SBC Conversion Firewall Clearance

[NikP]

I was testing things out for motor mount placement as I start my build and wanted to know what people recommend with respect to firewall clearance to passenger side valve cover?

The Advanced Adapter literature indicates 10-11.5 inches from the back of the shock mount to the leading edge of the motor mount (AA motor mount). This picture is about 10.5 inches and I'm sitting with the mounts about 1/4 inch above the frame and with a level on the carb plate I'm 3.5 degrees down in the rear.

I have about 1/2 or maybe a bit more at this stage. Is that sufficient?

Any comments or suggestions before I get real serious and pass the point of no return?

 

[fieldsken1]

i dont know right off hand how far from the firewall but its not quite as close as yours. i really dont think it makes that big a differance but to close and the firewall will be getting hot. i know i can get my palm inbetween there to work

 

[4x4 Station Wagon]

I played this game not to long ago and you can find my scenario on my build thread. Just use the search and type in "rear sill scout" and it will pop up. I also have a pic of another cruiser that definately has more clearance to the firewall than yours and works great. I would think you would run into cooling problems with it that close to the firewall. It will not be a lot of fun weeding through my build but I am pretty sure the answers are in there. When you see my numbers keep in mind it was too far forward! I think I had 3.5" of clearance to the firewall and 2 probably would have been a lot better number. With that said it depends on what tranny you are using also......


EDIT: I should be careful throwing numbers out there I think your engine may be a bit too far towards the driver side and I am pretty sure I measured from back corner of cover to the firewall before it 45's in where your motor is actually sitting in the indentation

 

[lone gunman]

that's about exactly how mine sits.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

My clearance is more like Ken's. I''m using the Mark's of Australia kit, which uses AA motor mounts. I'll try to get measurements tomorrow of the distance between the shock tower and the motor mount.

 

[67azcruizr]

use your coolant system as guidance to "how far you should be from the firewall". As long as your not causing problems with your floor shifter and your tranny hump, you won't be too far away from the firewall.

the furthest you can get from the firewall the cooler you motor will be.

 

[4x4 Station Wagon]

I didnt have as much info on my thread as I thought but there was some on page 8 and Bret was running 2" and I am possitive I have 3.5" which is WAY TO FAR FORWARD. Again I think the two inches would have been good but would surely require bending the shifter a bit too clear the heater if your running the factory tranny.

 

[Shawn Russell]

I would make sure you can fit an HEI on there also. They are much bigger then the one you have there. You may not want to install one now, but you might later...

Shawn

 

[JB740i]

i dont know right off hand how far from the firewall but its not quite as close as yours. i really dont think it makes that big a differance but to close and the firewall will be getting hot. i know i can get my palm inbetween there to work

Sorry to hijack, but what's the plug you've got over the hole in the firewall there?

 

[theoii]

Looks like HEI to me.

 

[fj40taz]

i placed the center of my motor mount 19 1/2" back from the rear of the front cross member. this is the info i got from downey's manual i was sent.

i am not sure who made the motor mounts i am using as they were in the cruiser when i got it and the motor was mounted funny/croked so i redid it.

 

[pbgbottle]

my mount is 9 3/4 back from the rear edge of the shock mount

i have a little more clearance that your showing .

 

[dargreg]

Put your rad and fan on that really tells you where your going to sit. 2 in. is preferable from the fire wall however you must try your fan and rad and go from there.

 

[7mag]

If your gonna run a Taurus or Mark VIII fan, you might get it as close to the wall as possible while running a short water pump. I'm 2 1/2" on the right side and only have 4 1/2" from the the water pump to the radiator using a long pump. Just a thought.

FYI, I've got a Mark VIII fan ready to fit a Downey aluminum radiator if interested.

 

[Tankota]

Seems a bit close to the firewall compared to mine. I'd move it forward a little bit. I have mine quite a ways forward to deal with the length of the 465/np205. My shifter comes up under my heater. Necessitated an extreme bend of the shifter...so keep shifter location in mind while placing motor. You can raise your heater an inch or so if you have to.

Also, You can slide your radiator forward by slotting the u-shape mount holes in the frame. I eventually just mounted my radiator like a jeep...to the front grill, not to the frame like a cruiser.

Bottom line: There is some room for adjustment at both ends of the motor to make it fit.


PS Don't forget about height location of the motor...too low and your driveline/oilpan/bellhousing clearance might become an issue.

 

[fieldsken1]

Sorry to hijack, but what's the plug you've got over the hole in the firewall there?

i dont know what the hole was for

 

[Ron B]

Im running about 1 3/4. no problems. Angel of pic makes it look closer, but I can fit my hand in there.

 

[JB740i]

i dont know what the hole was for

The hole was for part of the wiring harness to go through the firewall. I was just curious what you used to cover the hole. I've got some open holes to close up.

 

[pbgbottle]

quoted my own thread

i am also running the long water pump and taurus fan ?

my mount is 9 3/4 back from the rear edge of the shock mount

i have a little more clearance that your showing .