Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I'm about to tackle my crossmember clearance problem. YJ, you said you put washers under your big block to get added clearance. Did you put them on top of the motor mount between the engine or in between the motor mount and the engine brace to crossmember.
I am considering making a 1/4" alum. spacer to go between the motor mount and engine brace(tower), just not sure if this is safe. I plan to get a grade 8 bolt 1/4" longer. Any thoughts, help???
Prothane said it should be the same motor mount and the oil pan has the same shape and size on the front half. Just don't know
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...eplace05-8.jpg

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I would agree with putting the spacers between the motor mount and the engine tower. Would rather deal with one bolt than three and it's out of sight. Wish it would warm up so I can start on mine again, I'm turning into a wuss in my old age.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

That's why I asked, exhaust manifold in the way and my fingers don't fit. OK I'll start to make the spacer, I can always stop

My workshop is 70 degrees and no lawn furniture:lol:

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

It looks like you already have an aftermarket oil pan?? My Milodon fit without any shimming.

Attachment 340285


However, because I didn't use any shims, now my headers are way to close to the frame rail. But they have never torqued enough to touch yet.

Attachment 340286

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Who you calling intelligent! Surely not me :lol:

Anyway, here are a few pics of the washer placement that I did.

http://yukon.b0xen.us/bbproject/headersfitment12a.jpg

I did have to grind the passenger side frame a bit for the headers.

This is the passenger side, I used more washers on the passenger side

http://yukon.b0xen.us/bbproject/headersfitment06a.jpg

Here's the driver's side

http://yukon.b0xen.us/bbproject/headersfitment10a.jpg

Be aware that this will make your firewall clearance just a bit worse since your lifting the motor up.

I do believe using the 73-87 engine crossmember gets rid of the oil pan clearance issue.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

What about pulling the crossmember out and notching or redoing it all together? I just seen someone notch a crossmember someplace. Didn't look too hard. Notch it and box it. If you use the single aluminum block it'd look sweet if you polished it on the sides! Stainless would be cool too.....

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Yep, if you have access to a welder notching it would be a great solution.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Sorry JoJo, should have mentioned that I have 2 1/2" ramhorns, space seems OK to frame, well 3/4" anyway. I don't think the problem is in the oil pan, seems like they just took a stock oil pan and blew out the sides to turn it into a 7 qt.
In the old days, we would just chain the engine to the frame, awhile back I just missed out on a factory torque cable in the classified, oh well

The oil pan is so close to the rear of the crossmember that you can just get a dollar bill in there. My thought was the Prothane motor mounts are thinner than the stock ones, but I have no way of checking since I threw out my old ones

Thanks for the pics YJ, I was afraid you were going to say that you put the washers there, that looks like a real PITA to get them in there. And yes on the '73 and up crossmember, but if I do that I really wanted to buy the one from ORD, their's looks really trick
Looks like I'll go over to the '73 section and see if I can find one...one step forward, two steps back. Thanks for the input guys

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

What if you did a bit of forming with the OL' Hammer? You only need a 1/8th to a 1/4". With a dead blow or wooden hammer it shouldn't damage the oil pan. I wouldn't think it would, lol. Might let someone else chime in if you consider this route.... Just a thought.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Have you tried to take an oil pan off yet:lol:What a PITA, dun it once and that was two many.Lots of stuff has to come off , including the crossmember, but I'm not putting you down for your idea, I need them all. But, I have considered your thought somewhat, I was going to raise the engine and put something between the oil pan and the cross member, letting the wieght of the engine squish it a little. Seems a bit drastic. I hope you haven't taken this the wrong way, as I value your thoughts and time
I was just over on the '73 side and no luck, I'll have to post up a WTB

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Definitely a pain...... I was thinking mark it in front and back of the crossmember then remove the crossmember and beat the .... out of it, gently, lol........:lol: Talking about the weight of it smashing it a bit.... How about lifting up the motor enough to slide a quarter inch piece of wood in there then let the motor back down to smash against that... Lift it back up, put it in place then see what it looks like. The location you need smashed doesn't look like it would affect anything.....

