My 57 Pro Street

[Kim57]

Well I finally got it in. It turned out to be a bigger pain than I expected.
The original frame stands put the engine too far forward and my power steering pump wouldn't fit. I ended up using some after market stands and cutting them down to fit. Had to move the engine back about 3"s. I was able to get everything to work except for the stock AC pump which was on the lower passenger side. They make a bracket to raise it so that won't be a problem.
Got the oil pan to sit level with the cross member.
I still need to get the cab back into position. I need to modify my firewall now that the engine is farther back than expected.
I still need to do the final welding on it all but it was a good day over all.
Here's a few pics to show what I ended up doing.
Kim

[OKGMC4]

Looks good. I went through a lot of trial and error to make that bracket assembly for the AC but got it right. The spacing is critical with serpentine systems. I need to find a way to post the templates for the parts because I think lots of people could use this for the same reasons you and I need it. When I had my father in law machine mine I had him make a second set and it 's just sitting here in a bag...

[oldman3]

Kim, install looks great, nice job. Without going back in your post, I believe you have a camaro clip, correct?...Jim

[Tri5Nerd]

It's looking good. Why don't you just put a notch in the crossmember? That's what I did to make my fit.

Tri5

[ambryatim]

Check the link in my sig about mounting an a/c compressor to these engines.

I have the bracket just have not done it yet. Looks pretty easy and it puts it in a better location keeping you from having to notch the cross member.

Originally Posted by Kim57

Well I finally got it in. It turned out to be a bigger pain than I expected.
The original frame stands put the engine too far forward and my power steering pump wouldn't fit. I ended up using some after market stands and cutting them down to fit. Had to move the engine back about 3"s. I was able to get everything to work except for the stock AC pump which was on the lower passenger side. They make a bracket to raise it so that won't be a problem.
Got the oil pan to sit level with the cross member.
I still need to get the cab back into position. I need to modify my firewall now that the engine is farther back than expected.
I still need to do the final welding on it all but it was a good day over all.
Here's a few pics to show what I ended up doing.
Kim

[65Pickup]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I've been in that thread. The biggest problem I had with my set up is that I have a chevelle clip. There is a ton of very good info in there though.

A Chevelle clip , I guess that's why no LS people weighed in, that would make your set up unique. Looks like your well on your way. Viva la progress.

[_Ogre]

looks good kim. making progress!

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

Looks good. I went through a lot of trial and error to make that bracket assembly for the AC but got it right. The spacing is critical with serpentine systems. I need to find a way to post the templates for the parts because I think lots of people could use this for the same reasons you and I need it. When I had my father in law machine mine I had him make a second set and it 's just sitting here in a bag...

I could use your template to make my install a little easier if I end up making my own.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Kim, install looks great, nice job. Without going back in your post, I believe you have a camaro clip, correct?...Jim

My clip is from a 67 Chevelle.

Originally Posted by Tri5Nerd

It's looking good. Why don't you just put a notch in the crossmember? That's what I did to make my fit.

Tri5

If your talking about the AC unit the swap plates I have won't let the bracket mount to the block. There's a couple of work a-rounds without spending a ton of money though.

Originally Posted by ambryatim

Check the link in my sig about mounting an a/c compressor to these engines.

I have the bracket just have not done it yet. Looks pretty easy and it puts it in a better location keeping you from having to notch the cross member.

I've seen that fix and am really considering it for mine also.
These guys make a decent priced bracket to raise it also.
http://www.kwikperf.com/lsx_ac.html

Thanks for looking at my thread guys.
Kim

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by ambryatim

Check the link in my sig about mounting an a/c compressor to these engines.

I have the bracket just have not done it yet. Looks pretty easy and it puts it in a better location keeping you from having to notch the cross member.

Holy cow, that's cool! It's awesome what people can accomplish when they have to be conservatively creative with the cashflow. We can't all afford to go out and buy a Vintage Air frontrunner system, can we?

[OKGMC4]

Here's a pic of the parts. Mostly there are really only the three plates that need a template. The rest are just bushings. My idler bushing has a step but it's poossible you could do it with two pieces instead. You'd still have to have the 2002 Z28 tensioner, a sanden compressor, and a couple really long metric bolts to get into the head. It's just like the kwik setup but I had to figure it all out with a tape measure and wooden templates. I don't know how hard it would be to scan these and post them as a pdf file.

[Kim57]

Those are nice pieces.
Kim

[ambryatim]

Kim, question about your engine mounts.....Did they end up being cut the same length?? I know you are using a Chevelle clip in all, but in mine I am using a 78 TA clip. I have seen some people use the old 68 Camaro frame mounts (actually the same mount for the C10's and Blazers and a few other vehicles too) but, they seem to be using 2 of the same mount and for some reason I cannot get the same distance on either side....if I do it is either not centered or not level.

Thanks Tim

[Kim57]

Tim
They are the same length.
Here's how I did it.
I took pieces of wood the same width as the front of my oil pan and put them on the cross member and let the front of the pan rest there. I used my floor jack to raise the rear of the trans until I got a downward angle between 1 and 5 degrees.
I made sure everything was centered and level side to side and cut the mounts to fit in the space.
It took a lot of time and I checked everything a bunch of times before I tacked it in.
If I were you I would try and measure the front clip to make sure it's symmetrical from side to side. It's possible the factory had the engine farther to one side to make room for things. I would think any extra room would be on the drivers side.
I ended up moving my engine back 4.5"s from the stock location for my clip so my P.S. pump wouldn't hit my steering box.
Hope this helps.
Kim

[Kim57]

I made some more progress on the truck.
Seeing as I had to set the engine back farther than expected I needed to make the cab fit around it. I made a new cad dolly to make the work a little easier.
Lots of measuring and painters tape and I had something I thought would work.
I find it better to cut as little as possible at first. It's always easier to take more out than to add it back in.
Kim

[Kim57]

This was the first go around.
The trans is still hitting and I didn't like how it fit around the heads.
Kim

[Kim57]

After a little more time with the cut off wheel I'm almost there.
It's hard to see the difference around the heads but I made the lower part of the opening a little straighter.
Every thing fits but I'm going to open the trans a touch more.
I just have to get a set of headers now and make sure they're going to fit.
Kim

[Tri5Nerd]

Looking good Kim.

Tri5

[ChuckDriver]

Awesome work Kim!

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Coming along good!

[oldman3]

Nice job, like the way it looks....Jim

[Daze57]

very nice work !

[Kim57]

Thanks for the kind words guys.
Kim

[Kim57]

Making some progress on the fire wall.
I started by making a template out of some heavy card stock and cutting a couple pieces of 16 gauge. After tacking them together I honestly hated how it looked. The 90* looked bad.
Kim

[Kim57]

So here's the fix.
I took some more sheet that I had bent. I used my shrinker/stretcher to create an outside curve and an inside curve and then welded them together. I took my original piece for the back and cut it to fit my new piece.
Sorry i didn't get more pics of the process but I just got caught up in making it work. Got it all in and it's much more appealing to the eyes.
Kim

[Kim57]

Here's the pics of it around the engine. I still have to final weld it but that's for another day.
Kim