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| Fabrication and Installation |
| It seems that there aren't many sources for bolt on V8 conversion parts for this year of truck. OEM V8 engine mounts could be used but are hard to find. Late model auto trans mounts have to be created. With a little help from the internet 60's Chevy truck crowd, I was able to make what I needed. |
| The engine mounts came from a 67 Chevy truck. I had to make them a little shorter to accomadate locating the 700R4 trans. This was done by cutting out the lower mounting hole and boss, then welding in a replacement plate along the bottom. Spacers were made to shim the space between the top mounting holes and the top of the frame. |
| My trans mount was made from scratch. Just some steel angle and channel drilled and welded to line up with some existing frame holes and the 700R4 mount pad. |
| The manic mechanic goes for a ride trying to find the perfect alingment for the drive train. |
| One of the precarious moments putting the entire assembly in and out. Three different times! |
| The 700R4 trans barely fits. I wanted the engine as far back in the chassis as possible. So the front edge of the floor opening was trimmed and notched. Rather than sacrifice the floor space for the added clearance of a 4spd floor cover, I modified the original to have a little "trans tent". The cuts were covered with sheet metal and sealed with seam sealer. The carpet still fits and you can barely tell that there is an extra bump in the floor. |
| Before the final installation of the engine and transmission the new brake booster and dual master cylinder were installed and all of the necessary new brake lines fabricated. Later it was discovered that one of my brake lines was going to interfere with an exhaust manifold, oops so much for that perfectly bent and routed tubing. After much cussing and sweating I got things in order with the engine in the way. Finally the whole works is bolted in place. Now it's time to bolt on some stuff. |
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