I have a 64 wildcat that had a 401/st300. I found a 401/st400 from a 65 electra in great shape, low miles. does anyone have any experience with this trans swap? trans mount, driveline length, and only a 2 speed selector on the column are my concerns
Hello fellow '64 Wildcat owner. I've owned a LeSabre (with an ST300), and now have Wildcat's with the ST400. I am pretty sure the transmissions are the same length, as I've fooled with driveshafts from both cars and they looked identical in length. The rubber mounts looked the same, but I could not vouch. The crossmember may be different, or might not be. Regarding the column selector, all 64s, whether a LeSabre or Wildcat, only got the letter L and D. You could manually select first geat, or let it pick your gears, but no one got the choice of speed 2 or 3. I don't know about the 1965 tranny and what gears were selectable. If you could select gears 2 and 3 manually, you would have to adapt. Also, the switch pitch electrical connector would need to be wired to a switch at your dash, or put on the carb linkage to work.
thanks for yor help you mean I am probably mistaken that the car originally has an st300? it was the low and drive selectors on the column that made me think it was a 2 speed. both of your cats had the st400? Donald
Yes, both of my Wildcat's have the ST400s in them, and they both only have D and L on the column. My LeSabre (which I sold) had the ST300 2 speed in it. You should be able to hook up a tach and ride down the road and see if you shift three times for a three speed. Even if you have an ST400, a switch pitch 400 is even more fun! Put the '65 tranny in if you have the resources.
thanks for clearing that up for me. Yeah, I loved my switch pitch 300. never had another car that drives like a classic buick. the linkage has been my only issue, because I couldn't figure out how to make a switch on the dash function correctly and also not look cheesy. now, since you have two, do you have any pics of how my center console should appear? it is one of the few missing items. thanks again donald
Your 64 cat should have a t-400 tranny in it, even though the shifter is only a speed, that's the way the 64 trannies were. The 65 tranny will swap in, You will have to wire for the s-p set-up. The shifter will hook up, it should even grab all 3 gears, park will be park, low will be low. Jim Burek
Sorry I did not get back on this question sooner. I have answered it in your new thread about it at http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=65071.
