51 sbc placement advice with pics

[PurdueSD]

I'm in the middle of a 350 install and would love to see what you did for placement. I picked up the ce tranny mount for my 700r4 and a set of ce side mounts. If i put the engine where there instructions say i will have like 6.5 degrees of tilt on the engine and the carb will sit at almost 4 degrees. So i know that is whacky.

As im sure most of you have encountered, exhaust manifold / header clearance is really tight with the frame rail, and the rack output shaft comes up real close to my side mounts. Its looking like raising the engine is the answer.

Ive got a temporary shim on the tranny crossmember bring it up 1.5" and i have to drop the front of the engine down to where the lower pulley is almost touching the old straight 6 front mount.

I was hoping to run some ram horn center dumps like these http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Dorman...olds,9133.html ...So i dont have to deal with the leaks ive heard about associated with running headers. Im not sure they will fit between the frame rails though.

But, im new at all of this so i thought i would ask for some advice.