[RSRXION]

Use the front frame holes for the engine mounts. I just installed a 76 model 454 and TH-400 in my 72. My truck was originally a 350 with a 4 gear. I used the towers and mounts from the 76 donor 1 ton and everything nearly fell into place.

On the towers, one of the holes will line up perfectly. Use the forward most hole on the top rail and bolt your tower in place adjusted into the fully forward position. Then use an awl to scribe the other 3 locations to drill out either the frame holes or the tower holes. I drilled out the tower holes since I can replace them anytime and return the frame to stock. Be sure and use a grade 8 flat washer between the bolt and the tower when you do the final install.

Once you have bolted the towers tight in place, feed that big block into the engine compartment. One little note here.... I decided to pull my grille, core support and right front fender/ inner fender off for this task. It was amazingly simple to just slide the big block and trans in as a unit without having to wrestle 1,000 pounds of HEAVY into the engine compartment. If you've got nice valve covers I would highly recommend using some junkers for the install. The brake booster assembly is murder on the drivers side cover.

Once you've got the rat motor in place and the trans dangling out behind it use a floor jack and a piece of plywood under the trans pan to bring it into place. This will allow you to get your horizontal bolts through the insulators and towers. Once they are started and nuts are on them, DO NOT tighten them up yet.

Jack the trans up using the aforementioned jack and bring it into just above the installed position. Basically, jack it all the way up against the body. By the way, if you don't have a high hump trans tunnel, you're gonna need one. Slip the later model crossmember into place and start the bolts on the trans mount. Then locate the factory drilled holes in the frame and install the bolts to secure the crossmember to the frame. Install the bolts from the bottom and put the nuts on the top of the frame. This makes it a little neater install and it also protects the bolt threads from rock damage down the road. You'll be glad you did if you ever have to pull it all back out. be sure and use lock nuts on these crossmember to frame bolts.

Once the crossmember is started and you like its' location, lower everything down into place and tighten it up. Don't forget about your engine mount bolts.

What you'll end up with is a nice install with a factory look about it. I had my 454 in and out several times getting everything figured out and I can assure you that this is the best install formula you'll find. The engine looks like it came in the truck, the distributor has adequate clearance and you can get your hand between the HEI cap and the firewall. All of the cables and lines bolted right up, and the fan has about 2 inches clearance between it and the radiator. Be sure to get yourself a big block shroud.

I've attached a few pictures if it helps. Anything else I can do, just let me know. Good luck, Dean 479-263-3326