An improved method of synthesizing large pore zeolites is disclosed and claimed. The method comprises preparing a reaction mixture containing a source zeolite on alkali metal, nitrogen containing organic cation, a source of silica, and water, and having the following composition in terms of the mole ratios:______________________________________ M.sup.+ /SiO.sub.2 = 0.01-1.00 OH.sup.- /SiO.sub.2 = 0.15-0.80 H.sub.2 O/SiO.sub.2 = 20-120 Q/SiO.sub.2 = 0.10-1.00 SiO.sub.2 /Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 = Greater Than 8 ______________________________________ wherein M.sup.+ is an alkali metal not supplied by the source zeolite, Q is an organic template, and Y is a mixture of aluminum from the source zeolite, wherein said source zeolite contains soda lite substructures having tetrahedra atom densities of less than about 15 TO.sub.2 per 1000 .ANG..sup.3 ; maintaining the reaction mixture at crystallization temperature until crystals are formed; and recovering the crystals.