Just looking for some advice

[otiger50]

Hello my name is Tyler. I'm 19 and I have pulled and rebuilt the engines from a couple of early 2000's Chrysler cars and I am a full time paintless dent repair technician, but other than that I am inexperienced in every area. Therefore, I am seeking help and advice on my new project pickup.
I just recently bought a 64 shortbed. It has a small block but I am unsure of the exact cubic inch. It also has a 3 speed in the floor. The motor misses sometimes when you get on it, and the transmission won't stay in gear.
I would like to pull the motor and trans and do an overhaul to the engine and possibly do some mild tuning such as a cam, a different carb (a 600 cfm edelbrock is what I have in mind,) headers, and possibly an MSD ignition. For the transmission, I would like to scrap the 3 speed and bolt on a T56 6 speed.
I would just like some general input and advice before I start in on the project so that I don't get in over my head.

[406rich]

I`m only guessing but probably a 283, if you get the siffix numbers from the pad on the front right side of the block will confirm this, if you want to help with the performance, get youself a HEI distributor ( new ) like the MSD unit, to install you will have very little room at the firewall, install dist without cap on, then put the cap on and wire plugs accordingly, you will not need the ballast resistor anymore when doing this, discard it and the wire, run the pink wire from your ignition switch directly to the HEI, you will have two contacts on the distributor, one is tachometer, one is ignition, use the latter one, then its just a matter of setting your timing. As far as rebuilding the 283, its sort of a crap shoot here, it will cost as much or more to rebuild it as it would to rebuild a 350, a 350 will drop right in bolt for bolt, and give you a little more HP, plus you can rebuild this while you driving your truck and looking for a suitable trans.

[otiger50]

I'm unsure as to whether it is the original motor or not, i'll run the VIN to check by my assumption would be that it originally had a V6 with a 3 on the tree but of course, as i stated before, I am inexperienced. my main concern is mounting a different transmission on this pickup. What should I do in your opinion about a transmission in this pickup?

[otiger50]

here is a picture of the engine.

Attachments:

[406rich]

Tyler you have 283, 327, 350, unsure without suffix number, it does have an HEI dist in it although the plugs wires should never be tied together like they are as this causes misfireing plugs, before you do anything change plugs / wires / set timing, check vacuum advance and centrifical advance to ensure all is working. The valve covers on it are indicative of later model say `68 to 76, engine may be as well even being a 350.

[otiger50]

my main concern is the transmission

[406rich]

If your staying with a stick you have two options, the t5 which is great, and a 833 which is a three speed with overdrive, used in chevy pickups from about `78 to 85, which would be a direct bolt up with a new crossmember for the trans, the T5 are a little more involved but not knowing what the specifics are.