Big Block 4x4 guys

[ryanroo]

i was wondering if anyone out there who has done this could help me a little. i was wondering if there is a particular oil pan that can be used that doesn't interfere with the engine cross member. i am hopefully goin to be needing to use this advise in the future and was just wondering. Thanks alot
Ryan

[Pont]

Hey Ryan, I wouldn't think that "ANY" stock oil pan will cause any clearance issues with the crossmember. Aftermarket aluminum or oval track pans might be another story. I'm using a stock oilpan and 396 from a 66 Chevelle and it fits just fine! Hope this helps!

Pont

[darksaga]

I am using a miloden 9qt on my current engine, If I where to do it again I would buy the 7qt the sump hangs kinda low and close to the front pumpkin, the prev engine had a 5 or 6 qt miloden pan.

I bought a pan for a 88 one ton 4x4 off of ebay and it looked like it may have clearance issues with the crossmember

[ryanroo]

Thanks alot guys my oil pan was from a 77 3/4 2wd truck and had major clearance issues. i may just go with a aftermarket ol pan or factory replacement from a like year big block engine. thanks again
Ryan

[Yukon Jack]

The stock oil pan on the 1989 454 that is in my 69 K20 was very close to the stock crossmember. Close enough that I used a couple washers to shim up the engine.

[darksaga]

Thanks alot guys my oil pan was from a 77 3/4 2wd truck and had major clearance issues. i may just go with a aftermarket ol pan or factory replacement from a like year big block engine. thanks again

I went with summits oil pan, oil pump and oil pickup setup it ran about $210 iirc

the only issue I had with it was that I could not use a windage tray, studs hit the pan and the pickup tube was in the way of the tray ( For the studs to fit the pan would hit the xmember)

[Kleantouch]

My original 1975 truck 454 pan would not clear the front crossmember, I swapped it for a chrome 454 pan on ebay, works great- very close- but works- I also pulled the cross member when I dropped the engine in- much easier because of the pan- Also, after buying the big block mounting brackets from LMC, and finding out they did not work, I tried some new stock 350/sbc engine mounts - they bolted up to the block, the engine sat right down on the stock 350 brackets, everything works fine- test fit before spending any money or aggravation.

[Full Chicken]

I have a '69 K20 that I,m putting an '85 454/TH400/205 setup in. After sone research, I bought the 68-71 big block frans stands, and plan to use the cheap/easy to find small block engine mounts. When the frame stands came, I pulled off the small block stands, but the big block ones dont fit. Is there a big block specific engine mount cross member. I know that GM never made a bigblock 4WD, but this can't be this hard.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[dtlilly]

I think there are some clearance issues. The previous owner had a 454 in the 71 GMC 4X4, and he cut the front x member out and welded in an angle iron brace, because he said the oil pan didn't clear. He went as far as welding in custom engine mounts several inches forward, because the engine would have hit the firewall. Maybe an aftermarket pan will work for ya better as others here have testified, but you will still have to mashage the firewall to get o bb to fit.

[draino76]

They made factory big block 4x4 duallys, would an oil pan and or motor mounts from one of these trucks work?

[dtlilly]

Draino, there were no 67-72 4X4 trucks with a factory big block.

[4x4Poet]

Pullin' up an oldy, but a goody, eh FullChicken?

I'll post what I've said a few times on BBCs in 67-72 4x4s (K10/K20). I once read in a now defunct mag (4x4Now?) that one could use a 73up engine xmember in a 67-72 K10/20 to swap in a BBC (the article's subject). The 8 main holes mate up top and bottom on the frame where the original xmember bolts up. The 73up xmember's foward rivet portion just needs holes drilled that the xmember's 8-main holes serve as template locators. IOW, the 4 main holes on each side match up, so just stick in eight bolts to lposition the foward portion's holes that must be used to guide the drill bits thru the frame.

The mag said that using a 73up xmember freed up the selection of oil pans that can be used because of its foward biased curve from frame rail to rail. It also takes cheap, strong, clamshell motor mounts with the inserts available everywhere, even in poly. Just get the used clam shell metal & bolts with the 73up xmember and replace the inserts. Then you'll be good to go, if the mag info is reliable. Remember, this is second hand mag info. You're on your own. For instance, I don't recall what year trucks qualify, exactly. I've got two trucks to finish before I try this on my K20.

And FullChicken, God bless you for searching.

[Yukon Jack]

Burt4x4 went the route of the a newer crossmember mentioned in the article. I saved the article when someone posted it a while back. I will try to get a link up to it. When I was having the oil pan issue I was told to look at car oil pans as they would fit better. I didn't go that route.

[454_72_4X4]

I used a stock pan from a mid to late 60's "big" car, (impala). No clearance issues at all once ya get it in there. I do have to pull the crossmember out to get the motor out, or at least slide it forward. A pan from about any year Chevelle should work also.

Mine sits on the stock 4x4 small block mounts. You will have to massage the firewall to make room also if you choose not to move the motor forward.

The 73-up x-member sounds like a good idea. More room for the oil pan and ya get the 100% better clamshell motor mounts in the process! If I ever take mine back out I'll probably look into this alot closer.

[4bynut]

I have a couple of the 73 and up crossmembers w/ engine mounts. I'd sell them for $20 each plus shipping, if anyones interested. Thank's Jason

[draino76]

Originally Posted by dtlilly

Draino, there were no 67-72 4X4 trucks with a factory big block.

eveybody was talking about parts form 1973 and newer so thats how I made my reference.

[Yukon Jack]

Here are the links to the article

http://yukon.b0xen.us/bigblock/bbswap1.jpg

http://yukon.b0xen.us/bigblock/bbswap2.jpg