small block chevy install in a 58 M/M

[Hoodlum Rocky]

DSCN5708.jpgDSCN5713.jpgDSCN5717.jpgDSCN5710.jpgDSCN5712.jpgI have been working on up dating my 58 drive line, machined up the commercial rear for discs, and disc brake up grade for the front. Now im putting in a gm ZZ-4 small block with a turbo 400 trans. Its just amazed me at how much cutting and tweaking and fabbing to properly put the motor into the car. First off I had the step the rear cross member down some to get the trans tail shaft in line with the x-member tube. And had to cut the trans tunnel since the case size is alittle bigger. Here are some pics of the trans area and cross member piece.

[Hoodlum Rocky]

im using a mock block and trans to make all these mounts, I have had to step down the cross member and move the back of it towards the front. Here is some of the stages of the center dropped down, and the sides layed down and opened up for more room for the motor. I also had to make a recess on the passanger side for the radiator hose off of the water pump.DSCN7038.jpgDSCN7045.jpgDSCN7048.jpgDSCN7050.jpgDSCN7051.jpgDSCN7056.jpgDSCN7057.jpgDSCN7062.jpgDSCN7044.jpg

[Hoodlum Rocky]

few more pics of the motor and trans, and fitting the mock block to the cross member

[LMS]

nice work, can't wait to see the final product.
Keep the pics coming.
I wish I had a garage big enough to tear town the 49 in. It's a pain to have to drag tools out to the carport then drag them back in. I would be much farther along on it if it was inside where I could leave things out.

[travlinman]

Nice job. That's a lot of work. I don't know how much the 58 differs from a 64, but I cut nothing to put the 454 in, not even the drive shaft.

[pyro]

Travlin, what did you use for the left exh manifold, and what tranny did you use?

[travlinman]

Driver side exhaust was from a 73-82 pick up, casting number 3994045, pass was a 68 camaro. I used a turbo 425 from a 80s motorhome, short tail, it had the big parking brake on it which was removed. Just changed the yoke on the drive shaft. 1 good thing the way I did it, nothing was modified to a point where it could not be put back 100% origional. I have since driven it over 2000 miles and is very happy with it.

[pyro]

Travlin, how did the motor mounts work, just drop in place?

[travlinman]

000_0079.jpgKind of. I used 3/8 plate to bolt to the block. Used the 429 mount, removed the stud and the block mounting holes and used a carrage bolt thru the back of the plate thru the origional hole in the frame and tightened with a nut. It needed a 1/4 in. shim to get the manifolds up off the frame. The tranny mount I had to extend a about an inch. Not trying to steal Rocky's post, waiting to see His motor mounts. Keep up the good work.

[Hoodlum Rocky]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13957[/ATTACH]Kind of. I used 3/8 plate to bolt to the block. Used the 429 mount, removed the stud and the block mounting holes and used a carrage bolt thru the back of the plate thru the origional hole in the frame and tightened with a nut. It needed a 1/4 in. shim to get the manifolds up off the frame. The tranny mount I had to extend a about an inch. Not trying to steal Rocky's post, waiting to see His motor mounts. Keep up the good work.

No problem on posting your stuff, I think it is interesting that it fit that well in that chassis. Like I said I was very surprised at how much I have had to tweak to settle it in where it needs to be. Especially since the block sizes are about the same. I have three different motor mount set ups on the floor, now that I have the cross member sectioned I can drop the block back in and see which one works out best. I already cut off the factory frame extensions for the 365 mount off and boxed in that area. But will need to box it out alittle more. I will post up the pics of the original mounts I cut off. They were going to be in the way.

[Hoodlum Rocky]

here is the hunks of the factory frame I had to cut off to give room for the motor and exhaustDSCN5555.jpgDSCN5557.jpgDSCN5563.jpgDSCN5572.jpgDSCN5574.jpgDSCN5579.jpgDSCN5583.jpg

[Hoodlum Rocky]

this is the cross member done with the driver side all plated and done. I may need to notch out more for the power steering pump? Time will tell. The other pics is of the mount for the core support I had to cut down and plate. still needs to be welded in. That's this weekends project. I welded a bar across the frame and tack welded the core support to it so I could cut this mount off and keep everything where it was.DSCN7066.jpgDSCN7067.jpgDSCN7068.jpgDSCN7070.jpgDSCN7071.jpgDSCN7072.jpgDSCN7073.jpg

[Hoodlum Rocky]

I was able to get my motor mounts made. So happy that this step is done. I used tubular motor mounts from speed way. Now I think I have to notch the cross member also for my power steering pump. Picture also shows the custom made aluminum radiator I had made,DSCN7110.jpgDSCN7111.jpgDSCN7114.jpgDSCN7119.jpgDSCN7120.jpgDSCN7121.jpgDSCN7116.jpgDSCN7118.jpg

[Guest]

How many hours do you have into it so far?

[Hoodlum Rocky]

I really do not know. I just keep banging away at it and have not kept track. When its all said and done. I probably do not want to know. But when I can finally hit the key and drive it around, I will forget about all those frustrating hours.