PDA

View Full Version : LS1 motor mounts and transmission cross member



bjtreasures
03-24-2013, 07:36 PM
I am ready to build my 55. It has been off road since 1978 and in my garage, basement, house and anywhere else i could store a part. I purchased a LS1from a 2000 z28 including trans, and have changed the oil pan, added an ls6 intake and mild cam. can anyone tell me what motor mounts and transmission cross member to use on my 55 and how far from the fire wall the engine should be placed?I have been told it has a one piece frame. also i have a am using a corvette power brake booster and master cyclinder. Rack and pinion steering has been added to the car. thanks bj

chevynut
03-24-2013, 08:03 PM
Welcome to the site BJ. Right now is a great time to consider a C4 Corvette front suspension conversion. :) We have done several of them with LS engine mounts. Check my ad in the classifieds.

If you already have the sidemounts for a SBC, the easiest way to mount the LS engine is with engine mount adapter plates. Holley and others have them. They have different offsets, so you need to decide which to use.

I have mounted the LS engines 2 1/4" forward of "stock" and they fit well there. That is measured at the bellhousing face. Somewhere I have the distance to the center of the LS mount pattern from the bellhousing face, if you need it. Or you can measure your own engine. I have the distance for the SBC in an engine drawing.

Here's one engine we did at 2 1/4" forward. The owner said it was a perfect fit.

http://www.linger.com/nomad/Engine22.jpg

http://www.linger.com/nomad/Engine24.jpg

http://www.linger.com/nomad/Engine23.jpg

Here's the same chassis with a T-400 transmission mount and 4L60E transmission:

http://www.linger.com/nomad/images/Drivetrain/Engine16.jpg

And finally, here's a pic with the C4 Corvette front suspension, LS-1, and 4L60E :):

http://www.linger.com/nomad/Frame63.jpg

bjtreasures
03-24-2013, 08:43 PM
chevynut, thanks for the input. i would love to change to the c4 suspension, but funds are limited. I removed a 265 from the car with the original motor mounts. The Ls1 has no mounts on it. ebay has several mounts but i don't know which one to purchase. can you recomment a part number or site to visit. I have zero experience with this. thanks bj

chevynut
03-24-2013, 09:07 PM
If you don't have any side mounts in the car now, I would probably go with the mounts like these that I think are from Chassis Engineering. One place that sells them is Street and Performance in Mena, AR. There may be others but I don't know of them.

http://www.hotrodlane.cc/56chevyinstall/ls156install.htm

Their catalog kinda sux, and I don't know why they don't put together a decent organized website. They do a LOT of LS stuff and I've bought parts from them. Mark (the owner) is a great guy, and a high school friend of mine works there too!

http://www.hotrodlane.cc/

5Clint7
03-25-2013, 06:30 AM
Give these people a look. http://www.williamsclassic.com/products#!__products

NickP
03-25-2013, 07:37 AM
Can't see your pics or avitar Laszlo - are you in stealth mode? Nevermind - now I can. Is there no way to delete a post?

Rick_L
03-25-2013, 06:34 PM
Earle Williams has LS1 plates that work with his new side mounts.

Hooker Headers also has plates that work with the long tube LS1 headers they sell.

There are many other LS1 plates that work with side mounts. Some are even adjustable (probably not the best). The trouble is figuring out where they really put your engine, vs. what you need.

The good news is there's lots of options. The bad news is how do you tell which option works best for you. Never been clear to me, but I'd trust the vendors I mentioned for at least a good starting point.

57tech
04-27-2015, 09:34 PM
Has anyone tried the Speedway Motors side motor mount conversion kit? It looks like a copy of Eckler's and Chassis Engineering biscuit style mount. Eckler's site will ship but it will be $70 more and Chassis engineering wont ship to Canada. Wish I lived in the US for better parts availability.

chevynut
04-28-2015, 07:07 AM
The Speeday mount kit probably IS the Chassis Engineering kit. Eckler's makes virtually none of their own parts, and they're about the most expensive place to buy parts so I typically avoid them unless I can't find parts elsewhere. I know Speedway sells a lot of Chassis Engineering parts.

