Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
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Old Jun 12, 2019 | 03:13 PM
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Default ls engine to low


hello i have a 1968 chevy el camino a-body i am having trouble finding motor mounts that will clear my oil pan and power steering pump
ive been told moroso racing brackets will raise my engine, any truth to this i need anout a half a inch to a inch of clearance for the oil pan and half a inch for the power steering pump
i swapped a 5.3 engine off a tahoe 2002

Last edited by stevene; Jun 12, 2019 at 03:16 PM. Reason: Adding picture
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Old Jun 12, 2019 | 03:51 PM
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Welcome to LS1Tech. I can’t help you with the mounts, as I built my own to get my engine back. I’m about 1/4” off firewall to passenger side head. I also went as low as my pan (Holley) would allow. Speaking of pans, what pan are you running on that engine? You’ll find that the truck pan will hang way below the crossmember. So low in fact that many here have hit theirs on something and broke it while driving. That’s no bueno. You’ll want to look at something like the Holley pans, if you haven’t already. You also can get a smaller diameter power steering pulley if clearance there becomes an issue.
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Old Jun 12, 2019 | 06:04 PM
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I'm running the Holley 302-2 pan on my 70 El Camino and it has excellent clearance - 1999 GMC Sierra 5.3L engine. Along with the Holley forward bias engine mounts, my engine and trans are mounted very nicely.

Rick
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Old Jun 12, 2019 | 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by B52bombardier1
I'm running the Holley 302-2 pan on my 70 El Camino and it has excellent clearance - 1999 GMC Sierra 5.3L engine. Along with the Holley forward bias engine mounts, my engine and trans are mounted very nicely.

Rick
Doesn't get any easier than this.
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Old Jun 12, 2019 | 08:26 PM
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Stevene,

I ran into the same issue with the power steering pump pulley hitting the steering gear box on my 65 Cutlass, so I purchased a Dorman 300-202 pulley (metal version) for about $20 on Amazon. The only thing I had to do in order for the pulley to line up with the other pulleys was add .2” washers in between the bracket and pulley. Also the Dorman pulley measured around 5.25” versus the normal pulley at around 6.75”.
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Old Jun 12, 2019 | 08:34 PM
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Twice on swaps I've had just that with truck pulleys. I countersunk the bolt on the gearbox cover and used a smaller pulley on both.
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Old Jun 13, 2019 | 12:00 PM
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I would seriously look into shitcanning that 5.3 truck oil pan. Even if you get the motor to sit up higher the sump will hang down lower then your crossmember and your driveline angles will be sub par. The Holley pan will take care of your issues. I did my swap before the Holley pan was out and I used an F body pan which gives me great clearance, but I had to notch my crossmember a bit.
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Old Jun 13, 2019 | 01:32 PM
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For my 80 Cutlass 4.8 build I will use an FBody pan, you could buy the Holley pan but its high. You can run the smaller power steering pulley OR Use mount plates that allow you to slide the engine forward slightly to clear the gearbox. These are common things sorted out by hundreds of people who have done similar swaps.
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Old Jun 13, 2019 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by SLWRDE
Stevene,

I ran into the same issue with the power steering pump pulley hitting the steering gear box on my 65 Cutlass, so I purchased a Dorman 300-202 pulley (metal version) for about $20 on Amazon. The only thing I had to do in order for the pulley to line up with the other pulleys was add .2” washers in between the bracket and pulley. Also the Dorman pulley measured around 5.25” versus the normal pulley at around 6.75”.

Good info Im putting a 4.8 in an 80 Cutlass so I need to do this also.
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Old Jun 15, 2019 | 11:14 AM
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Its really hard to beat the holley mounts/pan combo, unless you have plenty of fab tools, and time, but are short on $$
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Old Jun 15, 2019 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by stevene
…..hello i have a 1968 chevy el camino a-body i am having trouble finding motor mounts that will clear my oil pan and power steering pump.....
For my Impala SS/LS3 conversion, I went with BRP Hot Rods.

KW
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Old Jun 15, 2019 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Krom
Its really hard to beat the holley mounts/pan combo, unless you have plenty of fab tools, and time, but are short on $$
^^^^^^^^^^^This!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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