WTB - 73-87 Big Block Frame Towers

[BigDaddyCMU]

Anyone out there have an extra set of 73-87 big block frame towers they might part with?

[kennyw]

They are the same as the small block and 6 cylinder parts. The only difference should be the piece bolted to the block.

[BigDaddyCMU]

Well I'm not too familiar with 73-87 trucks. I want to use them on my 72, but the 72 towers are crazy expensive. Someone told me I could use the towers from the later model trucks. For 67-72 trucks, the mounts are different. There's an exhaust header clearance issue with the older ones. I'm not sure what the later ones look like.

[bigblock73]

There are in fact two different sets of towers...6 cylinder/small block towers (they are the same), and big block towers, I have verified that with a local GM dealer.

On the 6 cyl/small block towers there are two mounting positions, labeled "6" and "8", 6 for the six cyl and 8 for the small blocks.

However, you can use small block towers to mount a BB...I have done it and so has Chris (Capt Kaos). Everything lines up and you do not need to drill new holes...weird huh?

The engine mounts that bolt the engine to the towers are the same for both small and big block...I have done that as well.

Hope this helps some

[BigDaddyCMU]

So you used 73-87 small block towers with a big block? Was there an issue with header clearance? On my truck, when the PO put the 454 in, he had to cut the original 72 small block towers for the headers to clear.

[bigblock73]

I don't know, haven't gotten that far yet...maybe tomorrow I will throw on the headers and check for clearance.

Here are a few pics of the stock small block towers installed on my chassis.

here are a few more pics, only with the 454 installed.

[Bowed]

Originally posted by BigDaddyCMU
So you used 73-87 small block towers with a big block? Was there an issue with header clearance? On my truck, when the PO put the 454 in, he had to cut the original 72 small block towers for the headers to clear.

I used the small block towers from an 84 to install a 454 with dynomax headers into a 1972 and had no problems with clearances .

[Jonboy]

my truck was an original 454 truck, and had a 350 in it for quite a while. We put another 454 back in, and the frame mounts and clamshells were the original ones.

[BigDaddyCMU]

Sweet. Now that I've figured it all out, does anyone have an extra set laying around?

[bagged91]

When I pulled the 454 from my 76, the new owner put a blown 383 Stroker motor in it using the bigblock towers... I was gonna grab them just incase but they looked the same as the smallblock towers to me.?.?

[1972C10]

Ive got a set that came out of my 85 when i converted to Sb there is a difference mainly engine placement


Pm me if your still needing them I have them hanging up in the garage There acutally in a for sale post in the 73-87 parts board

buried deep somewhere but theres pics there

[BigDaddyCMU]

Now will these affect my engine height at all? Are they a direct bolt in, or are there other mods I'll have to do? (Besides drilling the new hole in the frame)

[1972C10]

I cant say on the 72 seems that someone said you needed to make some spacers or use lugnuts.

When i put the small block stands on my truck i had to drill a new hole on the bottom.

[bigblock73]

There are many members here who are running bb engines with sb mounts, and vice versa. I don't know why there are different towers...but I wish I did. You will more than likely have to experiment since you are putting them in a pre-73.