72 LS3 swap Mounts questions

[Chrisbeds82]

Hey guys, I am piecing everything together to swap an LS3 into my 72 swb. I am wondering if anyone has any motor mounts and pedestals that they know work good with 1 7/8" headers and which Headers they like. Also, I have a 4L80e trans that I will need a new cross member for. Any source on one of those?

I have the motor, trans, rear end, computer, harness, radiator/fans, dakota digital gauges, boyd welding fuel cell with pump... most of the big parts now it's just the details and tieing it all together. I should probably start a build thread but haven't had the chance yet.

Thanks

Chris

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Chrisbeds82

Hey guys, I am piecing everything together to swap an LS3 into my 72 swb. I am wondering if anyone has any motor mounts and pedestals that they know work good with 1 7/8" headers and which Headers they like. Also, I have a 4L80e trans that I will need a new cross member for. Any source on one of those?

I have the motor, trans, rear end, computer, harness, radiator/fans, dakota digital gauges, boyd welding fuel cell with pump... most of the big parts now it's just the details and tieing it all together. I should probably start a build thread but haven't had the chance yet.

Thanks

Chris

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the board!

There is an LS Swaps forum on here. You might have better luck there for answers. I will see if I can get your thread moved over there.

LockDoc

[Chrisbeds82]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the board!

There is an LS Swaps forum on here. You might have better luck there for answers. I will see if I can get your thread moved over there.

LockDoc

Thank you. I'm not 100% familiar with the sight yet but I have done a lot of searching. I haven't found the answer to this question that was black and white so I hope someone can clear it up.

[kehstr]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mo...cCUaAjdT8P8HAQ

this link shows plates that adapt your factory motor mounts

[Chrisbeds82]

I got the mounts figured out with some help from pro performance. Still interested in finding the best 1 7/8" headers for my 72 LS swap.

[slotard]

I've heard you can often just move your stock tranny crossmember back and it'll work, not sure if that's true on a '72.

For motor mounts, people seem to like Dirty Dingo Sliders.

I suspect the rear end and radiator will be more work than using the stock parts.

[68c10airstream]

Hi Chris, welcome aboard.

My approach is not the norm but i feel worth mentioning. This is all based on your abilities to fabricate and weld.

When i did my ls swap about 6 years ago the parts field was a little less. As a past ase and gm mechanic i chose to use the organ donor ls mounts and made brackets to bolt to the cross member. My reasoning was the stock ls mounts are down low and tucked in. No chance of them hitting frame perches, stock mounts always work for a stock ac compressor down low on the passenger's side. I prefer newer mounts that are what i call a full circle enclosed mount in case the rubber ever separated the motor can only move a very slight bit. I believe this style is from 73 and newer. My 68 mounts were shot and i separated them into two halves with my bare hands. This would have caused the motor to flop around in the engine bay like a fish out of water.

With the stock mounts in place i searched for a while and wanted a shorter header as my engine sits so low in the engine bay that long tube headers i believe would have hung down too low. 6 years ago had fewer header choices and i found that short tight tuck headers for a 68 and newer nova with a ls worked great. They dump down at about a 45 degree angle, and the 3 bolt collector flange is at about the bell housing/engine seam. My oil pan is an "F" body as the front area is the thinnest on this application and when installed my little pinky can't go in between the pan and cross member.

If you end up using dirty dingo plates i can't say for sure the headers won't hit the frame perches, they would be close if they don't rub.

I noticed that you will be running a 4l80 e trans. I would suggest you mock this engine/trans up and note how high it sits up from the cross member. The lower you can go the better, more clearance to the underside of the cab floor, lower allows you to position it more rearward. These are nascar tricks. Get the engine low and as far back as you can.

What are you going to do for cooling? electric fans? Mechanical clutch fan? I used the organ donor clutch fan, my 68 fan shroud coupled up to the organ donor 2001 radiator. Fit was great, only mod was the upper radiator hold down brackets i extended and the core support got notched. Stock radiator mount ears got cut off.

My directions i realize are not the norm but i don't have potential sloppy mounts, headers don't rub on anything, when ac is finalized it won't hit aftermarket brackets and it will be almost out of sight, easily sourced stock h/d radiator that keeps everything cool. If the fan clutch fails it locks up and roars but will continue to cool.

Wish you the best on your project.

[First c10]

Originally Posted by Chrisbeds82

Hey guys, I am piecing everything together to swap an LS3 into my 72 swb. I am wondering if anyone has any motor mounts and pedestals that they know work good with 1 7/8" headers and which Headers they like. Also, I have a 4L80e trans that I will need a new cross member for. Any source on one of those?

I have the motor, trans, rear end, computer, harness, radiator/fans, dakota digital gauges, boyd welding fuel cell with pump... most of the big parts now it's just the details and tieing it all together. I should probably start a build thread but haven't had the chance yet.

Thanks

Chris

Not sure about the headers your asking about but in a c10 I used early classic enterprises Pedestals and mounts. I also used there transmission cross member. Bolted right in with no issues. I used shorty headers.

[Chrisbeds82]

Originally Posted by First c10

Not sure about the headers your asking about but in a c10 I used early classic enterprises Pedestals and mounts. I also used there transmission cross member. Bolted right in with no issues. I used shorty headers.

I went ahead and got the dirty dingo sliders just for the ease of moving things around a little. Also called Travis at pro performance and got the porter built cross member for the trans. I don't think my stock one is going to work.

My motor is going to be a beast and flow a ton of air so I'm wanting together the biggest headers possible. There seems to be a lot of short and mid length headers that will work. Wanting to get at least 1 7/8" mid length.

[kehstr]

what style water pump are you using, I've done enough swaps myself that i can help you with what you need for the front accessory

[Chrisbeds82]

Originally Posted by kehstr

what style water pump are you using, I've done enough swaps myself that i can help you with what you need for the front accessory

It's the corvette style.

[Chrisbeds82]

68. Thanks for the reply. I did end up going with the dirty dingo adjustable plates and their trimmed stock rubber mounts that go on the stock perches. I will mock it up sometime next week and see what type of clearance I have. I got the cts-V oil pan as that one appeared to have the best clearances. The idea is defiantly to have it as low and as far back as clearances allow.

The cooling system is a griffin radiator made for LS swaps and dual electric fans. I think I should be good to go there.

The 2 big things I'm missing under the hood now is headers and the front accessories. I have a water pump and researching the rest of the set up currently.

[Aruba1]

I bought an S10 LSX donor truck that came with a set of headers. I think they no name brand but they fit just fine. I think any set will do it as I generally don't get lucky, lol.