[Tx Firefighter]

Here's the Tx Firefighter secret of the day.

I've done 2 big block swaps now, one into my 69 and another into my 70.

You have to pretty much run a big block frame stand for exhaust clearance. I haven't ever found a header or manifold that will clear a big block on small block or inline 6 frame stands. The proper big block frame stands have a dish in them for exhaust clearance.

The 68-71 big block frame stands are cheap. They sell for 60 to 100 bucks per pair on the parts board all the time. The downside is that everyone says the rubber part of the mounts will cost you a fortune.

72 frame stands are expensive as hell. Expect to pay like 150 to 200 for a set of them. The upside though, is the rubber part is dirt cheap.

It's a trade off you see? Cheap stands, expensive mounts or the other way around...

Here is what I've done. Use the cheap early style big block stands with a 6 dollar small block rubber mount. It bolts right on. No clearance issues. They last too. My first big block swap was in 1994. I put a 375 hp 396 into my 69 truck. It's still hammering hard to this day with the same set of small block rubbers on it.

The small block rubber mounts bolt right onto the big block. The hole in the frame stand on the big block mounts is real big though. You have to run a very large washer on the mount bolt to keep it from pulling through the large hole. I use harmonic balancer washers. They fit the bolt and are real big and thick. Problem solved....

Here's the set of early style big block frame stands.