Seems I have run in to a few more set backs. The Allison transmission has 4 tabs on it that hit the trans tunnel and will have to be removed no big deal there but I still may need to cut the floor board and fabricate a new tunnel or build a custom body lift (don’t know yet), as I didn’t realize how big this transmission is. Originally I thought this Allison was slightly bigger than a turbo 400, well looks are deceiving it’s a lot bigger and heavier for sure. With the transmission mated to the big block and hanging from the engine crane it becomes apparent how much heavier when I found that the balance point is right above the distributor, this transmission weighs as much as the motor, wow.
The starter that came with the Allison will not work with the headers I have either, however it appears as if a standard starter will work fine the only difference that I can see is the mounting on the one for the Allison turns the solenoid out away from the motor and in to the headers every thing else looks the same.
On a good note the new motor mount got here from Speedway Motors on Thursday, wow a day early that never happens to me. It looks like it is just what I the doctor ordered only a few little modifications needed here the power steering pump plumbing hits so I will need to clearance it there and there is a mount for the A/C pump from the March Pulley set -up that will need to be trimmed the thickness of the mount because the mount has to sandwich between it and the block as they bolt to the same place. At the ends of the new mount I will need to fabricate some small pedestals for the cushions to rest . These will fill the space between the bottom of the cushion and the cross member not a whole lot different than the factory Taskforce V8 mounts just a whole lot more stout.
