The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop exaust manafold clearance

does anyone think that it would be safe to cut a u shape in the frame then reinforce around it to make room for the exhaust manifold?

pictures http://community.webshots.com/album/566266796krtyLu

It is really difficult to tell by the pictures you posted to see if the engine is in the proper position. I would first try to move the engine higher and more to the front to get some more clearance for the manifolds. You may have already tried this, in that case to answer your question; yes.

Just remember that when the frame is compromised in some way, it must be reinforced to compensate for the modifications. I don't like chopping pieces out of the frame. I would look at reengineering the project first. I have never installed a BB in an AD so I cannot give you any specifics. I am sure someone that has can give more information on the install.

I am assuming you have good fabrication skills and a good grasp of structural forces.

i don't have the radiator yet so i lust guessed on far forward to put it i have the pulley about 1 1/2 inches away from the radiator support and the engine is as high as it can go

I know one thing for certain, if all of the parts and pieces are not mocked up during the build, something will be over looked. Just yesterday I had to take something apart because I did not have everything installed at the same time.

how about going with a aftermarket exhaust header/manifold. something made for a streetrod. I think they call them block huggers. they also have the exhaust dump location moved to the center and not to the rear. try sanderson headers I think.

I'd go with block huggers for sure...

I got a pair of ceramic block huggers that fit nicely under the hood of my '37 and that's about as small an engine compartment as you're ever gonna see...

~Trev

I can't speak for a big block but I dropped a small block in my 52 frame using the Chassis Engineering mounts and it sits in there quite well. A set of block huggers will work but I will still have to move the steering box over about one inch, no more than 1 1/2 inches.
I am not sure unless I go look at the directions again but I think the engine mount on my small block was 15 1/8" from the middle of the CENTER rivet on the very front cross member. This is dead center of the mount.
Don't know if this helps but at least I tried!!

Oh, putting the engine where I did the instructions say I'll need to use the SMALL hei distributor or modify the firewall.

If you do the U cut, you should really box the frame to get the most out of it. Stacey David over on Gearz did a similar type of modification to a '32 Ford, but his was on the bottom of the rail to allow for hooking up the headers to an undercar exhaust system (his has cutouts).
I would suggest either block huggers, or alternatively, fenderwell headers. You might take a look at Camaro/Nova/Chevelle headers. It might take a mix and match set (Camaro/Nova on one side, Chevelle on the other) to make it work. IIRC, on a smalblock, a Camaro header works on the rivers side, Chevelle on the passenger. Not sure if that holds true with a big block, or a Big Bolt for that matter.

My oppinion... Absolutely not!
I repaired the frame on a mid 60's 1/2 ton that was notched the same way to clear some exhaust manifolds. When the truck cam into the shop the whole front end was about ready to fall off. Those small notches had invited substantial cracks running top to bottom of the frame rails, both sides. The owner was very lucky it did not fall apart on the way to the shop, and I was hesitant to put it on the lift for fear the whole front end would fall off.
As part of the repair I replaced the portions of the frame that were missing (the same parts you are considering removing, or have already started) oddly enough they were not at all in the way on that truck.

I have seen what removing portions of the frame flanges leads to, don't take that risk.
Even with some sort of strengthening I don't think it is a good idea, particularly on a heavy truck with a substantial engine sitting in there.

What other options do you have? can you make headers to go outside the frame? or up through the hood? Or manifolds that exit forward then the exhaust pipe turns back? A different engine? Hopefully there is a safer way to accomplish your goal.

Grigg

no i cant turn the exhaust manifolds backwards or upside down from side to side. would it strengthen the frame enough if boxed the frame and bolted or welded in some thick plate steel like about a 1/2" thick or thicker?

Those manifolds look similar to late model pickup manifolds that
I tried on my small block and wouldn't work on my 49 frame. I found out the late model truck manifolds are wider at the rear and actually kick out further from the motor at the rear. Might try looking at earlier model car manifolds for your big block if you don't want to run block hugger headers.