ryeguy2006a

iTrader: (27)

Just thought I would post up that with my setup, I measured for the driveshaft and it came out to be 46.5" Ujoint to Ujoint. Running a Fbody t56 and stock Camaro 12 bolt.

hrdrckclmr

Sorry for posting in an old thread but I have a problem with my swap on a 74 Ventura. I have all the Holley/Hooker mounts, cross member, 302-2 pan. The problem is my center drag link is hard against the front pan wall with the steering straight ahead. The car is a 1974 Pontiac Venture originally 6 cyl, turbo 350, factory a/c, ps, pdb. Swapped in a LS1/4L60E.
I will say that my drag link is basically straight and has almost no bend, maybe an inch towards the pan on the pass side , the drivers side is straight off the box and appox 1/8" off the pan at rest. I haven't tried to turn the wheels as it would only pull the linkage harder into the pan wall.
Has anyone ran into this before?

Frank400

I think (early Camaro at least) there are different lenght idler and pitman arms, not 100% sure. Longer pitman and idler would pull the center link further back, away from the pan.

LS1 pwrd NOVA

iTrader: (2)

Hrd.... maybe your engine is too far forward. I have the holly kit and 302 pan and no issues when at full lock.
That’s the only thing I can think your issue may be, the engine is too far forward.
How far is the passenger head from the firewall?

Frank, I think the difference is power steering vs manual steering, have different lengths on the pitman and idler.
Power steering has longer arms which will put the center link out more if I am correct.

G Atsma

Hopefully Toddoky might see this and chime in.
Edit- The BatSignal WORKS! LOL

Toddoky

If the Ventura is anything like the Novas and 1st-gen F-Bodies in terms of steering components, there would indeed be multiple different lengths of steering knuckle arms, pitman arm and idler arm used on them, depending on the suspension/steering options ordered on the car.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

It is like a Nova, but 73-4 Novas are a little different from the older ones . They use clamshell mounts which are not what a 72 on back would use. Is it possible the engine mounts could be in a different spot on them? If not, then what suspension parts would be needed?

Toddoky

Yes, they do use factory clamshell mounts and there are little brackets that cantilever off of the back of the crossmember that are used to attach the clamshells. I can’t attest to where the factory clamshells locate the engine compared to where the Hooker Blackheart brackets do on the 68-72 X body cars as I’ve never had first-hand experience with a 73-74 car.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

So if he installed them according to the instructions, and the oil pan is hitting the drag link, do you think he needs the longer idler and pitman arms?
Or would it be shorter?

Toddoky

Maybe not longer, but different. I did a comparative search of steering components on rockauto.com for a 1973 Nova and a 1973 Ventura and it interestingly showed a center link, Pitman arm and idler arm being available for the Nova, but not for the Ventura. There may have being division-specific parts used on the Ventura for some reason...if true, I ran into a similar instance when developing parts for the 2nd-gen F-body application and discovered that the Firebird used a different Pitman arm than the Camaro to clear the fuel pump of the Pontiac V8, which in turn required a different center link and idler arm to be used as well. The picture of the Proforged aftermarket center link for the Nova shown on the rockauto website shows the center link as having a bent out section in its center right where it would pass in front of the oil pan in a Nova. If you look at the under-car image I posted in my opening post of this thread you can clearly see the center link on the development car has a bent out section in its center just like the Proforged center link.

hrdrckclmr

Hey LS1 pwrd Nova the engine is 1 1/2 (pass head) off the fire wall just where other threads show their placement in 3rd gens. The little engine mount brackets (ears) on the subframe are not used and actually cut them off for header clearance, and are not used according to the Holley instructions (3 holes line up and 4th has to be drilled out) the engine can't go back further due to headers/steering box clearance. and rear crossmenber falls dead correct in the middle of the mounting holes. I had to drop the idler arm to get the engine to drop on the mounts. It's possible that I'll have to convert the car to "nova" center link, idler and pittman arm. Was hoping for possibly better insight into what is needed and/or what would work the easiest.

hrdrckclmr

Ok I've reread a bunch of builds till my eye's bled and didn't find any steering issues. BUT through a lot of rockauto research and measuring my car and a 71 P/S V8 Nova, have found that the P/S cars use short 5.25" idle and pittman arms, where as non-P/S cars use arms that are 7.32" this should get me 2" of clearance, steering straight ahead, to the front wall of the oil pan, we'll see the clearance at steering lock . I know though research that it;s not just that my Ventura is a 6 cylinder car (at least according to rockauto and the limited amount of car that I've actually gotten to look at thanks LS1nova71. I've ordered the conversion part to change it over to Nova arms and center link. But i find it interesting that Holley with as much engineering that goes into this "kit" didn't run into this issue. I will say that the kit works great, fits great, looks great other than "my car's steering" which I'll call a minor set back.

Frank400

I now have most of the components from this kit to do my first LS swap, I'm installing a L33 in my 68 Camaro. I've read this thread over and over, and even after searching in Holley's catalog, I'm still confused as to which crossmember I should be using. I'm going to use a Richmond 5 speed (same as Doug Nash 4+1). I have no clue as to which crossmember to use. I intend to go with Hooker 1.75 headers (70101507HKR). Just want to make sure I won't have any interference between the exhaust system and the crossmember.

Toddoky

Frank400, the only specific manual transmissions the Hooker Blackheart swap system was designed to directly accommodate are the Tremec 4th-gen F-body T56 and aftermarket T-56 Magnum transmissions. It is unknown if any of the Hooker Blackheart crossmembers could be adapted for use with your Richmond transmission.

Frank400

Knowing the dimensions of those transmissions you mentioned would be of great help. If anyone has those dimensions, I'd be happy to compare with mine. Especially in regards to the rear mount location. Frank.

Toddoky

The distance from the bellhousing face to the mount on a 4th-gen T56 and aftermarket T56 Magnum is the same at 26-5/8". The distance from the mount attachment pad to the output shaft centerline on the 4th-gen T56 is 3-7/16", the same measurement on the T56 Magnum is 3-1/8". By comparison, the distance from the bellhousing face to the mount on a TH400 or 2004R transmission is 3/16" longer than the mount on a T56/T56 Magnum, but the mount attachment pad on those transmissions is more than an inch closer to their output shaft centerlines. The same Hooker Blackheart transmission for your application is used to install all three of these transmissions with the 4th-gen T56 being installed directly on the crossmember beam, the T56 Magnum using a 5/16" spacer and the TH400/2004R transmissions using a spacer of more than an inch tall.

Frank400

Ok, I was sure it was in this thread that I read this but for the life of me I can't find it anymore. I need to know how much forward does my Hooker BlackHeart swap kit moves the engine/transmission. I'm quite sure I read 5/8" forward from stock but can't find that info anymore. Any help would be appreciated.

Toddoky

Frank400, I looked around my collection of parts for one of the engine mounting brackets from this swap system to take a measurement off of it for you to give you the discrete distance that the engine/trans mating plane is moved forward from stock and I couldn't find one. Going off of memory alone, I believe it is 5/8".

Nick_R_23

Toddoky, I have a question regarding the new Sniper drop in fuel pump modules, specifically the 12-300. It states 68-72 Nova fitment, but I have a 74. I know the tank and line routing are slightly different, but would that module still work in a 74 tank?

Toddoky

Hello Nick. I know zip about the Sniper product line, so I unfortunately can’t answer your question. I also no longer work for Holley, so I can’t reach out to someone who can answer it for you. Calling the Holley tech service line will be your best bet. Todd