Lowering engine ??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Lowering engine ??
Has anyone ever lowered the engine by modifieing the supports to accomodate intake hight ?? Can it be done ??, I'm talking about 7/8inch. It is an interresting thought..
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,847
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I thought for a while about doing this on my spare frame. I'm cutting it up a bunch putting a C4 suspension on it, and I thought about improving the c/g height by lowering the engine. But, given the already low clearance height of the oil pan and bellhousing, I lost my nerve at the thought of doing some agricultural racing and seriously damaging the pan or bellhousing. And I couldn't stomach the idea of a 4WD like skid plate under the car. So, the engine is staying in its stock vertical position, but I might be able to move it back a (very) small amount.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Funny, I saw this same quote in another thread, must work wonders 
lol, OK, I must admit that negative responses gives me more motivation to try something out of the ordinary. I want to stay away from a hood mod or replacement, its important to me to keep the stock look.
Although I'm on vacation and told myself not to go in the garage, I could not help it. If I needed 7/8inch drop to accomodate the stock cowl induction aircleaner, theoretically I need at least say 1 inch clearance. I could live with that.
Around the fan and cowl, no problem, lots of room. checked the bottom area, pan, bell housing, again no problem, steering link is quite lower than the pan so it can work, the only place I can see having a problem is at the damper crossmember area, Its a tight spot. So I have a challenge. Anything can be modified, I will think about this.
lol, OK, I must admit that negative responses gives me more motivation to try something out of the ordinary. I want to stay away from a hood mod or replacement, its important to me to keep the stock look.
Although I'm on vacation and told myself not to go in the garage, I could not help it. If I needed 7/8inch drop to accomodate the stock cowl induction aircleaner, theoretically I need at least say 1 inch clearance. I could live with that.
Around the fan and cowl, no problem, lots of room. checked the bottom area, pan, bell housing, again no problem, steering link is quite lower than the pan so it can work, the only place I can see having a problem is at the damper crossmember area, Its a tight spot. So I have a challenge. Anything can be modified, I will think about this.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
It will drop an inch as long as you dont have a PS pump on it.Just think of all the things you will have to modify to compensate.I saw a 69 sb at a car show that the guy modified the hood for extra clearance.He did it over the entire hood with the same thing in mind-not being able to tell it was changed.You would have needed a Nascar template to tell the it wasnt stock.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 738
Likes: 9
From: Fallbrook CA
Here is my 350 before I pulled it. http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=DSC03713.jpg Looks like the pullys clear the frame. As posted, move the PS pump. Consider switching to electric fans to eliminate the mechanical alignment from WP to fan. Lower the trans mount the same distance. You MAY have to do some pinion adjustment on the diff if you develop a vibration. Possible mod needed to exhaust. Shifter linkage? Avoid speed bumps, these are pretty low to start with.
Have you seen any of the recent threads from the guys who have put after market hoods on? They are awesome and look like they came from the factory that way. If not, do a search. I really like them and I'll be putting one on mine. Good Luck..gp
Have you seen any of the recent threads from the guys who have put after market hoods on? They are awesome and look like they came from the factory that way. If not, do a search. I really like them and I'll be putting one on mine. Good Luck..gp
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I've have seen lowered motors on vintage race cars. They appeared to have stock reenforced frames. They spaced the steering frame mounting points down. Then they had home made solid motor mounts. They made their own power steering brackets.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
beware of altered driveline geometry - at the very least you will need to change the pinion angle to maintain the proper relationship between transmission output shaft and pinion input - just lowering the engine/tranny (i presume you are lowering the tranny an equivelant amount and not angling the motor forward) will alter driveshaft angles.
Crankshaft pully may be an issue...i havent looked down there lately.. its darn close no matter how you look at it. - notching the crossmember is of course an option.
Other possibilites:
Clearance between slipyoke of tranny and parking brake cable?
Crankshaft pully may be an issue...i havent looked down there lately.. its darn close no matter how you look at it. - notching the crossmember is of course an option.
Other possibilites:
Clearance between slipyoke of tranny and parking brake cable?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,338
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
Lot of people have reported problems if the transmission output yoke, the driveshaft, and the pinion yoke are not in a straight line. If you lower the engine, you might have to lower/notch the transmission crossmember, and also adjust differential pinion downward to maintain the straight geometry.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 738
Likes: 9
From: Fallbrook CA
Lot of people have reported problems if the transmission output yoke, the driveshaft, and the pinion yoke are not in a straight line. If you lower the engine, you might have to lower/notch the transmission crossmember, and also adjust differential pinion downward to maintain the straight geometry.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1766012
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I think the crank pulley and the power steering pulley will find the frame first.