Front Crossmember Location(s)

[RabidScott]

Hi again, guys! Got a simple question for you!

I'm getting the 350 into my '57, and had one of those universal engine crossmembers. I haven't bolted or welded it in yet, and I noticed that the crank pulley was real close to the stock front crossmember.





Now, I noticed that there are two sets of holes in the stock crossmember, one set which must have held the original six-popper in place. The other set of holes appear to be in the correct place for the stock V8 mounts.

Long winded story short:
Could I cut the rivits off the crossmember, slide it back, and use the OE mounts for the V8? Were there two positions for the stock crossmember, depending on whether the truck was a six or V8?

I'm pretty sure thats the way it would have worked, I just wanted to make sure. I'm contemplating using the OG stuff...

[PDW HOTRODS]

I believe the crossmember was the same for both v-8, and 6.
They used different mounts though. I would not recomend the
factory v-8 mount if you are building more power, it was a center
single mount up front, and relied on the side bellhousing mounts
to keep the engine pointing up. Most modern tranies use a single
rear mount, and no side mounts. If you are adding alot of power,
you might add a strap, or chain by the drivers side mount also.
I have seen even new mounts break under hard take off.

[RabidScott]

Doh! I think you're right! I found what I'm looking for:


If you squint real hard, you can see in this picture I found on the web:


I basically want a stock '57 pick up with a V8 and overdrive transmission (T-5). It's not going have a lot of horsepower, 300 or less, just needs to start up every morning, and take me where ever I need to go.

I'm reusing the stock bellhousing, so the stock tranny mounts are already utilized, the T5 was a bolt-in, I'm just hanging the engine in there now.

It may be drivable in two weeks....

[entourageguy]

If your mounting the trans on the stock side bell housing mounts then the front stock mounts should work for you. I can remember my 57 chev car years ago with a front mount 327 and a turbo 350 mounted at the rear. I had to run a chain from the frame to the block to stop the engine from rocking too much!!!
Brian...

[PDW HOTRODS]

What T-5 are you using? Is it out of a Chevy car or truck?

[RabidScott]

Originally Posted by PDW HOTRODS

What T-5 are you using? Is it out of a Chevy car or truck?

Mine is out of a '85 Chevy 2.8l S-10. I used an 11" clutch for a '87 4.3 Astro Van, fit like a charm in the stock bellhousing, with a stock pressure plate.

I'm actually the third guy in my group to do this swap, one was in a '51 Chevy SWB truck, the other a '54 Chevy car. Another one of my buddies is putting one in his '68 Chevy SWB. Easy as pie!!

Any of the '83-'86(???) S-10 T-5s work good, just make sure you get one with a mechanical speedo drive. There is a great article on stovebolt.com. The Camaro ones are similar, but the shifter is located farther back on the tailshaft.