Doing LS Swap - I have no idea what I'm doing!

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Congrats on getting engine set, frame inside to inside is 33 1/2.....33 5/8....the shape of the after market cross member will cause you some grief....the flared ends don't make it easy....I am close behind you, engine is in but also motor mounts are a bugger....I am using OEM crossmember for the trans, it may need moved, maybe next week...aarrrgh.

Congrats on getting it set in! That's awesome! I'm using original motor mounts as well, and they are a pain in the butt!

I appreciate the measurements. I'll check mine and see what I come up with.

[EagleChief]

Pulled some measurements last night. It's going to be a tight fit! My frame is showing about 33-1/2" inside-to-inside. I measured the crossmember, and it is 33-1/4" out-to-out of the brackets. Soooo, theoretically, it will fit. I may have to get a hammer and force it in there. I'm probably going to call CJ Pony Parts and see what their info is on the placement of the crossmember. Maybe I'm missing something... there weren't any install instructions that came with it - but, probably shouldn't "have" to be any, either - except for me.

[EagleChief]

Got my motor mounts in yesterday! Driver's side mount had a bunch of rubber down in the threads. Had to pull the motor mount off the motor, clean it out, and run the bolt through it to make sure it would work. Once I got that done, it mounted right up.

Now, to get time to tackle the crossmember.

[notsolo]

HammerTime...good luck, I test fit speed headers...Look good and fit good, working on my own motor mounts, need clearance for stock compressor so far so good. Tight, but fits with some trimming of the plate.

[jjzepplin]

Check out the transmission crossmember I used in my No Daggum Money build. It was cheap and very well built and fits like it was custom made just for my truck. http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=550804&page=7 IFS is the builder.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Check out the transmission crossmember I used in my No Daggum Money build. It was cheap and very well built and fits like it was custom made just for my truck. http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=550804&page=7 IFS is the builder.

Looked through some of the pages of your build. Nice job on your stuff! I did see that crossmember before... can't remember why I ended up with something different. I do like that there is plenty of room for exhaust.

Doing a quick search for it, though, I can't get their website to come up. Maybe work settings.

[bigmoe]

My partially restored truck came with an aftermarket crossmember from the po but I modified it to allow for better exhaust routing.

[jjzepplin]

This one is very close to mine and may be a clone. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Transmissio...cAAOSw-Rle~Enr

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

This one is very close to mine and may be a clone. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Transmissio...cAAOSw-Rle~Enr

Thanks for the link! If I can't get the one I have to work, I'll probably go this route.

[bigmoe]

The one you have from CJ Pony will likely work. I kinda remember it took some twisting and turning to get mine in. Kinda like getting a couch through a doorway.

[EagleChief]

Got the crossmember in place. Not bolted in, but in place.

It looks like the holes will line up and work, I just have to "flex" the frame a little to get the bolts in place. Ordered a new transmission mount, as I forgot to do that.

[jjzepplin]

Awesome! got a pic?

[notsolo]

Also would like to see what you did with your motor mounts.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Awesome! got a pic?

Originally Posted by notsolo

Also would like to see what you did with your motor mounts.

I'll try and get some tonight.

[EagleChief]

A few days late, but here we go...

[notsolo]

Thanks for posting, good to see what others are doing. I'm going to use the OEM A/C compressor, so I need to shift mine back as far as possible...got my computer back from LT1....and almost done reworking harness.

[Davidf]

Your a bit ahead of me with my swap. Branden has my computer as of today and will start on harness tomorrow. Ordered some parts for the LM7 planned refresh. I decided to go with Hooker Blackheart engine mounts so I don't have to mod anything to keep the low mount compressor.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Thanks for posting, good to see what others are doing. I'm going to use the OEM A/C compressor, so I need to shift mine back as far as possible...got my computer back from LT1....and almost done reworking harness.

I think I'll try and put the A/C compressor in to see if it will fit. I found a bracket the other day that is a "low profile" a/c bracket that is supposed to move the compressor in closer to the engine.

https://www.ictbillet.com/ls-truck-l...-7176-lq4.html

Maybe that'll work?

I have an a/c truck, but, I have no idea when it worked last. So, it's not a huge priority to get it going. Would it be nice? Sure. But, in the "older" vehicles I've had, a/c hasn't worked, so I'm used to it.

[notsolo]

If you have the extra mounting holes in the plate, you might gain some room behind the compressor moving the mount back to the 2nd hole in the frame top.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by EagleChief

I think I'll try and put the A/C compressor in to see if it will fit. I found a bracket the other day that is a "low profile" a/c bracket that is supposed to move the compressor in closer to the engine.

https://www.ictbillet.com/ls-truck-l...-7176-lq4.html

Maybe that'll work?

I have an a/c truck, but, I have no idea when it worked last. So, it's not a huge priority to get it going. Would it be nice? Sure. But, in the "older" vehicles I've had, a/c hasn't worked, so I'm used to it.

That link is for an aftermarket Sanden compressor, not the factory one. Also, I don't think with the conversion motor mounts, you will be able to get a compressor in there. Some times you can trim them and make one fit, but the mount really needs to be further back.

[EagleChief]

Here's another bracket that I saw: https://www.ictbillet.com/ls-engine-...ls1-block.html

It may be another option, I don't know.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

That link is for an aftermarket Sanden compressor, not the factory one. Also, I don't think with the conversion motor mounts, you will be able to get a compressor in there. Some times you can trim them and make one fit, but the mount really needs to be further back.

I tried to mock up the stock a/c compressor mount when I put the adapter plates on. There was a pretty good chunk of the bracket that I would have had to cut out. I think it would be "doable", but I don't really have the time or "want to" at the moment to trim the bracket.

[Davidf]

Your solution is here:

https://www.holley.com/blog/post/hoo...y_c10_pickups/

F-body mount (Anchor 3064) bolts directly to LS block in factory location, so no interference with A/C compressor. The stands then move the engine reward to stock location. So, keep low mount compressor, no trimming required. But, may still need to figure out how to mount refrigerant lines...lot's of options to solve that problem which I plan to address when I get to it.

I plan to use the Hooker Blackheart crossmember as well to ensure proper driveline angles.

[EagleChief]

Got everything bolted up last night! Engine and transmission are now fully bolted in. Now to start figuring out the fuel situation. At my pace, I should have that wrapped up by, say, July?

[notsolo]

Forward progress...Good...I'm right behind you, probably August - September.... Need to get my mounts complete...I have a Boyd tank and in the process of custom -redo-finagle a OEM 2001 fuel pump onto this tank.