ground clearance with SBC 350

[paranoid56]

i just got my v8 swapped using one of the swap kits and a kevco oil pan and under the car i want to say i have 2-3" from the bottom of the oil pan to the ground.
what are other peoples measurements? I was told by the PO that it had the heavier springs in, but now not so sure lol

[cjbiagi]

I don't think the stock pan hangs down much,if at all, below the crossmember like yours. Is that a deep sump pan?

[chevyart]

maybe its the way the photo was taken, but it sure looks like the engine is on a steep angle(back way down ond out of level, yet the engine looks OK in the picture inside the engine compartment. what angle is the engine set at. just curious. art

[67shovel]

Might have to jack/space up the rear trans monut a bit if you have room in the tunnel to get that pan up.

[paranoid56]

i think its the angle, its sitting flat, and the trans has maybe 3/4" of room. the pan was bought from kevco, so maybe its a deep pan, it seems super deep lol.

I will try to get a measurement of what the engine is stting at. i used one of the v8 swap kits so using those mounts (engine and trans)
i do need to raise the engine a bit, as the oil pan is touching the steering arm.

[chevyart]

paranoid try for a max of 2-3 degrees down in back of tranny.more than that ,and it will start affecting fuel level in carb and maybe fluid level in tranny. when you start raising the engine up, watch out for top drivers side tranny bolt hitting firerwall(auto tranny) and depending on headers, they may hit steering shaft, and they could possibly hit bottom of lower control arm on drivers side if you go too high. the clearance you are looking for is a common problem with this conversion. good luck art

[chevyart]

paranoid try for a max of 2-3 degrees down in back of tranny.more than that ,and it will start affecting fuel level in carb and maybe fluid level in tranny. when you start raising the engine up, watch out for top drivers side tranny bolt hitting firerwall(auto tranny) and depending on headers, they may hit steering shaft, and they could possibly hit bottom of lower control arm on drivers side if you go too high. the clearance you are looking for is a common problem with this conversion. good luck art

[paranoid56]

forgot to measure last night, got to busy with crap. but i did talk to the old owner and i guess its still got the stock springs in it, as he was running a buick V8 aluminum one. so thats much lighter than this. guess i will need to go read about that swap now lol

[Smiley]

A stock V8 Monza oil pan is 7" deep, sits flush with the crossmember using Don Hardy mounts in a Vega.

[T-FATTY]

A stock V8 Monza oil pan is 7" deep, sits flush with the crossmember using Don Hardy mounts in a Vega.

This is the combo I'm using, sub'd for more info on this pan.

[falcon_morris]

Yes, that is way too low.

I agree with others that the back of the engine looks too low.

When raising the rear of the engine watch for damper and pulley clearance at F sway bar.

What is the size of the F tires? I run a very similar set up. I use 15" tall skinnies on the front. Also, there are a couple of those "screw in" lifting plugs. Previous owner liked to do wheel stands.

My interior tunnel has been modified at the trans (before my ownership).

I will be under the car today, so I will take a couple measurements and a photo from your angle. (never posted photo before here, soooooo.)

Jim
72 vega hatchback 383

[falcon_morris]

Some measurements from my set up.

Pan to ground = 4.5 inches (honestly thought mine was higher (greater)). We are lucky, the Ford guys (with their front sumps hit the curb with the sump first.

Top of front wheel opening to ground = 25 inches (this may help you on spring height selection)

Oil pan (Moroso deep sump) = 9.5 inches block to bottom of sump.

My car does not have a stock X member. The paper covered steel tube is my substitution.

no luck resizing my photo, will have to study a bit.

[Smiley]

do you have a rubber mount between the Hardy trans crossmember and the tail shaft ?
what trans are you using ?

[paranoid56]

i am using a th350 and yea i do have the rubber mount holding up the trans from the xmember. i just got new v8 front springs to help. so will see how it looks when i do that.

[beakerztoyz]

can you post a pic of that from a diffrent angle?

1 other thing, I have never seen the motor mounts you have but if they have rubber bushings like the stock ones then i have heard that sometimes when they are worn out the motor will sag, there really isn't a ton of ground clearance on these v8 h body cars though