Engine mount question

[Moax]

I've run into a small hrudle and was hoping someone here could help me out.
I have a '62 frame with a '78 crossmember, and I am putting in a 350, but the engine perches from the '78 won't line up.
I called CCP and they said the perches they make won't work for me either.
I know I am not the only one to run this crossmember on this frame, anyone????

[Chevy Fleetside]

You have to trim the frame back. I am not sure about the 62's though. I know you have to do it for the 63-66's. I don't even have a picture on this computer to show you.

[DPowers]

Pics?

[Chevy Fleetside]

You can see I trimmed the frame back for these mounts. They are not the 73-87 mounts but the concept is the same.

[padresag]

the 60-62 frame is a little narrower than the later ones and you will have to notch the frame as you see in the picture there. the crossmember is fine ; it is just the frame
ron

[Moax]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
I'm at work, so when I get home I'll take a photo of the problem.
Cutting the frame won't solve the issue unless I change the perches. I don't have a problem doing that, as long I knew which one's would work.

[Moax]

Okay, here are some pictures.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I just noticed your in Milbrae. If you want some help let me know and maybe i can swing by and try and solve your problem with you. I have stock perches from the 65 just not here at my house. Those might work better for you.

[mike73]

I also have that problem! I was thinking of welding a length of square / rectangle tube or solid stock to the engine mounts and drill that to what the frame is......... Im cheap but Im positive there are mounts for that install somewhere!

[padresag]

http://www.persh.org/pickup/perches.htm
scroll down through this
ron

[Moax]

Thanks guys.
Chevy Fleetside, watch out, I might take you up on that offer. Actually, I think I might be okay with the 67-72 perches. I'm going to try them.
And thanks for the link Ron.
I'll let you guys know how it works out.

[markeb01]

The torsion bar frame is actually 1 inch shorter in vertical height than the later frame in the area where the motor mount towers attach. On mine I used the 67-72 towers with 1" solid steel spacers between the frame and the upper mounting bolt holes. The only photo I have shows the mock up using a 1" aluminum lowering block. This was replaced with 1" thick steel before the engine install was complete.

I bolted the motor mounts to the engine, and the towers to the mounts. Then the engine was lowered into the compartment until everything touched, the bolt hole locations were marked, the engine pulled and the holes drilled. It's worked fine for close to 20 years. Good luck.

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[Chevy Fleetside]

Well you know if you call on me I will call on you one day. I can always use help. I just looked at my license plate and notice the last time my truck was registered was 2006. 3 years my truck has been down. It is time to get that together.

[thebox]

Just wondering what you did in the end to fix your motor mount problem? I am having the same issue right now and it is driving me nuts. I am also having an issue getting my sway bar to line up, it is two wide by a 1/2 in on each side where it attaches to the lca.

[Captainfab]

What year is your truck? What motor mounts and brackets are you using? If you're using the '73 and up mounts, try to find the frame brackets from a 3/4 ton. They are shorter and fit the older frames better. Although you will still have to trim the top flange of the frame. On the sway bar, are the mounts bolted down tight or are they loose? If the are tight try loosening them all.

Originally Posted by thebox

Just wondering what you did in the end to fix your motor mount problem? I am having the same issue right now and it is driving me nuts. I am also having an issue getting my sway bar to line up, it is two wide by a 1/2 in on each side where it attaches to the lca.

[Moax]

I've been busy with work, and still need to swap my rearend before I bolt in the mounts.
I used 67-72 motor mounts with 1 inch aluminum block spacers similar to mark01. It looks to be perfect. As soon as I swap the rearend and bolt everything together, I'll post a photo.

[thebox]

Captainfab thanks for the reply the truck is a 61 and i got the mounts at pick your part awhile ago. Pretty sure it was a 78-87 1/2 ton. Looks like i will be heading back to grab some different ones. As for the sway bar i have tried getting it to line up loose and tight and i is still off. Its a 1 1/4" dont remember if it came off of a suburban or truck. Dont know if this would make a difference? I thought about heating the bends to narrow it a little just dont know if it would weaken it?

[toms84ss]

Moax, I had the same problem with my '65. Do like captainfab said and look for 3/4 ton towers. I had to notch my frame so the towers would sit almost all the way to the side of the frame. You'll have to drill new holes for the bottom holes. It looks funny because of the height of the towers. But it will work. I used an '85 cross member and new urethane mounts in mine. Engine drops in with no problems now.

[Captainfab]

It won't make any difference if it was from a Suburban or truck, they're all the same. Something must have happened to it in it's past life to distort it. You could try heating it some, just don't heat it to more than red hot and let it cool slowly. It should be fine that way.

Originally Posted by thebox

As for the sway bar i have tried getting it to line up loose and tight and i is still off. Its a 1 1/4" dont remember if it came off of a suburban or truck. Dont know if this would make a difference? I thought about heating the bends to narrow it a little just dont know if it would weaken it?

[Oklahoma]

I just cut and rewelded the 78 ones I got from the donor truck, may not be the greatest, but they work.