I know someone has installed a late 6 (230/250/292) in their 47-55 A D truck. What front and/or side mounts did you use? What’s best, weld the mount perches to the frame for side mounts, or can you use a front horse shoe type mount? I know you can use a 54-later cross member for bellhousing mounts with a cast iron truck Bellhousing. I am sure radiator / fan clearance will have to be a addressed... Anyone who has done this please respond. Thanks!! (Maybe this should be in the HiPo forum?)
Side mounts give a bunch more transmission options. There are universal 194-292 side mount kits that you trim to size for your year truck. Do a search and a number will pop up. The 292 is more involved with its staggered mounts and the radiator has to be moved forward for clearance. We have done a 250 in an AD and a 292 in a 57 TF. We also did a 300 Ford I6 in a 56 GMC which gave a much better set up and was actually an easier swap.
I put a 292 in my 48 3600 2 years ago. I ended up modifying my rear cross member, using d*dge 340 engine mounts to hold the bell housing to the cross member. For the front motor mount, I had a local shop with a CNC torch table cut a wide "u" to bolt to the front of the engine, beside the timing cover, welded angle iron to it, and used a snow plow cutting edge as the motor mount on the front. The fan lines up ok with the radiator, I run a 6 blade fan, and it never overheats. I am running a T-5 behind it. I did not use a transmission cross member.
Side mounts can be done, there are plenty of kits out there, but I have no experience with them. You will need a transmission crossmember, which should not be difficult either.
Years ago I copied this photo from a forum posts here. I did some research today and it's from a 2017 thread, and it's BEAST57's design. It's for a 292 front horseshoe type mount.
Last edited by Frank50; 08/18/20206:10 PM. Reason: more info
Years ago I copied this photo from a forum posts here. I did some research today and it's from a 2017 thread, and it's BEAST57's design. It's for a 292 front horseshoe type mount.
I have a mount very similar to this. I use this front mount, plus the bellhousing mounts with my manual transmission. It fits (292 barely clears the firewall), and the last pushrod can't be taken out/put in while the block is sitting in the truck. I didn't have to move the radiator, however i DID have to switch to a different style fan. There are pictures in my signature link (towards the bottom of the pictures I believe... might not have pictures with the radiator installed on there yet though).
