Time to ask the experts!

[Mikey's68]

I am putting a sbc in my 68 c10. I am doing a frame off replacing the L6 with the V8. I have the motor frame brackets setting on the front holes of the frame. I am running shorty headers and the clearance of the header collectors are really close to the crossmember. I looked at moving the motor back to the rear holes but the holes in the crossmember don't line up like they do in the front. Is that normal? Do i need to drill holes in the crossmember so i can use the frame mounts? The problem with that there is a slight factory indention so the mount wouldn't be sitting flat on the crossmember. Any suggestions would be great. I am running a TH400 tranny if that makes a difference. Thanks,
Mike

[mclairmo]

Are the headers specific to your C10 or generic SBC block huggers? Generic block huggers usually have fitment issues with that crossmember. This is why I will be using 2.5 inch ramshorns, to, in part, avoid these issues.

[Mikey's68]

Yes they are generic. I guess that could be the problem

[mclairmo]

I recently saw a post here where someone cut the collectors off some generic block huggers and welded them back on at an angle so they dumped toward the back of the truck and allowed him to hook up his exaust pipes without hitting the crossmember, but it looked like a lot of work and required welding skills. Generic block huggers usually dump right on top of our crossmembers, making it hard to get your exhause to hook up.

[Mikey's68]

It may be worth just buying new headers and going with a different set-up. Thanks again Mclairmo for your input!

[slosteve]

Originally Posted by Mikey's68

. I looked at moving the motor back to the rear holes but the holes in the crossmember don't line up like they do in the front. Is that normal? Do i need to drill holes in the crossmember so i can use the frame mounts? The problem with that there is a slight factory indention so the mount wouldn't be sitting flat on the crossmember. Any suggestions would be great. I am running a TH400 tranny if that makes a difference. Thanks,
Mike

Mike, those rear holes were for a slightly different mount bracket which was mainly used for the 6 cyl. What I did was set my brackets in those rear holes and found some metal to fill the gap in that indent which I then welded in and drilled a hole. In the end I did not use them as the 4L60E trans that I used was a bit larger and hit the firewall/tunnel.

[Mikey's68]

Slosteve, you are exactly right. I found my old frame mounts from my L6 and they fit perfect in the back holes. The 283 buttoned up perfectly and everything lined up. I'm going to put the cab on and see if i am going to have any problems with my tranny. Hopefully all will work out. Thanks

[special-K]

Yeah,those block huggers don`t work on these trucks.I`d stay with the original plan of mounting the motor forward in the v8 position.Yhe motor will be crammed back into the firewall if the towers are installed in the rear straight-6 holes.Then,your automatic cross member will be in it`s correct position,too.Since you are running an automatic you can run the Chevelle style 3/4 length headers which will yield more gains than block huggers and still maintain good ground clearance.

[Mikey's68]

Thanks alot Special K