Just bought a 64 401 and st400 out of a wildcat and want to know more about a trans that maybe I should not of bought :af: . Is the 64 st400 a real bad trans or just not as good as 65 and up? o No: The bottom line is should I be looking for another trans for my mid performance car? Is it not going to give me the :3gears: to make it worth the money? please :Smarty: me
The '64 was a "fixed pitch" design, pretty unique...I'd say it's not as desireable as the '65 -'66 for the nailhead engine. Wierd that the drive range selection was PRNDL then changed to PRNDDL in '65. http://buickperformance.com/SPTrans.htm Devon
The 64 Turbo 400 was not a bad tranny just less options than 65 and up. The PRNDL gear selection means if you want to hold it in second for better performance you have to shift it back to L or low to hold it in second.For instance you take off in L then shift to D then the tranny shifts to second which is not an option on the selector. You have to pull the selector back to L to keep the tranny in second until you want to shift. Then you move it to D or drive for third. These can be converted to S/P like any other 400. I learned this back in 1969 in my 64 Riv when I was a mere child of 30 Good Luck Bob H
Thanks for the info. I was thinking of installing it in my 64 skylark. Will I have size problems or will it fit right in? 64Wildcat st400+64Skylark driveshaft = more or less work for me?
If you can find frame mounts, motor mounts, and a radiator from a 65 GS it would make it a lot easier. You will have to move the cross member back and shorten the drive shaft. The starter on the 401 is on the drivers side. Its not a bad swap and doesn't require butchering the car to make it fit..........Good Luck
You'll also need a rear sump oil pan and pickup tube, and the GS exhaust manifolds. Happy motoring! Frank
