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Restoring a '56 that was wrecked in front end. I have the frame all repaired and body off with passenger side fender and front facia gone. I am trying to set motor in place. because of the frame damage, I have no reference to where motor should sit fore/aft in the frame. Havent been able to find frame repair info with those specs. Did find one written reference that the reference pins at the front of the frame should be where the front of the engine should be. Not specific enough. Didn't know if someone with a c1 could point me to reference info. or provide a measurement for me from a fixed point on the frame to say the machined surface on the front of the block, ie timing cover, water pump surface.Any help would be appreciated. Trying to get it located before i put body together. motor is a 283. Thanks.
there is only one place the engine will set fore/aft if the motor mounts are in place.
Bill
Bill, your correct, but in my case remember i have no brackets etc, cause it was wrecked and all was cutout in the repair process. Plus the drive train was ruined so it'sliestarting from scratch. A measurement from say the center of the shock tower, forward to the first exhaust bolt center, +- 1/4'" would give me what I need to get started. I appreciate your response and picture.
hmmmm, I wish I could help further but I have replaced the stock front frame mounts with side mounts and my shock towers may now be in a different position because of the IFS swap.
do you have any other reference points to measure from?
Bill
Maybe you could get a reference point at your fuel pump notch.
I have a ton of pics from my V-8 powered '54. Maybe, if you enlarge them, you can pick a point of reference. Here are a couple. Sorry I never thought of taking measurements.
There has to be someone on this site doing a body off that can get you some measurements.....
Back in 1966, I put a V-8 in a '54. We mounted the clutch and trans to the motor and bolted the trans to the mount on frame, lowered the motor and lined up the front mount, marked it and welded the front motor mounts. It worked for me, I was 16 years old at the time, all my buddies helping, fun times....;
Same bunch of guys helping me today....fun times....
I have my body off the frame right now and stripped down ( no suspension attached just bare frame ) if I can get measurements for you I'd be glad to help . JM
I have my body off the frame right now and stripped down ( no suspension attached just bare frame ) if I can get measurements for you I'd be glad to help . JM
Great! see the 2 pics attached. I believe these are the 2 threaded holes for the sway bar mount on the driver side front frame. if you could give me a measurement from the center of the rear bolt back to the center of the angle support for the motor mount that would be great ! Thanks.
I just saw the other pictures of the old frame with measuremnt stick. looks like it's gonna be about 7 " I'll wait and see if nrbc7 can confirm for me.
Last edited by dgrines81; 01-25-2017 at 10:09 AM.
Reason: brain hurricane
Do I dare ask what specs your "frame repair" guy(s) were working with?
One Can ask anything they want. GM published in the crash manual a(2) datum drawing for frame measurements, which is easily found on the web. I can share if you like.
There has to be someone on this site doing a body off that can get you some measurements.....
Back in 1966, I put a V-8 in a '54. We mounted the clutch and trans to the motor and bolted the trans to the mount on frame, lowered the motor and lined up the front mount, marked it and welded the front motor mounts. It worked for me, I was 16 years old at the time, all my buddies helping, fun times....;
Same bunch of guys helping me today....fun times....
Thanks Dan70. In a normal situation, yes. I could do that very simply. but with everything bent and racked i did not have a lot of good reference points to go with. I'll put my brain to work and get it in the right place, just wanted to see if some information might save me some time and hassle. Thanks for your contribution. I too, have enjoyed many projects over the years with buddies from the good ole days !!
Great! see the 2 pics attached. I believe these are the 2 threaded holes for the sway bar mount on the driver side front frame. if you could give me a measurement from the center of the rear bolt back to the center of the angle support for the motor mount that would be great ! Thanks.
This measurement is from the middle of the back bolt on sway bar bracket to the middle of the motor mount angle bracket . The back bolt is broke off on passenger side (2nd picture )Passenger side is 6 1/8 ..... drivers side is 6 7/8. I measured both frames (checked again thought they would have been the same measurements on each side but the painted one measured out exactly as the rusted frame . Hope this helps
01-24-2017, 08:05 PM
56 engine set fore aft in frame location
