71 4x4 BBC Swap: Doing what I should have done the first time!

[Wildstreak]

I was going to order one of those cross members this week, whats where the problems with the original one you got and they said that they sent you pieces to weld together, any pics of what the pieces look like and how hard it would be to weld together?

[Chevy1TonFun]

Originally Posted by Wildstreak

I was going to order one of those cross members this week, whats where the problems with the original one you got and they said that they sent you pieces to weld together, any pics of what the pieces look like and how hard it would be to weld together?

What size motor are you going to be using?

[Wildstreak]

Originally Posted by Ridin' High

What size motor are you going to be using?

454 bbc

[Chevy1TonFun]

I'll take some pics tomorrow of the pieces. I just posted under the 4x4 BBC thread. I'll have the crossmember finished after the first of Nov.

[Wildstreak]

yea I was discussing there as well lol, thanks man any advice is always greatly appreciated! I look forward to seeing the bbc in there!

[Chevy1TonFun]

Made some more progress and then took two steps back...maybe more. I removed the A/C and heater assembly. I cut out a piece of steel plating to cover the holes and mounted my regulator, fuel filter, and Fuel Pump in its place. Today I pulled out the engine harness and after inspecting the fire wall connector decided that I would finally give in to "Doing what I should've done the first time" and installed a Painless wiring harness kit. I hope to have that all done by next weekend depending on how soon I get that. I'll have some pics in a few day and hopefully pics of the my modified DIY4X crossmember and a Completed Stroked 489 BBC!!! I'm so close I can hear that motor turn over for the first time.

[Chevy1TonFun]

Ok so I got a text message yesterday that my heads finally made it to the shop to be machined and assembled. The heads have been ported and polished. I told my buddy we have to finish the motor my the 6th of Nov. While I'm waiting on that I had Kevin work on my column and installed a painless wiring kit. Still have some bugs to work out but 95% of it is complete. My buddy that is helping with the cross members is leaving for SEMA tomorrow and is still trying to finish the 72 Cutless that will be in the DUB both. We have set a date for Nov 13th to finish the crossmembers for sure. Sorry for the up and downs for the updates, but you can imagine how frustrated I am about my truck being two months behind schedule. I am determined to be drive me baby again before Thanksgiving. I'll post some more pics of progress in the next day or so.

[Wildstreak]

theres no need for apologies everyone here knows what its like, there will always be set backs and unforeseen obstacles, thats why I find it fun and challenging! I hope all goes smooth for you and you can drive her asap!
keep up the good work man and dont let it get ya down

[Chevy1TonFun]

So I have spent the last two days working on the crossmember issues. We have come to the fact that the header will not work. So I went out and bought some cheap flow tech headers. We didn't have time to completely fit test them. We are a lot closer than we were. We got side track on fabbing the trac bar. I'll have pictures tomorrow.

[Chevy1TonFun]

Finished the motor last night. I'm still working out fitment in the truck. I hope to have the motor in the truck the weekend after Thanksgiving.

[onlyifihadachevy]

Nice motor, you still tihnking it will be in this weekend?

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking very nice!

[Chevy1TonFun]

I did get the motor in the truck, but still have a splitting headache from the fan and header clearance. The cog belt setup is hitting my fans and the new blockhugger headers still won't clear the frame. So it sounds like I going to have to build a custom crossmember to fix the header issue. As for the fans I'm not sure yet. I'll post some updated pics and see what you guys think.

[vtblazer]

Is that engine paint 'cast gray'?

Edit: After looking, is it even painted yet?



Looks awesome!

[Chevy1TonFun]

Its painted, its a gloss engine grey.

[phx 4x4]

That motor is lookin good

[Chevy1TonFun]

Finished the crossmember today!!!! Kurt from DIY4x was a great help. He had a lot of good ideas to help me overcome the issues. He did say that every BBC swap he has helped someone with that it was different every time on our model trucks. Anyway what I ended up doing what cut the assembly off of the back flange and moved it up about 2 1/2 inches. The headers I used were Hooker Comps 2455HKR for the chevelle. They fit perfectly with the exception of on piper that hits the bottom of the frame. So I am planning on heating it and bending it out of the way. With all the progress made today I hope to start it in the next few weeks. I need to finish wiring up a few things. I'll have pictures up soon.