Rick_L
04-28-2015, 07:42 AM
Ditto on what cnut said. Eckler's and Speedway are selling the Chassis Engineering kit.

The only downside I know of that setup is that some version raise the front of the engine compared to stock. This may have been cured. If you have one that doesn't have the fix, it's easy, just use thinner rubber biscuits.

57tech
04-29-2015, 05:31 PM
Rick, you and chevynut have so much knowledge and I applaud you guys for always taking the time to help us less experienced guys.

weissmr
05-05-2015, 07:27 PM
On Cnut's advice I purchased engine mounts from Street and Performance. I thought these mounts located the engine perfectly with just enough clearance to the firewall. You'll need the LS adapter plates to mate the upper engine brackets to the LS engine as I believe the engine brackets were originally designed for the SBC. I followed the installation sheet included with the mounts and located the lower brackets to the frame by drilling holes and bolting them in place. The instructions stated to locate the mount holes 19" apart. However, the brackets mounted to the engine located the mount holes more like 20" apart with the LS adapter plates. I opened the holes in the upper engine brackets up to slots to fit and center everything. My plan is to weld on a plate over the slot with the hole in the correct position.
I purchased the Holley LS conversion oil pan and it looks really good. With these mounts I have good oil pan clearance to the K member, has good ground clearance (just a hair higher than the K member) and has just enough clearance for the standard steering linkage.
Cnut is correct on S&P's catalog, it is terrible. I have had several phone calls with them and they are pretty good on the phone. However, I have sent just about everything I have ordered from them back as there were problems. The machining on their own LS conversion oil pan was terrible, the harness I ordered didn't have all the wiring for the cruise control, the list goes on...........I won't order anything from S&P again. They still haven't got my credits correct after months and many calls.
Good luck, I can put up more photos if needed..............Mike W.
44174418

rockytopper R.I.P 5-13-2017
05-06-2015, 09:28 AM
Mike, I had similar experience with S&P it took them almost 3 months to credit me for the oil pan core. This was 8 years ago when I did my first ls1 swap. The modified oil pan is indeed ugly but it has served me well. Back then the holley pan did not exist and S&P was one of only a few options. It was sad to hear that their founder has passed. They pretty much pioneered the LS swap craze so for that I am thankful. I would guess based on their web site that their business transactions are no where near paperless yet. That might help explain slow refunds. I would do business with them again they made every thing right in the end. But I agree it can be trying.

Rocky

NickP
05-07-2015, 11:07 AM
I was up at S&P last week, quite a somber place. If you have never been there, one can't imagine the massive amounts of product they produce. Their system is a bit behind times and (nothing wrong with it) but they use paper rather than the system a lot. Prior to Marks passing, he suffered for quite a while with cancer and taking the brains outa the place has its effect in a negative way.

I really like him. May he rest in our Lords Peace.

weissmr
05-07-2015, 07:14 PM
Sorry to hear about Mark, I spoke with him many times on my LS swap and he's why I decided to do business with them in the beginning. I agree, he was a really good guy and an wealth of information.

May he rest in peace in hot rod heaven.

Indianadroptop
05-18-2015, 10:04 AM
I have the speedway motor mounts on their way along with the Holley pan. I should be able to mock up in a few weeks

Bitchin'57
09-24-2015, 11:36 AM
I'm looking to use this kit from CPP. It has Hooker's long tube headers, adjustable motor mounts and a Mast oil pan. Anyone here have experience this kit?

http://hemiduster.com/5557LS1-FRK.jpg

WagonCrazy
09-25-2015, 02:00 PM
My 2 cents...

Those headers look like the Hooker 2293's. The driver side has a big hole between the #1 and #3 tubes. That is for use with a Unisteer rack and pinion steering setup.

if you don't have that Unisteer setup, or don't want that style of header, ask them if they can supply it with Hooker 2292 headers instead. Those don't have the #1 and #3 tubes squeezed apart...they look like the ones on the passenger side shown in the pic.

chevynut
09-25-2015, 02:06 PM
Here's the 2292s:

http://www.trifivechevys.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5013&stc=1