This is the only other pic I have of the crossmember, but you can see the T cut on each end. As I beat the top and bottom inward towards each other I cut off the overlap so they butted together for welding up. Only material I had to add was small triangle pieces on the ends.



I worked on the tunnel today. I think I've got room for the trans now, but not positive. I'm putting the trans up tomorrow to check for fitment and then I will have to pull it and weld everything up. I basically spread it open 4" down the middle.

 

Holley has relocation brackets now for the accessories, check em out too. Nice progress by the way and the LS/T56 will be an improvement!

 

I bolted up the transmission today. The front of the tunnel works perfectly now, but I had to cut some more off the rear for clearance around the shifter area.



I think the open area that is showing below will be a removable access panel. Just not sure how I'm going to make it yet.

 

I've read on the forums about flipping the tab for the transmission mount on the A body cars, but I do not see a need to modify mine at all. It's at about 4 degrees right now and will be closer to 2.5 or so once the front of the car is sitting down where it's supposed to. These motor are so light I need to do something about the front springs to get the proper ride height on the front again.

Has this mount already been modified? It seems like it's going to work fine.

 

Cool swap. My dad had a '64 Malibu with a 283/4 speed in College. Has a '67 Malibu and '70 Chevelle SS now.

 

Kinda looks like the cross member has been messed with before. Joe's 64 Elky I think still has an untouched stock one and the tab seemed to sit higher. Mine I know has been messed with, had to lower it so the th400 wasn't against the floor; it had been modified before that.

 

Ahhh maybe that's what the deal is. This car was an original 4 speed, but it's had a turbo 400 and a powerglide in it before.

 

I'll check his out this weekend just to double check, headed to the track again

 

Cool! Take a pic for me please. I want to compare. Mine must have been messed with since it fit right into place.

 

So you mainly just cut the sides and top portion of your cross member? The bottom part isn't cut? What I am saying is that your frame modification wasn't like a c notch where you cut out an entire section and weld in new metal? I'm just wondering if a c notch will give more room or will I actually need that much room?

What are you looking for on the tranny member Ina pic? Mine was auto so I don't know if it'll help you.

 

Nice project! Pics of the entire car?

 

a C notch was not needed at all. From the underside you can not tell the cross member was even modified. You can tell on the sides of the pan though since the top was lowered and pulled forward. Once I get the trans up to 2-3 degrees I will have just over a 1/2" of clearance between pan and crossmember. and 1 1/2" between passenger valve cover and firewall.

I've been reading that everyone with a t56 had to cut the tab off their transmission crossmember and flip it over. I climbed under the car with the crossmember and basically bolted it all up with no modifications at all. *Unless mine has been modified years ago, but it looks stock to me.

 

Thanks! I bought this car in 1988 as my first car for $700 and will never sell it. It's gone from a bone stock SS to a super gas drag car and now it's being converted back into a Pro street car that the entire family can enjoy.

In it's racing glory! lol





And probably most recent at a car show.

 

Nice ride. Looks like you have F body manifolds on there now?

 

Yes F-Body manifolds on both sides. Works like a charm.

 

Got some more done this weekend. The motor and trans are now bolted in for good and the tunnel is completed. I made the shifter area removable so I can pull the trans without pulling the motor.

I used rivnuts to mount my tunnel cover to the rest of the tunnel. Worked like a charm. Thanks for the tip on those Brian!

Here's my hammered out tunnel cover


And completed.


I also got some goodies in the mail which will keep me busy this week.

 

Hope you're keeping a list of stuff you've bought, I'll have to copy some of it LOL.

 

I haven't put together a list, but I do have a a box of receipts that keeps growing larger and larger. LOL

I dropped the computer off today at Foxlinders. Dave over there is one hell of a nice guy. We must have talked shop for 2 hours. I would recommend his services to anyone. He's got an amazing shop and really knows these LS motors well.

 

I modified my clutch pedal. Welded a tab on top for the master cylinder to bolt up to.





Linkage bolted up.


Master cylinder bolted on and bled. I now have a working clutch.

 

very nice work!