alright, i need some help on this one. i have a 1964 Buick special with a 225 fireball V6. i am going to Thompson speedway this weekend to a swap meet looking to buy a transmission. As of right now i have the 3 speed synchromesh transmission in it right now and im getting terrible mileage. i am looking to buy a muncie 4 speed M20 with the wide ratio gears. i was wondering what exactly could i throw in with no problems or changes? i converted my 3 speed to on the floor so putting a 4 speed in should be an easy swap. I honestly do not know what i could put in there casting numbers wise. i was wondering if i should be looking at one with casting casting numbers 3851325? I can honestly say i do not know anything about this, any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks guys!
any Muncie or saginaw should fit. your bell housing only has one transmission bolt pattern so you cant use a ford or chrysler tranny. a saginaw 3 speed with overdrive would be a great tranny for your application although the V6 might not have enough power to make the overdrive worthwhile
I went the saginaw four speed route and I don't think it is worth it. You can't use a stock shifter, must use after market, and my rear cross member had to be moved back a little (might be because I used an El Camino crossmember). My shifter ended up back further than I would like. Another thing to take into consideration, a four speed won't get you better mileage unless you drive some unusual terrain, like you plan to use third in the four speed, instead of second in the three speed. I do think the wide ratio four speed will help with drive ability and would make it worth the swap. How bad is your mileage and what is the condition of your V-6? I have thought about running one in a sedan, but I don't know if it would help the mileage over a 300.
well i bought the car from a guy in maine and apparently it sat in a barn for 20 years. as of right now the timing is off ( the timing maker is gone from the engine and cannot find replacement), carburetor is out of whack, and i believe my valves are off a little. its a tired little motor i will say that, but for a little V6, and it being a more "square" engine, it does has a decent amount of torque and i feel as though it could handle a four speed. im looking to get the 300 and put it in after the transmission anyway or get whenever i can find one. i just want to see what the 225 can do with just a transmission first. during the summer i managed to get about 17 MPG BABYING it as much as i could, and this was around town. i took a trip on the highway and got 14.5. im really not getting any mileage on the highway. i mean the thing is really racing on the highway at 60-65 MPH, and i feel as though it could handle a four speed. The one thing i do not know is what rear end i have in my car, right now ill go out, lift the rear end up and spin the driveshaft and find out.
If you are sticking with a stock 225 or 300 you might consider a T-5 five speed. I think you can us parts from a S10 pickup to move the shifter location, then shorten the drive shaft. Not sure how you deal with the rear tranny mount being at an angle. I don't know if the 225 could handle the overdrive, but I would sure like to hear about your results. p BTW, an overdrive reduces your drive shafts rpm, which is better than using your differential to accomplish the same results.
Alex, I emailed you from another post. Contact me and we'll get together. I live near Worcester and have tons of info to share on the things you want to do with your car. Are you parking it for the winter? Pat
