centering the 427
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
centering the 427
for some reason my husband is centering the 427 which means making new engine mounts , etc etc has anyone else done this and what kind of problems did you have.. especially with headers that will clear everything because there isn't much room left on the drivers side of the motor
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
trying to center the engine will only make the left side less accesible or tighter to the steering box and clutch hardware. Depending on the year the tach cable if his year has one tougher to match up with the distributor. They were offset to the right for several good reasons. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
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From: Eastern US XX
for some reason my husband is centering the 427 which means making new engine mounts , etc etc has anyone else done this and what kind of problems did you have.. especially with headers that will clear everything because there isn't much room left on the drivers side of the motor
No reason to do it. If he doesn't use the stock mount locations and mounts (same on SB and BB) then all bets are off on what will / won't fit!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,317
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From: Marina CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
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The engine was offset 1" to give the driver more footroom.
I read on another forum that a gentleman was restoring his frame and had spent MONTHS trying to get the frame "right." His idea of right was the engine was offcenter and thought the frame was bent from an accident!!! Needless to say when I told him -"they came from the factory that way" -he was beside himself. Your husband knows better right?
There's several things you can improve on what the General did- but I don't think moving the engine over will help anything at all.
Richard
I read on another forum that a gentleman was restoring his frame and had spent MONTHS trying to get the frame "right." His idea of right was the engine was offcenter and thought the frame was bent from an accident!!! Needless to say when I told him -"they came from the factory that way" -he was beside himself. Your husband knows better right?
There's several things you can improve on what the General did- but I don't think moving the engine over will help anything at all.
Richard
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Clearance for the brake booster and valve cover on big block cars, even with the engine to the right big blocks have a notched valve cover to help with brake booster clearance. Moving the engine to center could give more problems with brake booster clearance, steering box clearance, even things like the shifter rods ending up closer to the trans tunnel.
Chevy may have even put the engine to the right to offset driver weight for when they wanted to road race the car.
Chevy may have even put the engine to the right to offset driver weight for when they wanted to road race the car.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jul 9, 2008 at 06:12 PM.
Race Director
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From: Corsicana, Tx
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You better tell him to stop. The whole mess is offset. Rear end centerline etc.
Just bolt it in on stock mounts...headers bolt up and be done with it.
JIM
Just bolt it in on stock mounts...headers bolt up and be done with it.
JIM
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Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,634
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From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the World
The only reason I can think of to move the motor across is for a RHD conversion. The motor needs to move across to make room for the steering box on the inside of the chassis. I did this for my original conversion and always had a driveline vibe because I could not move the rear of the trans the same amount. After moving the motor back to it's original position and converting to a Rack and Pinion everything is good.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
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Stop Husband !
I can see that conversation going down hill real Quick !
Honey, the guys on Internet said Stop,
you don't know what your doing..... !
Good luck breaking the news to Mr. Husband !
There is no need to recenter the motor mounts.
69VETT
Honey, the guys on Internet said Stop,
you don't know what your doing..... !
Good luck breaking the news to Mr. Husband !
There is no need to recenter the motor mounts.
69VETT
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 993
Likes: 44
From: Jefferson Hills PA
WOW !!! What a relief. I thought I was going crazy when I took my core support and rad out and said to my son "that motor isnt in the middle of the car". I have been wondering about that for days.... Sorry Im new to this corvette restoration process, just didnt know. Thanks for the information...
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 692
Likes: 69
From: Juneau AK
Like everyone prior has said, "DON'T DO IT!" My bud discovered things were off center when he went to cut the hole for his supercharger. After making a few hood measurements that weren't adding up on the hood, he began to make some measurements a little lower and discovered what was happening.
With all the threads on this forum from guys who are fighting various angles vertically with their drivelines, why would you want to introduce a horizontal variable? (Unless you're tubbing with a straight axle... and even at that there isn't going to be much Corvette left by the time the rest of the drivetrain is accomodated.)
JUST SAY NO... unless you're building a funny car...
kdlp
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
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From: melbourne,Australia
I did it on my rhd small block in a 74R....to fit different gearbx(700r4) without cutting floor,to lower the engine to get hood clearance and mainly to get the optimum drive shaft pinion angles....mAKES IT HEAPS smoother....no vibration.....would be harder with a big block...lots less room!
john
john