[Chevy1TonFun]

Something I forgot to add was that I had to mount the frame channeling to the backside of the inside of the frame. As promised here are a few pictures I took yesterday. I was able to get some wiring accomplished yesterday. Its looking good to start it in two weeks. I just need to watch the money spending. Enjoy.

[Yukon Jack]

Killer color on the engine! Glad to see it sitting in place.

[doug70]

I wish I was that far along. Looks great, keep the pics coming.

Doug

[mtharleydavidson]

Ridin' High, I am in a similar predicament. I have a 1971 K10 SWB. I am putting in a ZZ502 BBC and a TH400 Tranny. I decided to leave my T-case and drivetrain in stock position and simply move the engine forward the required 3"... This looks like it should work fine with the exception I may need to go electonic fan for clearance up front. I have the 2nd Gen DIY4X crossmember and just fitted it to the 502 tonight. Sure enough, the crossmember hits the pan. Can you explain a little more on how you solved this? I was thinking maybe I could just use a different pan? You said you cut the back flange and move ahead 2 1/2". I am not following... your pics don't show the crossmember attached. BTW - Love your Engine. Very nice. Appreciate any additional pearls of wisdom.

[onlyifihadachevy]

I think he said, he called and got bushings/shims. I could be wrong?


Edit: It wasn't him someone esle, he said he called and got a unwelded one so he make it fit his pan on the bbc.

[Chevy1TonFun]

Originally Posted by mtharleydavidson

Ridin' High, I am in a similar predicament. I have a 1971 K10 SWB. I am putting in a ZZ502 BBC and a TH400 Tranny. I decided to leave my T-case and drivetrain in stock position and simply move the engine forward the required 3"... This looks like it should work fine with the exception I may need to go electonic fan for clearance up front. I have the 2nd Gen DIY4X crossmember and just fitted it to the 502 tonight. Sure enough, the crossmember hits the pan. Can you explain a little more on how you solved this? I was thinking maybe I could just use a different pan? You said you cut the back flange and move ahead 2 1/2". I am not following... your pics don't show the crossmember attached. BTW - Love your Engine. Very nice. Appreciate any additional pearls of wisdom.

Sounds like a fun build. Do you have a thread started because I'd love to follow. Let me see if I understand your current progress. You have moved the motor 3" forward and have mounted your crossmember (CM) assembly with BBC supported by CM. First big question are your exhaust headers or manifolds installed?! If they are you're lucky that they fit. That is what I had issues with is the headers not clearing the frame.
Next you asked about the pan. This is my pan.



After get the motor installed in the truck we saw that there would no way to bend a new piece of DOM tubing to go around the pan. My plan is to cut 3 pieces to weld at something like 45 degrees to create something like this \_/

To clear up some confusion. Here are some pics of how I moved the motor vertically 2 1/2". Notice the mounting assembly that is welded to the frame channel flange. That is where I cut in order to move the assembly up 2.5".

I hope all this info is helpful and good luck with your build.

[mtharleydavidson]

Appreciate the pics. I now see what you did....

I am a little behind where you are at because I have not bought my headers yet. I have been silently stalking all the threads in the forums to see if I could find a consensus. I have concluded there is no consensus

At this point I will have to get some headers and see how things line up and fab the CM around it. Talked with Kert this morning at DIY4X and he suggested maybe I should just modify the engine mounts a little to raise the engine off the CM. Since I am 3" forward of the Firewall I shouldn't have HEI clearance issues... and from what you have said, my bigger problem is probably going to be header clearance. I am assuming this is width issues which concerns me even more since I am further ahead of stock and probably 1/4 - 1/2 inch narrower between frame rails.

I am going to look at the Hooker 2455HKR... I was going to go with the 2817HKR which has a slightly smaller 1.875 tube diameter, but I like the fact that the ones you used have 2" tubes... decisions decisions.

I don't have a thread on my build yet, but I have been taking a lot of pics so I should probably start sharing them for the betterment of the community.

[Chevy1TonFun]

My two cents on the headers. You need to find a set that hugs the block. Looking at the picture for the 2817HKR and I don't think they will fit. The tubes looks like they are stacked on top of each other. While the 2455HKR only have one tube that crosses once on the driver side. Guess what that one tube that is stacked is the one that is hitting the frame and I have to bend in towards the block. The design that has them all side by side is what you should look for in headers. What heads do you have? Do have had a round or square exhaust port. Just another detail to look at when buying headers.