265 Chevy to later model 700R or Turbo 400

Hi folks. Still going over options for my RPU. I have a stock, low milege 265 V8 from a '56 chevy sitting in the shop. It has the original cast iron powerglide behind it. What would I need to do, if anything, to run something like a Turbo 400 or 700R? I've been out of the loop for so long I can't remember what will work or won't, or what to do about it if it don't. lol Thanks

 

How about 200R4? Same length as TH350 and better ratios - great with a lockup converter. I think it should bolt up to your 265. People who have used them usually rave about them. I have had 700R4 and prefer the 200R4 by miles. But that's just my personal experience.

 

it all should bolt up if you use the correct flexplate...either 12-3/4" 153 tooth or 14" 168 tooth

the problem will be the starter....the ****** needs a starter that bolts to the block , not to the trannsmission . i'm not sure if your block has the correct holes or if you can even drill them. i know one of the big corvette suppliers makes an adapter plate for this....maybe others here will know more and jump in

 

The starter is the problem.Early starter bolts to bellhousing ,new transmissions have no provision for it.Late starters bolt to block early motors have no bolt holes.Ecklers Corvette parts sells a plate for that problem.

 

I'm not picky so 200R would be fine too. Hell, like I said I've been out of the loop so long I don't remember what all the ******s are. I took about a 15 year vacation totally away from cars until 2007. Wouldn't even change my on oil I was so far out of it. LOL... I've forgotten tons and it's almost like re-learning all over again. Thanks for the info. I'll definately keep the 200 in mind. Smaller the better in this new project anyway. Thanks

 

Ahhh.. the starter. I should have thought about that. I'll dig up some info on the adapters available. Thanks

 

2004r is almost a direct swap for a th350.

 

you'll have to use a starter adapter plate. CCI has them

 

What Mr.40 standard says is correct. Danchuck used to sell them.

 

The '56 265 block doesn't have side motor mounts. It mounts in the front and the rear mounts are on the bellhousing. The later model transmissions mount on the tailshaft. Not good to use front mtr mounts with rear trans mounts.

 

Very good point about the motor mounts.

 

Cl***icfins, I need a 265 for a hydroplane project I am building, I have several 283, 327 & 350 that have the side mounts you would need. Any interest in a trade? Thanks, Lon

 

Again Danchuck offers a side mount you can add on and use the front mounts their side mounts at the bell housing mount then use a trans mount. $0.02

 

Lightweight vehicles will do better with the 200r and a relatively low gear. Use 3.73 or 4.11 or it will hunt between 1.1 and OD at speed (depending on tire size). The 200r has more even gear differential and will be a lot more fun to drive, the 700r4 has a large ratio difference between 2-3 and will bog a small displacement motor under load. Use a manual lockup switch and a transgo shift kit and good cooler and it will last forever. The adapter plate as mentioned above will work fine.

 

I changed out the Powerglide to a TH350 on my '57 Bel Air. Texaswino is right. The 283 in my '57 was not original and had been replaced with a 60's 283. It had provisions for the side mounts and late starter mounting. Got the motor mounts from Danchuck and welded them in. You will off course need a crossmember for the tail mount on the TH350 and the 700R4. You will need to change the flexplate, torque convertor, change the trans cooler lines, and have the driveline/trans spline canged. I shortened the driveline by 3/4" at the same time if I remeber. Seemed like it woulld bind if the rear axle bottomed out. The 283 had a bell housing adapter bolted to it. This was not needed any longer as the TH350 mounted right to the block. The bell housing adapt. was where the original starter mounted, so I needed a new starter as well. And last, since the the bell housing adapt was removed, I needed an inspection plate made for the TH350 to cover the bottom of the flexplate. TH400 and 700R4 should mount fine if they are late model trans, the only difference maybe the choice of TC and length of driveshaft. Another bit of advice...if you plan to put headers, Patriot is the only headers I could find that fit in the tri-5's with side motor mounts. They claim you can use a mini starter with either a 168 tooth or a 153 tooth fle plate, but the 168 caused the starter to interfeir with the headers. So I had to go back and change to a 153 tooth flex plate. I removed the Powerglide mounts completely from the frame, but you could probably leave them if you wanted to put the Powerglide in someday, you would just have to remove the rubber mounts.

 

The early Chevrolet 265 did not have provisions for a block mounted starter motor. The starter bolted to the bellhousing on stick shift models, and to the adapter ring on Powerglide models. All the cl***ic Chevrolet vendors sell an "adapter plate" that fits between the engine and a late model transmission that allows you to bolt the early style 3 bolt starter to the adapter plate; a 168 tooth/14" flexplate is used. Be sure to use the starter support brace that bolts to end of the starter and to the block. They run around $105.00 for the adapter and fasteners. You can then use ANY of the modern automatics, Powerglide to 700R4. Butch/56sedandelivery.

Oh, this adapter plate also works as a repair method on blocks that have broken the starter boss off the block, a common Chevrolet occurance. No need to Mickey Mouse weld the block, or jerry rig something alse.

 

Wow... Great info guys. I appreciate all the feedback. About the motor mounts, I had thought about that and knew someone made a kit to solve the problem so I will add that if I use this setup. Also, the more I hear about the 200R the better I like it. Sounds like just the ticket for me.