Buick V6 swap question

Does the short motor mount go on drivers side or passenger side? Man, I'm glad they are only tacked in. I got the crossmember bolted into the original holes and the mounts on the frame measured off the v6 frame. It all lines up except of course I put the short one on the drivers side.

Did you use the late model buick motor mounts or the early CJ motor mounts?

I think I might slide the assembly forward about 1". What have the rest of you done?

 

Usually the motor should be offset to the passenger side an inch to give room for steering shaft, that is assuming saginaw swap.

 

If you are gonna steer it you definately want the motor offset to the passenger side so the steering shaft will have clearance next to the exhaust manifold. If running headers like Warloch there is plenty of room for the shaft to go under the header tubes and then the driveline clearance could come into play if running a turbo 350 that has pan clearance issues. Just one big jigsaw puzzle depending on what parts you are using.

 

Stock steering was the ross box, like I said assuming a saginaw conversion as very few swap in a motor and leave the old steering setup. The "stock" mounts on a 65-71 really don't have much to do with how to set up a transplant motor with saginaw steering and exhaust manifolds in a flatty. Some of its preference, some of its experience and every Jeep is different.

 

I'm trying to go for the most stock looking v6 swap there is. I bolted the crossmember to the tranny(T90) which was already adapted and bolted up to the motor. I bolted the crossmember to the frame in the original holes and the motor is offset to the passenger side.

I tacked the factory frame mounts in from the measurements off of the v6 frame and they are lined up perfectly other than offset to the wrong direction. I might have to adjust the crossmember after all.

 

Short side on the drivers side! engine offset to drivers side about 1 1/2" if I remember correctly.

 

65-71 stock mounts are 6" from frame to bolt hole on pass side and about 4 1/2 " on drivers side. I was just trying to let you know why I mount them offset the other way to make room next to the valve cover for a power brake booster, steering shaft for a saginaw swap, power steering pump and hoses, and being able to run exhaust manifolds and not have to run fenderwel headers. Good luck on you swap and be sure to post up pics.

 

Well I got it lined up with the short side on the d side about the time I decided to swap them like you did Daryl. Short side is going on passenger side. Going to have to redrill the crossmember though. The tranny is about 2" too far to the passenger side. The adapter is touching the floorboard too.

 

Here is where I am now.

 

Check your steering linkage clearance at full turn. My steering linkage hits the front of the trans, so I lost a bit a turn radius.

 

It is very close. Good point.

I thought I could just switch motor mounts but the angle is opposite. My floor board and fire wall is pretty hacked and fabbed already. Maybe I'll just do a little more of that. It would be nice to have mig but the practice with stick is good for me anyway.

 

When you did the offset to the passenger side, what did you do about the tranny cover? How about oilpan clearance? I'd like to move it over to the passenger side a little bit. I guess I'll either make some new ones or order the mounts from Novak. This is not as easy as I thought it was going to be.

 

When I build a Jeep I always do the saginaw conversion, but it really has little to do with steering. A Ross set-up that is maintained and in good shape is very capable. I swap in GM columns so it is easy to re-wire. I re-wire so I can use a gm alternator, starter and hei distributor with a stock gm wire harness usually sourced from chevy pickups. Lately I have been making my own harnesses from scratch though. I use parts that have been engineered by people a whole lot smarter then me. The Buick motors that I run came with all the above parts and are still somewhat readily available. The stock power steering pump bolts up and doesn't have to be jury-rigged together and is very cheap to install. I use power steering because I use columns with stock steering wheels. Alll these parts fit together in one big jigsaw puzzle. Yes I do get stuck with the same ingredients, but my recipe works and I like to build em that way. I am always looking for new ideas and use em when I find them. I usually build 2 to 3 Jeeps a year and still enjoy it.

 

I was trying to stop the snow ball effect but it might happen anyway.

 

how did everything turn out? I am getting ready to put a 231 in my 3a with the t-90 and i am trying to keep the stock steering for now. I was looking for photos and was wondering if you had any more? thanks

 

the only thing that has changed is it now sits in a much smaller garage. i am going power saginaw