231 buick install?

i have a buick 231 that i was installinig in my cj2a today. when all was said and almost done i noticed that the advanced adapter i have
(P/N 713011) was short on passenger side. how i came up with this is i mounted engine/trany/transfer case and crossmember together. Then i installed the unit into the jeep frame (body and all other stuff is of frame) i lined up the crossmember and bolted it into place then i noticed the engine mounts made the engine shifted to the passenger too much (bad angle) so to get the proper amount of off set to the driver side i moved the bolt on the mount one hole in on driver side. the placement of the engine looks good (angle looks good, looks like proper offset now) but i have a 1 in. space on the passenger mount to the frame. i have proper deg. of rise from 3 to 5 of my engine and all looks well but the short mount on pass side.

Does any one know if both engine mounts are the same length?

The ones i have are. They have no markings on them, i only know the driverside has offset bolt holes that go to the engine for fuel pump clearance and placement. the only things i can think of is i have the wrong passenger mount or wrong mounts alltogether (in the advanced adapter book this mount will work).

Also, might i just need a 1 in. spacer on the pass side to fix the prob?

This should work ok but will have more stress on the bolts and welds?

I would like it better not to use a spacer and have a longer passenger mount! but i will do what i have to eather way to get the job done!

has any one had this prob??

 

the tranny and t-case need to be moved about an inch to the right for the engine bellhousing to clear the brake pedal in full swing. Are you using the crossmember in the original position??

JB

 

there's some very good info. to be had in these articles.


http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/cj2a_swap.htm

 

I'm using the original tranny crossmember in the stock position. All looks good in the spot i picked to mount the engine. inline with the tranny good angle with driveshaft frount and rear. All should line up in stock position with body on. i could center the engine but that would move the tranny and shifters about 1 inch to passenger side and it wouldn't line up with body as well. when i had the engine sitting inplace (fitting it to the frame) it looked like i had room for the brake pedal to clear the engine bellhousing in full swing. i could be wrong.?.
I'm using stock ross box with one pice tie rod and stock brake master with 11 brakes for now, I will upgrade later when i have more cash for it. Also, i put a passenger side exhaust on the driver side to clear the ross box looks like it will work fine for room.

Also, if i move the tranny over 1 in. to the passenger side won't i have a prob. with engine placement with the body, the firewall is set for a off set (like the stock engine was)?.?
also, the novak site is a great resource. I wish i would have got'in the novak adapter (p/n MM31) they look close to the AA adapter but might be longer? (any one know for sure?), or the other AA (p/n 713003) they look like they have a preset offset to drivers side to line up with tranny?
i only got the adapter i have on advice from a jeep guy who said thats what i need. but, I didn't know about the shorter arm on the passenger side.

Should i try to take the adapter back (if i can, i put them on and they have a little cosmetic damage) and get mounts with proper offset, or use a 1 in. spacer on passenger side, or shift the tranny to passenger side and use the mounts the way they are, or weld more arm on the passenger side mount to compensate for the offset and keep stock engine placement?

 

Spicolli,

If you plan on using the original pedals you have to move tranny and transfer case to the right at least an inch. Every one i've done and seen done require it. If you plan on using the ross box it will require the move to the right also.



JB

 

181jeep,

Thx for the tip! I'm a dork!! (too much thinking about a simple prob. and simple fix).

I just set the drivetraine back into the frame and i see what ya ment! The brake has 4 in. of swing (think full swing is about 6in.) The Ross is close but the extra room would be good!
So you said to move the tranny over to passenger side 1 in. won't this center the engine? Do i need to move it more then 1in. to passenger side for more room?

What will this do when i put the body back on? Will i have to make a cutout on my tub around the shifters? Will the firewall have to be modified?

Would it just be better to run a driverside offset and change to saginaw steering and firewall brake/cluch pedals or will this make any diff. at all in the placement of the engine?

The funny thing is this jeep had a ford 289 in it when i got it with stock offset of drivetraine and stock steering/cluch/brake pedals (it looked like stock when i pulled it apart no apearnt tranny/transfer case relocation to passenger side). I was able to find a good frame (the one i had was cracked and bent up!). Now i'm just doing to change over to the better frame and picked a more fitting engine for the 2A.

Once agin thanks for the help!!

I feel like a leach with all my questions (don't even know if what i'm asking matters to the project or i'm thinking too much agin)!!??!!

P.S i see your in the central valley i lived by lodi/lockford, Ca. in the san joaquine valley growing up. (good place to live)

THX!!!!