Need help with my 61

[61chevy_newbie]

i recently bought a 61 chevy stepside truck and it came with alot of 63 parts including the engine. My question for those of you out there is , Is there anywhere or anyone i can purchase motor mounts for a 454 engine that will bolt to my frame with the least amount of work, i cant custom make mounts but i can drill holes and bolt them is what im looking for and if theres anything else i need to do to drop it in thanks for helping me out and please respond. -tyler

[markeb01]

Don't know the answer to your question, but welcome to the forum! Post some pics and share some details when you get a chance.

[61chevy_newbie]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Don't know the answer to your question, but welcome to the forum! Post some pics and share some details when you get a chance.

thanks for at least replying =]
this is a cool site and i hope it helps alot on my build cause i dont know much about it and dont want to get scammed taking it to a shop

[Captainfab]

I don't know of any 'bolt in' motor mount brackets to install a big block in a '60-'62. If you had the '63 and up frame, you could use the '68-'71 big block motor mount brackets, or the '73+ C20/30 brackets. I suppose you could still use either of those brackets, but you would have to add a thick spacer on top of the frame.

I know what is needed to install a big block into the '63-'67 frames, but I don't know on the '60-'62 frames, as I have never done that install.

[61chevy_newbie]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I don't know of any 'bolt in' motor mount brackets to install a big block in a '60-'62. If you had the '63 and up frame, you could use the '68-'71 big block motor mount brackets, or the '73+ C20/30 brackets. I suppose you could still use either of those brackets, but you would have to add a thick spacer on top of the frame.

I know what is needed to install a big block into the '63-'67 frames, but I don't know on the '60-'62 frames, as I have never done that install.

thanks bud . do you think i can get the motor installed and tranny installed under 2000? i already have the motor trans and will have the driveshaft fitted i just didnt know about the mounts and didnt want to get screwed over, oh and by the way the motor i have in the truck now is a 292 like yours its out of a 63 and has wooden! blocks under the motor mounts lol, i guess thats what i have to do on the big block mounts? just not wooden?

[slepysal]

Welcome. As you will see the 60-62 trucks are difrent then the 63-66.
What can be easily bolted on a 63-66 takes some extra work four the 60-62
But it can be done . This is a great site you will get lots of help , and make use of the search tool......... lots of good info too.

[Captainfab]

I really don't know if that is feasable in your area. It depends on whether you can find a shop that actually knows what they are doing with something like this. I know I could do the install for 2K, and even get it running for that amount, but I'm a long ways away.

If you have plans of changing the front crossmember to get away from the torsion bars, and add disc brakes, that should be done first.

Originally Posted by 61chevy_newbie

thanks bud . do you think i can get the motor installed and tranny installed under 2000? i already have the motor trans and will have the driveshaft fitted i just didnt know about the mounts and didnt want to get screwed over, oh and by the way the motor i have in the truck now is a 292 like yours its out of a 63 and has wooden! blocks under the motor mounts lol, i guess thats what i have to do on the big block mounts? just not wooden?

[1963c-10]

61chevy newbie....look into the hurst mastershift 3, just picked one up myself. Hands down the finest 3 speed manual shifter ive seen for a truck.

[61chevy_newbie]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

61chevy newbie....look into the hurst mastershift 3, just picked one up myself. Hands down the finest 3 speed manual shifter ive seen for a truck.

is it for the 1963 trans? im pretty sure thats what i got cause motor is a 63

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by 61chevy_newbie

is it for the 1963 trans? im pretty sure thats what i got cause motor is a 63

Will work w/many different 3 speed transmissions. Just need to get the proper install kit for your trans.

