4X4 bigblock help

[Nick's683/4]

I just wanted to know what i had to do to put a bigblock in my 1970 4X4. Some one told me that it will bolt right in but i read some where that you need a crossmember out of a 73 + bigblock 4X4.

Thanks Nick

[crew70]

you need to start with the truck oil pan.

[Nick's683/4]

yeah i got that the motor is out of a 79 suburban

[too much stuff]

Dropped my big block in on the original 350 motor mounts, tapped in the firewall for dist clearance, and put on some notched corvette valve covers for a little more clearance. It is still a tight fit however...

[aesj2]

I used the big block engine and crossmember mounts to install a 454 in a 72 2WD. Did not have any fit problems with the HEI to firewall or fan to rad. You may have problems because of the transfer case mounting. On the 2WD truck its easy to slide the trans mount to the next set of holes in the frame and shorten the drive shaft. Good Luck.

[Livrat]

My 4X4 suburban has a 454 in it .. the stock 350 location and mounts.. had to relieve the firewall for the HEI distributor and valve cover clearance.. everything is still very tight.. I had the wrong oil pan.. I notched the engine crossmember one inch for clearance... (When I pull it out this winter it gets the correct pan...)

My 68 GMC 4X4 I moved the stock cross members forward two inches.. shortened the front driveline.. and had a new rear one made..... heated up the 205 shift handle and bent it to its new position... then moved the transmission shift linkage frame bracket forward.. then used a 2WD small block fan shroud.. works great...

You could use the 73 and later crossmember and any pan configuration... you can put it where it is needed and drill the holes and pretty much bolt it in.. The later style mount offer a bit more in strength.. If it were me I would still move it all a few inches forward from the original location for firewall clearance...
If you rather not move it all forward and not beat on the firewall.. there is one other way... bolt it in at the stock location and put on a 3 inch body lift...

[Nick's683/4]

Have you ever put a body lift on a truck? what do you have to do to do this? Will a 2 inch one work?

[Livrat]

I have never put on a body lift.. I have a buddy that had a 3 inch lift on his big block 4X4 and the engine was in the stock location... So I know it works.. I am not sure if the 2 inch would work or not... All the body lifts consist of the spacers and longer bolts.. you just remove all of the original body bolts, lift everything up and put in the spacers and bolts... you will probalby have issues with the steering shaft and brakes lines....
Personally I really do not care for the looks of the body lifted as it leaves a gap between the front bumper and grill.. My preference is to move the engine forward

[Jeremy_5]

Nick in a few weeks I am also attempting to put a 454 in my 70 4x4. The previous owner had one in there and all he had done was bang a section of the firewall in a little bit and it has a little bit of a suspension lift.

Whats this about the oil pan? Do you have to put a certain type/year on for it to fit?

[Nick's683/4]

hey jeremy, what transmison dose yor truck have?

[Jeremy_5]

4spd manual(sm465)

[Nick's683/4]

What are you going to do with your cluch linkage part that mounts to the block? That is the only thing that is keeping me from puting my motor in.

Thanks Nick

[Jeremy_5]

Right now I have no idea, this is the first time I have heard of this problem. I guess I will just drop it in and work it out as I go If you figure something out drop me a pm and I will do the same. I am going to pick up the engine in a couple weeks, so hopefully will start tackling it in about 3

[FRENCHBLUE72]

You guys with the clutch linkage problems may want to pm pont he has a manual tranny with a bb in his 67 4wd... I gave him a stock z-bar when his broke so I know he is running some sort of stock set-up..

[Jeremy_5]

thanks french.