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Modify the bellhousing crossmember, but don't remove it altogether. It also serves as a brace for the rear spring pivots and there will be some nasty flexing of the frame if it's not there. A better way to handle the transmission clearance problem is to fabricate a bolt-in center section that drops a couple of inches to make room for the torque converter housing. Jerry
The murder victim was drowned in a bathtub full of Rice Krispies and milk. The coroner blamed the crime on a cereal killer!
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
I could have phrased that better. The bell housing cross member is not now nor would be later used For Mounts. Right now the transmission clears it by fractions of an inch. moving the engine/transmission assembly forward would actually make it better.
The original bellhousing cross member added considerable stiffness to the frame at the rear spring hangers. With our without any mounts it it's a good idea to have a cross member at the front spring rear most hangers.
GMC 400 series didn't have the same cross member and engine mounts as the smaller trucks, instead they used a large U shaped channel iron bolted outside the frame just behind the spring hangers. See attached pictures of this 400 series cross member adapted to a smaller 2 ton GMC. I can't find a picture of one as fit originally in the 400 series GMC.
As far as power goes, the client isn't going to be happy until we have 327 with 300 - 325 HP, so I'm resigned to that. At least it will bolt up to the 700R4.
I've been in your shoes many times- - - -dealing with a demanding customer who has no idea what he's asking for, or if the resulting project is going to do what he wants it to do. Putting a hotrod V8 in a situation more suitable for a low RPM high torque inline six is a really good example of that kind of thinking. It seems your guy would be better off with a 292 with a few torque-improving modifications than any other option, but explaining the facts of life to a customer with his mind already made up is an exercise in futility! Jerry
The murder victim was drowned in a bathtub full of Rice Krispies and milk. The coroner blamed the crime on a cereal killer!
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
I hope he's got enough gears to keep it wound up all the time. That HP happens only at wide open throttle, high RPM, and the torque band is very narrow. He's putting a Kentucky Derby thoroughbred in a mule pulling contest! Jerry
The murder victim was drowned in a bathtub full of Rice Krispies and milk. The coroner blamed the crime on a cereal killer!
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
The customer is always right. Uninformed, hard-headed, stubborn yes, but still always right. Good call on your part for having your client purchase the crate motor that HE wants. Its all on him now.
Build the drivetrain strong enough to survive when somebody winds it up and bang-shifts into the next higher gear with a heavy load onboard. A machinist friend had a piece of 4" driveshaft tubing hung up over his lathe with 3 full turns twisted into it after a driver revved up a 425 HP Caterpillar 3406 Diesel and sidestepped the clutch- - - - -with the fully-loaded rig buried up to the hubs in a muddy rice field! The shaft looked like an hourglass! Jerry
The murder victim was drowned in a bathtub full of Rice Krispies and milk. The coroner blamed the crime on a cereal killer!
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
