71 4x4 Ls1 Install - no room on engine crossmember

[M_Honcho]

I attempted to install my LS1 motor into my 1971 K10, but the engine crossmember is too narrow. I have looked on this site, but I can't find any 4x4 LS1 installs with the stock crossmember. I would prefer a bolt in crossmember - but from what I have seen, everyone make their own. I saw pacific fab has one - but their website has zero information on it.

Currently the engine is sitting in the engine bay, but the engine mounts are about an inch from the frame since the engine is squeezed between the engine cross-member. I have ground down all of the bosses and mounting areas that would be in the way.

Please let me know your experience with a LS1 install in a 4x4. Thanks

[PICKMUP]

It looks like it is just metal...cut & fit. Here is a pic of a crossmember on 502 BB in one of our 4x4 trucks.

[jrdv]

Subscribing to this thread. I have been interested in this motor swap for a long time, but haven't seen it done.

Please take lots of pictures and do a build thread.. I know I am not the only one considering this swap.

John

[lowrollin70gmc]

Off road designs makes a bolt in cross member that could work, I know it is a lot lower profile than the stock one. Maybe give them a call and see if they know if it'll work or not.

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog...rossmember.htm

[jays68yak]

Not trying to pimp with out paying...just answering quesitons....

IIRC the ORD one wont with an LS.

Pacfab has nothing on the site cuz we spend too much time working on stuff and no time on the website. Call 408-205-1772 or 408-782-1300 during 8:30-5:30 m-f and we would be happy to answer any questions you have.

I have a bunch of pictures on my work computer I can upload if needed.

[jstplyn331]

I am having the same Problem, and have been searching for answers I just found that CCP makes a mount that will take place of the old one Here is a link there site is not all that good, but I found after about 10 minutes.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...6772LS1-PK.htm

Hope this helps, it is not cheep, and I am sure you will still have to purchase the conversion plates for the block also.

[M_Honcho]

lowrollin70gmc - thanks for the link. It seems to me that crossmember is for a '73 truck and would not bolt directly to my existing '71 frame/mounts.

jays68yak - I'll give a call to pacfab and see if they can help. From the pictures I have seen, it looks like I'll have to weld in some angle iron to mount the crossmember. Do you know if this is correct? I currently don't have a welder at my disposal. I know, I know, but the 66 Lincoln takes up too much room in the garage.

jstplyn331 - I had the same idea and have already purchased that part from ccp. It only mounts to a 2wd engine crossmember. The 4x4 is different. I am sure that ccp know this, since I have told them and I have seen other posts quoting the same thing. I am not sure why they don't designate that it's for 2wd only. If you still want to try them, you can buy mine

Thanks for your posts!

[jstplyn331]

I just ordered one and they said it will work for a 4x4. I think I will go postal if that is true......

[jstplyn331]

Glad I read your post I just called and Cancelled my order you are right I wish they would say that in the description. I even ordered mine by phone and was not asked. Ow well it looks as if the Universal bracket here is the only solution out there for 4x4

http://www.jcwhitney.com/universal-c.../p2005502.jcwx

[jays68yak]

Originally Posted by M_Honcho

lowrollin70gmc - thanks for the link. It seems to me that crossmember is for a '73 truck and would not bolt directly to my existing '71 frame/mounts.

jays68yak - I'll give a call to pacfab and see if they can help. From the pictures I have seen, it looks like I'll have to weld in some angle iron to mount the crossmember. Do you know if this is correct? I currently don't have a welder at my disposal. I know, I know, but the 66 Lincoln takes up too much room in the garage.

jstplyn331 - I had the same idea and have already purchased that part from ccp. It only mounts to a 2wd engine crossmember. The 4x4 is different. I am sure that ccp know this, since I have told them and I have seen other posts quoting the same thing. I am not sure why they don't designate that it's for 2wd only. If you still want to try them, you can buy mine

Thanks for your posts!

No welding...100% bolt in. pm me your email and I can send you the directions.

heres some older pics.




We have one in stock ready to be shipped out........

[jstplyn331]

pleas send me more info on this if you i am making more of a show truck then a 4x4 off road truck so I am looking to make it as clean as possible thanks? curious how far that sits down from the frame, so if you have dimensions and more pictures that will help out a lot thanks in advance. also looking at the picture, and wondering if that is the finished look, or was that the first creation piece?

[jays68yak]

Originally Posted by jstplyn331

pleas send me more info on this if you i am making more of a show truck then a 4x4 off roader sobi am looking to makevit as clean as possible thanks? cyriousos how farcthat sits down so if you have dimensions and more pictures that will help out a lot thanks in advance. also looking at the picture isthat the finished look, or was that the moke up piece?

I dont have one of the redesigned one on my computer. This is the same setup but for the 73-91 frames, should give you an idea of how low it hangs. They come black.

[jstplyn331]

What does one of the Redesigned ones look like? how much of a change? also do you sell them? or are you telling the dimensions to people that want to build one?

thanks again

[racin69z]

I put a 6.0 in my 72 4x4 with 8" of suspension lift. I made my own crossmember and put the engine about as low in the frame as I could. I had to put a 1.5" spacer under the transfer case to get the engine to sit more level. It has a slight tilt to the back like they normally do now.

I only wound up with about 6-8" between the stock 6.0 pan and the front diff. I don't know how you could sit one in there in a stock height truck.

Lynn

[racin69z]

Here are a couple of pics of mine. After looking at the pics the distance may be closer to 8-10". I still am curious how it would work with a stock height truck.




Lynn

[Rat72]

I started with a DIY4x4 crossmember which does not work for big blocks or LS motors. But a little cut and weld and here's what I ended up with.



Does anyone make a 4x4 transmission crossmember?

Also curious what people are seeing as far as driveline angles. I'm at about 6 degrees in order to clear the transfer case.

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by Rat72

I started with a DIY4x4 crossmember which does not work for big blocks or LS motors. But a little cut and weld and here's what I ended up with.

Attachment 788515

Does anyone make a 4x4 transmission crossmember?

Also curious what people are seeing as far as driveline angles. I'm at about 6 degrees in order to clear the transfer case.

That's clean..

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by Rat72

I started with a DIY4x4 crossmember which does not work for big blocks or LS motors. But a little cut and weld and here's what I ended up with.

Attachment 788515

Does anyone make a 4x4 transmission crossmember?

Also curious what people are seeing as far as driveline angles. I'm at about 6 degrees in order to clear the transfer case.

which transfer case? I'm still running a gen1 small block but with stock mounting height and an NV4500/NP241 combo I'm sitting right around 5 degrees and that's as far up as I could push it without interference

[eagleuh1]

TheAlien I think built his own crossmember for his. Look at his build thread

[SWB4x4]

I have the Pacific Fab kit sittin in the garage waitin to go in... check out my build thread

[Rat72]

I'm running a 6L90 with an Atlas transfer case. I have not set up the front driveline yet and I'm concerned about a steep driveshaft angles. Whatever the drop is plus 6 degrees is going to be close to 20 degrees total. Maybe more depending on how high I go on lift.

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

which transfer case? I'm still running a gen1 small block but with stock mounting height and an NV4500/NP241 combo I'm sitting right around 5 degrees and that's as far up as I could push it without interference

[Rat72]

Here's the crossmember I made for the tranny.





I just wanted to make sure that everyone else is having the same clearance issues with the transfer case.