1964 Engine

Engines - 1964

Two 6-cylinder engines and four 8-cylinder engines were offered in 1964 Chevelles. The base L6 engine was the 120 hp 194 cid Hi-Thrift with a 155 hp 230 cid Turbo-Thrift engine optional. The base V8 engine was the 195 hp 283 cid, 2-barrel Turbo-Fire with a 220 hp 283 cid, 4-barrel engine optional. Two 327 cid engines were offered later in the model year, the 250 hp version in March and a 300 hp version in June.

Engine			Transmission	Notes
Code	Size-Carb	hp-RPO
G	194-1	120	Manual-3
GB	194-1	120	Manual-3	Heavy Duty Clutch
GF	194-1	120	Manual-3	PCV
GG	194-1	120	Manual-3	PCV - Heavy Duty Clutch
GH	194-1	120	Manual-3	Taxi
GJ	194-1	120	Manual-3	PCV - Taxi
GK	194-1	120	Manual-3	A/C
GL	194-1	120	Manual-3	A/C - Heavy Duty Clutch
GM	194-1	120	Manual-3	A.C - PCV
GN	194-1	120	Manual-3	A/C - Heavy Duty Clutch
K	194-1	120	Powerglide
KB	194-1	120	Powerglide	PCV
KC	194-1	120	Powerglide	Taxi
KD	194-1	120	Powerglide	PCV - Taxi
KH	194-1	120	Powerglide	A/C
KJ	194-1	120	Powerglide	A/C - PCV
230 ↓
BL	230-1	155-L61	Powerglide
BM	230-1	155-L61	Powerglide
BN	230-1	155-L61	Powerglide	PCV
BP	230-1	155-L61	Powerglide	A/C - PCV
LL	230-1	155-L61	Manual-3	A/C
LM	230-1	155-L61	Manual-3	PCV
LN	230-1	155-L61	Manual-3	A/C - PCV
283 ↓
J	283-2	195	Manual-3
JA	283-2	195	Manual-4
JD	283-2	195	Powerglide
JG	283-4	220-L77	Powerglide
JH	283-4	220-L77	Standard
327 ↓
JQ	327-4	250-L30	Standard	(Available March 1964)
JR	327-4	300-L74	Standard	(Available June 1964) *
JS	327-4	365-L76	Standard Transistor Ignition ***	**
JT	327-4	250-L30	Standard	(Available March 1964)
SR	327-4	250-L30	Powerglide	(Available March 1964)
SS	327-4	300-L74	Powerglide	(Available June 1964) *

Horsepower and Torque

Engine Specifications
Engine Type	Cubic Inches	Horsepower @ RPM	Torque @ RPM
I6	194 (STD)	120 @ 4400	177 @ 2400
I6	230 (RPO L61)	155 @ 4400	215 @ 2000
V8	283 (STD)	195 @ 4800	285 @ 2400
V8	283 (RPO L77)	220 @ 4800	295 @ 3200
V8	327 (RPO L30)	250 @ 4400	350 @ 2800
V8	327 (RPO L74)	300 @ 5000	360 @ 3200

Notes

A total of 149,506 6-cyl engines were installed; 84,400 194cid and 65,106 230cid engines.
A total of 221,328 8-cyl engines were installed; 212,993 283cid and 8,335 327cid engines.

* One reader reports a JR coded L74 block cast May 1, 1964 and assembly date of 0513 from Flint. When the car was sold isn't known but 'availability' dates are always open to some leeway.

** This combination was supposedly built for the 1964 Chevelle but Chevrolet's Accumulative Production Report does not list the RPO as being sold in a Chevelle. It is possible there might have been a few built but not reported. There is mention of a JS coded engine in an internal memo from FACILITIES & PRODUCTION PLANNING dated March 19, 1964 of engine codes being added but no specifics on this particular engine code and this memo includes all of the Chevrolet passenger car and truck lineup.

The currently available 1964 Chevelle & El Camino Factory Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) confuses the L76 and/or K66 transistor ignition issue a bit further. Page 250 of the AIM shows K66 with the L76 engine but the dated drawing (April 7, 1964) also shows K66 being canceled. Pages 251 through 255 show other K66 details (in particular, wiring) but no mention of the option being canceled. All-in-all, it is confusing. Whether just page 250 showing the major components was canceled or just the wiring components is questionable. I find it unlikely the wiring pages would still be valid if the option itself was canceled. And, since no L76 engine or K66 transistor ignition option was reportedly sold...until someone comes up with legitimate, documented proof of either I will leave the notations as they are.

Engine Specifications
Engine Type	Cubic Inches	Horsepower @ RPM	Torque @ RPM
L6	194 (STD)	120 @ 4400	177 @ 2400
L6	230 (RPO L61)	155 @ 4400	215 @ 2000
V8	283 (STD)	195 @ 4800	285 @ 2400
V8	283 (RPO L77)	220 @ 4800	295 @ 3200
V8	327 (RPO L30)	250 @ 4400	350 @ 2800
V8	327 (RPO L74)	300 @ 5000	360 @ 3200