1983 motor mounts mod

[Branman1971]

So I'm going from 61 front crossmember to 83 with power steering and disc brakes and now I'm looking at the 83 motor mount perches. I am going to install a 396 so I would rather use the 83 perches than the perches that I got with the truck and the 350. I can't find any posts about modifying the perches because the frame is taller on 83 then a 61. I can probably figure this out but it would sure be nice to see an example. Here's a picture of my original perch on the right and the new perch on the left. Quite a difference. Thanks y'all.

[Captainfab]

The engine mount brackets (perch) from a '73-'87 C20 or C30 are going to be shorter than the C10 piece you have. However you will still need a spacer on top of the frame unless you cut and shorten them.

[Branman1971]

Thanks CaptFab. Guess I will look for some C20 or C30 brackets. But if I'm gonna cut them down anyways I might as well just cut these down. I don't think I wanna do the spacers.

[DaveTurner]

I used spacers with my LS swapped 62 C10. I used a heavy wall 1in x 1in square tube. Worked perfect

[DaveTurner]

[Branman1971]

Hmmmm...think the rise might have any affect on headers clearance? That is a easy fix though.

[DaveTurner]

My block huggers fit fine

[DaveTurner]

[Branman1971]

Dave I really appreciate the pics. Looks great! Makes me jealous. If I can ask one more question, are the motor mounts the same for bbc and sbc? I ask because I see some parts listed on websites for smallblock but there are different part numbers for big block. But then some other sites have the same part numbers for 327, 350, 400, 454. I gotta buy new mounts anyways.

[DaveTurner]

Here is a walkthru on sbc to bbc swap on late 60s camaros kinda explains about mounts and whatnot

http://www.stevescamaroparts.com/Sma..._Big_Swap.html

[DaveTurner]

Here is a thread on a BBC swap

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=346707

[DaveTurner]

heres another

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=276098

[Captainfab]

The engine mounts themselves and the clamshells are the same for small block or big block.

[kieth]

here you go , these are 91 burb 350 motor mounts being installed in a 66 gmc.

1. http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-GMC/i-jVGrQkF

2. modify the frame:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-GMC/i-mbFzsSf


3. drill 2 new holes on each side of the top of the crossmember.


4. install new motor mounts:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-GMC/i-XnWz9nk


5. install the motor mounts and all brackets to the engine, for some reason it was easier to install them that way, rather than having the upper bracket mounted to the engine, and the lower bracked installed to the frame and then trying to get the pin in the motor mount, it was much easier to install the engine with the mounts, brackets etc to the engine and then drop in place and add the 4 bolts...per side....

[Branman1971]

Thanks for all the help guys. I cut it down and it looks pretty good I think. What do y'all think?

[russellrox]

Anyone else have any pics of what they did to solve this.

[padresag]

I think quite a few use those aftermarket tubular mounts with the big lock in these trucks esp for clearance on exhaust wit headers
ron

[russellrox]

I already bought the dirty dingo slider LS mounts so I have to use the clamshell style, I don't want to buy a new set of perches if I have these I could use. Do most people use the spacer, what have you guys used, pics is really what I am looking for.

[Pappyx3!]

Used the 81 mounts on my 62 w/ the 383, when I switched out the crossmember. did not want to put spacers in so we cut them and welded them back together. Try to find some good pics and post them later.

[Captainfab]

If you have a '63-'72 frame, you can use the '73-'87 C20/30 frame brackets with little to no spacer. The C20/30 brackets fit the earlier frames better than the C10 brackets.

Originally Posted by russellrox

I already bought the dirty dingo slider LS mounts so I have to use the clamshell style, I don't want to buy a new set of perches if I have these I could use. Do most people use the spacer, what have you guys used, pics is really what I am looking for.