SB in 52 gmc

[tobins 52 gmc]

installing a SB and would like a measurment from the front of the frame to the middle of the mount,just to get me in the ball park .thanks guys Robert

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by tobins 52 gmc

installing a SB and would like a measurement from the front of the frame to the middle of the mount,just to get me in the ball park .thanks guys Robert

Ok I am not close to the truck and we have a big block but this is what I did. I hung the motor in the frame rails and got it set front to back and side to side where I wanted it. I then used some 2x4's and 1x's and some shims...etc...you get the point...to stabilize it. I actually set the boards on the cross member and set the motor on the shims. That allowed me to juggle the motor where I wanted it. Then it was just a mater of fitting the brackets and welding them in. I don't think there is a magic placement or location. Just make sure you have enough clearance for the distributor against the firewall and the pulleys to radiator up front. I thought I had a picture but I don't have any of the install setup. Sorry.

Bernie

[tobins 52 gmc]

Thanks bernie for the info ,nice build i read it all the time when i am looking for some answers.What do you think of fiberglass fenders ,any experance with them or do you know any one that have used them. Thanks robert

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by tobins 52 gmc

Thanks bernie for the info ,nice build i read it all the time when i am looking for some answers.What do you think of fiberglass fenders ,any experance with them or do you know any one that have used them. Thanks robert

Robert, I think there was someone on here last year that was using fiberglass fenders....at least the rear ones. My experience with fiberglass parts has been on our race cars. Stuff they make for racing is a lot lighter than the fiberglass stuff for street use. Most of the street use stuff I have seen is pretty good. The thing you are going to have no matter what is you will still have to do some body work. Because the molds tweak over time the parts will need some work. Most of the parts I have seen are not that bad and should just need the normal long board work. The stuff we use on the race cars we don't care a lot about the paint finish so they get a little work and sprayed...lol. Good luck and if you need anything let me know. I found out yesterday that dad ordered a 700r4 so now I have to rework the cross member....grrrrrr. At least it is before I had it all together. Good luck with your build


Bernie

[tobins 52 gmc]

well just found out my self the cros menber that i baught is he wrong one for my 700r ,but the guy will swap ,oh so slow .I hope soon that i can get a friend to help post pictures ,anyways thanks Berine

[Atomsplitter]

Hey Tobin,

Here's a photo of my 1995 350LT1 in my '48 pickup. I just used the mounts the PO had installed with the 305 that was in it when i bought it. You can't see very well by the picture but the rockers are about 1/2" from the firewall (the distributor on the 305 actually touched the firewall). I'll take your measurement tonight but I would not install your motor mounts till you try fit in the motor so it is in the correct position.

[mr48chev]

I'd suggest this. Hang the engine and trans in the truck pretty much as pgf545 said he did and get the trans where you want it and the back of the engine positioned so you have the clearance between the back of the engine and the firewall you want. Once you get the transmisson mount figured out level the engine and figure out where to place your front mounts.

In the past in various installations I have found that doing the install from the back to the front eliminates several issues including having the engine too high or clearance problems.

If you use the stock steering you will either have to offset the engine to the passenger side or space the steering box out about an inch and a half or a bit of both to get clearance between the exhaust manifold and the steering box. If you changed to an independent front end that isn't an issue.

[Atomsplitter]

I measured the height from my crossmember and its 9" to the crank (center of the harmonic balancer). I also took another measurement and the center of the crank is 5-1/4" above the frame support the rad. support gets bolted down to.

I included this second measurement because I don't know what type of crossmember I have in my truck so this measurement may be misleading or different from what you have which. The frame crossmember should always be the same for all of our trucks.

[tobins 52 gmc]

Thanks Ron