[jtrichard]

I know you were looking for bolt in but this kit would most likely work well with min. amount of welding http://www.advanceadapters.com/produ...ine-mount-kit/ you should be able to find a portable welder guy to do it for you

[jtrichard]

also this might be of help http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=369663 its small block in these pics but big block mounts the same

[61chevy_newbie]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

also this might be of help http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=369663 its small block in these pics but big block mounts the same

Wait so the big block and small block will have the same mounts? My fab Guy just needs the correct mounts and grant mount I just don't know where to find them
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[jtrichard]

the engine mounts like in the post are 63/66 mounts if you cant find some back there i have a 66 that i can take them out of....grant mount????

[61chevy_newbie]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

the engine mounts like in the post are 63/66 mounts if you cant find some back there i have a 66 that i can take them out of

Key thing they will fit my 61 ? And there not absolute?
Posted via Mobile Device

[jtrichard]

as you can see in the pics and read in his post he had to put 1" spacer under the top of the mount bracket as the 61 frame is 1" shorter in height

[61chevy_newbie]

That would be ok this whole drop in I just don't see where 3 thousand in labor would come in I see like a 1000 in labor if you have all the tools which this guy has
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[Captainfab]

There is a lot more to this than most people think. After the engine and trans is mounted correctly,there is all the wiring, plumbing, exhaust, transmission cooler lines, driveshaft, etc, etc.

I've done a few, so I am aware of what it takes to do the job right.

I'm not trying to rip anyone off, I'm just not into doing a job at a loss.

If you can get the job done, as a turn key, for $1000, that is a heck of a deal.

Originally Posted by 61chevy_newbie

That would be ok this whole drop in I just don't see where 3 thousand in labor would come in I see like a 1000 in labor if you have all the tools which this guy has
Posted via Mobile Device

[jtrichard]

1000 should cover a hole lot to get it in

[61chevy_newbie]

would be nice if you could get a few pictures,,, if i cant get a shifter to work for this ill prolly get new motor and trans cause right now i hate shifting i cant even hold a soda in that thing

[61chevy_newbie]

would 2000 be turn key? i told the guy at the car shop thats all the money i have can you get the parts in it and rolling

[par4tom]

Hi There,
I just did a 350 conversion into my 61 this past weekend, including getting rid of the horsehoe motor mount and converting over to the motor mounts you are talking about.

Let me tell you...it is a lot of work. You have to fabricate the 2 1/2 spacers for each side, drill the holes, mock every thing up and then install the engine so you can mark the holes where you need to drill into the frame and into the cross member. That will take you about 4 hours right there.

Then, you have to take it all back out, drill the frame and the cross member, install the motor back in and get all the holes to line up. That's another 2 to 3 hours (took me half a day because it takes time to line it up and bolt it down).

I'll say this...you'll have a full 8 hours just on the motor mount conversion (took me about 10) and I don't want to do it again.

Now...you're running electrical, bolting up all the attachments, transmission, etc...

All I'm saying is it is not really a lot of difficult work (but it is a lot of work).

Look over the forums here...I got a lot of ideas on the engine mounts from here and Captain added some great input. I followed what these other guys did, and was able to do it myself (and I am no Mr. Goodwrench)

There was a lot of busy work to get my small block into the truck...it was a good weekend project. It will take me another week to get all the rest together and hopefully get it running.

Best of luck. Message me if you have questions because I have a 61 like you...
Tom

[par4tom]

Here are my pics....again this is a SBC into a 61 Apache I did this past weekend.

You can barely see the 2 half-inch steel spacers I had to fabricate to sit on top of the frame. The big block should work just as easily as you can see there is a bit of room to work with here.

I used the 67-72 motor stanchions (perches) from a wrecking yard ($50). They worked good and I got the motor mounts themselves at Rockauto.com for about $20 including shipping.

Just be sure to mock everything up, do NOT tighten the bolts down (ask me how I know) until you get all the holes to line up on the motor mount, the cross member and the frame.

Piece of cake!!!

Tom

[Captainfab]

Getting it rolling and turn key are two different things

Originally Posted by 61chevy_newbie

would 2000 be turn key? i told the guy at the car shop thats all the money i have can you get the parts in it and rolling