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Just a thought, I bought new motor mounts at Advanced Auto. They were only about $10 and they had them in stock up here. If I remember right they were a little thicker than my oil soaked, smushed, worn-out, rotted originals.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I didn't realize they were that cheap, if I buy them at least it will answer part of the problem. Usually when something doesn't work, it's because it is something I did, so I always undo what i did last. My old mounts were in 2 pcs. when I took them off, I thought I was doing my truck some good. but it has been a headache ever since. My engine is hanging from the ceiling, so it won't be to much work...Thank you for your thoughts

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

BAM, BAM, BAM BAM BAM:lol: I'm going to check the thickness of stock mounts before I bring out the BFH. Thanks J.
Dang, should have used multi Quote

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Thanks JoJo, I just called AA and they have them in stock for 9.72, both sides are the same, so I can find out if my Prothanes are thinner

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Galler...buo05/cog1.jpg
73+ crossmember under my 454. The back of the crossmember was almost touching the pan, like real close, credit card close.
http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Galler...8/100_1941.jpg
Then it cracked so I welded the crack but didn't like the fact it cracked so I did this:
ORD
http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Galler...8/100_2082.jpg
Still very close but at least is won't crack, much stronger hold for my 454.
http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Galler...8/100_2083.jpg
More ORD
http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Galler...8/100_1939.jpg
My 454 does not move at all, the frame/truck twist when I rap the BBC :metal::metal:

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

You are who I thought of when I posted up, I read that old article you had posted from a mag. I think the ORD setup is the only way to go, I'll just get rid of the Prothanes. Thanks for the info. About how much clearance did it give you between the oil pan and ORD crossmember?

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I wonder if you ask ORD to make the X-member bow down, about 1/2" more or so, if they would do that for you?? I have been keeping a eye on that small space I have inbetween the Xmember & pan, so far the space has not changed. Nor do I see any eviedence of rubbing or paint transfer. Nice and tight :smoke:

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Yeah, last time I talked to Kurt?, he said they only made them for the '73 and up. Do they make them specifically for the '72 now or did you work with the '73. Good idea on bending it a little more

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Kert Cohoon is DIY4X and he makes a different x-member/engine mount setup. Wich will work also. DIY was not making them at the time I needed one so I ended up getting ORD = Stephen Watson
here is a pic of Kert's
http://www.diy4x.com/images/firstgenenginecross.jpg
Kert's pricing is better than ORD's.
http://www.diy4x.com/images/comp%20motor%20mountsm.jpg
Here is Kert's engine mounts for $85 and ORD's are like $150 and basicaly the same thing..

The DIY4X might be an eaisier install cuz you don't have to use the frame horns from the 73+ x=member setup like you do with ORD's, ORD's is 73 & up only, I made it work hehee

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Thanks for the info, I think I like the DIY better, cheaper$, not quality. That looks like it would be a bear to get between the frame rails( never mind I just saw how it goes)...being a one tube design, might give me more room on the pan as well

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Hi guys. I was just wondering if you had gone and installed the DIY4X crossmember. I have a 454 too that is hitting the firewall, but I thought I read somewhere that the DIY4X crossmember only worked on small blocks not big blocks. If it fit for you, I'm going to try it, too. How did it go?

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Waiting on CA$H....

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I had a 396 in my blazer and had zero fitment issues with a stock pan and new motor mounts, firewall was my issue though.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Read through the thread hoping to find where you had gotten with this issue, now I know.

Is that the x-member your going to install?

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

That's what is wierd, some people have it and others don't. OldskoolK5 said he has 1"-1 1/2" clearance. I have a stock pan with back half blown out for 7 qts of oil (no fuel mixed w/oil, Kurt:lol:) I still have a feeling its my motor mounts, but haven't had a chance to investigate. I think the DIY crossmember will cure the fitment problems, I want to call first and let them tell me how much clearance I will end up with...

