure you use the correct "notch" on the harmonic balancer when you do the timing (and be sober too lmao).....I was timing using a notch NOT the correct timing mark/notch. No wonder I had to turn the dizzy so much toward the radiator. Has anyone had cooling issues with this of swap????? Even with the timing now apparently correct and the rad has been rebuilt....it still runs too hot for my liking....like 190 to 200degs with a 160 thermostat. Thermo has been tested in boiling water with a thermometer....opens right at 164degs. Am I correct in assuming that boring the cylinders may make it run warmer?? Is anyone aware of an aftermarket rad that will FIT and provide better cooling????uzzled: Mark
Let me make myself perfectly clear...I dont have a over heating issue...lol Another cruise last night w/correct timing. Sits right at 180 to 190 degs...perfect for my liking. Guess my old rebuilt rad can handle the 350 afterall. Damn, I feel like an idiot using the wrong timing notch. No wonder it overheated....good thing I didnt wreck anything internally.... I'm going to book some dyno time....I think the 600cfm carb is holding me back. When I walk on it....it pulls hard....but I can tell it's running out of air...a dyno session should confirm that I need at least 750cfm....that's my educated guess....will post results when done.... Mark
Hey Brian Is that tranny still available in Clgy??? I'd be interested if it's still around. I NEED GEARS!!!!! or that tranny for next year... Mark
