Howdy Kevin:
Welcome to the inline adventure.
Engine size- count the number of freeze plugs on the side of the block under the exhaust manifold. There will be three or five. three= 144 or 170, 5= 200 or 250. If it has three you will need to take off the head to determin whether it's a 144 or 170, Both have a bore of 3.5", the the 144 has a stroke of 2.5" while the 170 has a stroke of 2.94".
While there looking for freeze plugs look for a block casting number. It will be located just behind the center line of the block, just above the oil pan gasket line. Take a steel brush with you as the casting number is usually covered with years of gunk and crud and invariabily takes some cleaning to be ledgeable. You'll find something like "C0DE" above a "6015-A". The 1st set of letters and number is the critical one. The next thing you should do is find that code and post it for a clearer answer to what you have.
The 3.03 tranny that rbohm refers to has a syncro 1st gear too, and is much better than the 2.77 three speed. The 3.03 was introduced in '67 as the standard three speed. So when looking for a donor for a 200 and three speed look for something after '67.
The distributor may be an early vacuum advance only unit, the addition of a Petronix cell cannot make up for that limitation. Electronic ignition began to be introduced in '73 with the DuraSpark (1), followed by the large cap and wires, DuraSpark II in '75-76. That might be another factor you would use in selecting your donor engine/tranny.
A lead substitute is not necessary for low performance and/or short trips. If you were using this rig to commute 50 or 60 miles a day, at freeway speeds, you'd lose you valve seal in 30,000 or 40,000 miles, rather than at 100,000. Most likely you'll do the head before then and you'd be better of in saving the money you'd spend for lead substitute for hardened valve inserts, or better yet, use a head for 1977 or later, which will already have hard inserts.
But, remember that regular gas in 1964 had an octane rating of 92 to 94 and sometimes higher. Now you're lucky to find 87 octane regular gas. Depending on which engine you have and its condition, you may need an ocassional tank of higher octane gas.
Adios, David
) the battery, tires, selenoid, starter, (pretty much entire electrical) has been replaced. the front seat has been reuphoulstered. the carpeting is new. it even has all 4 original hubcaps...and they are not rusted/tarnished!!! I am VERRY happy with what I see so far.