Logically, I should just go buy new motor mounts for 9 bucks and see if this fixes it

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I'd guess that's a good thing, how'd your furnace like the mix?

What about using a later model cross member?
Guys seem to be making them work with their big block swaps.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Smoking like an old steam locomotive:lol: I think I'll try peanut oil next time

I was over on the '73 and up classified, nothing yet. Those guys don't talk much:lol:
I think Burt said he had a tight fit when he used the '73 crossmember, issue changed when he put in the DIY member

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I put in the GM 4x4 73+ crossmember (3-piece) in and the cross bar part was almost touching the front of my oil pan. Then the crossbar cracked on one of the facotry bends it has. At first I simply welded the crack and then I thought it would be better to upgrade to something stonger, my BBC is no sunday drivin BBC :metal: so I knew I needed more stability down there. I put the ORD one in, DIY was not making the one he has now so it was ORD or make my own and I didn't feel like re-inventing the wheel so I bought the ORD 73+ crossmember. It too is HELLA close but it does not touch.
FYI... :chevy:

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

If I can ask, where did you get the stock 3 pieces of the crossmember? Junkyard? I was hoping to find the 2 mounting brackets for sale somewhere and then buy the ORD crossmember, but so far no luck on the 2 triangle shaped pieces.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

check out our classified,and try search. seen them on there from time to time. After I get my crossmember, I'll let ya know that mine are going up for sale

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I was lucky and got mine free from a friend :metal:
Junkyard might be the cheepest way, any chevy 4x4 73+ will work. Thoes two brackets your after were a ***** to get inside the C frame. I ended up cutting two slots on the top corners so I could bend down the top part of the bracket making it smaller. sorry no pics of that mod so I hope that makes sence. The artical I got the idea from did not say anything about fitting issues so... here is the aritical I'm talking about:
http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Galler.../bbswapsml.jpg
The bracket is pic on the bottom left, the flat part that fits under the lip of the frame, two botls on top, is the part I cut the slots into, alowed me to bend it down a bit to slide into the frame.
http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Galler...o05/bbcin4.jpg
Everything is painetd black so you have to stare at this pic for a bit but you can see the setup installed.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Actually, Burt4x4, I had already found those photos when you posted them on another thread and have copied them and printed them out. Thanks! On that magazine article, its July 1997, right? What magazine? And do you have any of the other pages?
I dont want to get those pieces from a junkyard unless I HAVE to, cause I will probably have to pull the engine to get to them, and in a junkyard thats gonna be a huge hassle. Maybe I could try the dealer?

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Cool,
there was another page to that artical and I don't know why but I am missing it from my gallery? I orgianlly got the pics from CK5. When I get over there I will try and search for them...it's been a few years so ??
:mm:
I hear ya about the junkyard issue...never know you might get lucky and find a truck without an engine in it....no clue what a dealer would charge or even if they have them?
You might want to look into the DIY4X crossmember...it does not require the use of the 73+ parts...might be an easier route to take?

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I have and scanned that article in the past. Let me get a link for ya.

The article is from 4x4 Power which was an awesome but short lived magazine.

Okay, they are still on my website, here's the link to the first page and the link to the second page.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Thanks YJ, I didn't have much luck with my search :uhmk:

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

Wow guys. You are an impressive source of wisdom! :clap:I am going to try to find back issues on ebay or something. I thought about the DIY4x crossmember but people posted that it was designed for small blocks and there was interference with the big blocks. Maybe he could start making a big block one, cause it looks beefy for sure!:sumo:

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I agree there is a demand for a crossmember that gives more clearance. I plan to yank my crossmember and do some modifications so I can get my bbc sitting where it should be. I did some looking at how my engine is sitting and those washers I'm using definitely have a noticeable impact on how close the side of my engine is to the firewall.

Re: Yukon Jack or other intelligent people-need advise
 

I know if you ask Kert to make it the way you need it he will. You may have to give him some specs on what you need..might be as simple as asking him to drop the loop by 2" or so??
:mm: