Hi. I get lots of mail asking me if I know the settings for this or that and I always refer them to this site. Rodney has already posted this question but didn't get a response so I thought I'd try a different heading in the hope that it might attract some attention. If you are reading this then I suppose it worked. I'd really like to help him as his engine is in the machine now at the moment and the specs are different in two spots in the manual so there is some confusion as to which are the correct settings. Here is what he writes... (please help if you can :TU: ) Can we help Rodney and maybe talk him into joining the BPG? If he joins then we'll only need one more member before we can have an election! (you need 3 for an election right?). Who knows the answer to this one?
I looked in my 64 Skylark Chassis Manual and it gives the same info. Torque specs say one thing and then then text another. Weird o No:
Hi heres my educated guess. Torque specs given in 1964 special series manual are a carryover from the 1963 Special series manual. All V8s in 63 Special series were alloy block hence low torque setting in the softer metal. The 63 manual lists the V6 with cast iron block with much higher torque values. 64 full size cars had 401 so these are the 401 specs given in the full size manual. 65 had 300 plus 401 and 425. Specs listed are different for the two engine types and seem appropriate for these engine types. 300 had same cast iron block as in 64 but came with iron heads too. Therefore it should be ok to use the 65 300 specs for 64 except for head tensions! Does this line of deduction seem correct?
Bill, Here's a site that might help: http://www.buicks.net/years/64.shtml http://www.buicks.net/years/64/64tech.html I've checked my 1964 Special/Skylark assembly manual, and despite the reams of detailed info, I can't pick out any engine assembly torque specs that are different than the ones on the site. Cheers, John
Thanks for the links John but they don't exactly refer to the 300 with regards to torque specs. Mmmm, this is proving to be a little trickier than I thought. Anyone else?
Ahem... Go to http://www.buicks.net/years/64/64tech.html and scroll down to the bottom. There is a chart specifically addressing torque values for the V6 and V8. The V8 numbers correspond to the 300 c.i. engine. Furthermore, here are the specs from the 1965 Motor's Auto Repair Manual for the 1964 300: All values in ft/lbs unless otherwise noted. Spark Plugs: 25-35 Cyl Head Bolts: 65-70 Intake Man Bolts: 25-35 Exh. Man Bolts: 10-15 Rocker Arm Shaft Bracket: 25-30 Rocker Arm Cover: 3-5 Con Rod Cap Bolts: 60-75 Main Bearing Cap Bolts: 50-55 (Rear 65-70) Flywheel to Crank: 50-60 Vib Damper/Pulley: 140-160 The discrepancy is the rod cap bolts, which in the Buick manual are 30-35, which is the same value listed for the 215 V8 and the 198 V6 in 1963. Guess it's as tricky as you make it. JMC
Yeah I saw that John but how did you determine that the specs at the bottom of the page where for the 300 only? All it says is "V8". Perhaps it's suggesting that the specs for the 401/425 would be the same for the 300. Not trying to be smart or anything - just wondering. It only gets tricky if we have to guess.
p Thanks John, I did see these specs too. However maybe 63 V8 specs were just carried over to 64 because both 63 and 64 specs are the same in the Buick manual. However the 63 V8 was all alloy block (much softer metal) and cast iron was used in 64. The 65 used the same cast iron block 300 V8 as 64 but with iron heads and the specs are very different on the mains. Do you know if there has been a Service Technical bulletin or similar put out by Buick?
Bill... Sorry for the grumpy retort. The chart on Buick Net isn't definative. Hope the numbers help. Rodney, I don't have any service bulletin data. I'd think that using the '65 values except for the head torque would make sense. There is a Buick engine builder here in California that specializes in the 300/340 engine that may be of help: JimmieB@ns.net JMC
