The plan is to make a removable one. However if it turns out to not work I'll make an entire new one.

 

Really looking good.
Excited every time you post an update on your top notch build

 

Absolutely beautiful. I love the look of a freshly painted engine in a vehicle. All engines should come from the factory painted up all pretty like that. I would definitely pay extra for it as an option.

 

Thanks, and no kidding. Nothing like popping the hood on a new vehicle and seeing rusty parts and shoty paint.

 

Yea thats whats great about our old trucks when done up right,They scream Made In The USA,,,they scream alot of other things too

 

After a long day of work, I pulled the engine mounts and welded them up. I had to take the engine mounts off the motor to remove them. What a pain.

All Tig welded and purdy.









Fortunately having the engine mounts off of the block allowed me to get the engine mount stands back in without removing the engine. Removing the engine as few times as possible is one of my goals. I hate dangling a 1000 lbs 4 feet off of the ground.

Mounts back in.







A big thank you to chasetruck754 for the pre cut mounts. That alone saved me hours in cardboard aided design, fab work and cussing. Next stop tranny mount.

 

That chunk looks freakin' good in there meboyo

 

Man, those mounts bolted onto the engine look good. I cant remember which year truck mine were E-bay'd from, but they dont sit as far back and it caused me some issues with the power steering pump hose clearance. They must have been from a first generation 12 valve Dodge with that crazy vacuum pump they used instead of the gear driven unit that I have now. If I'd known what I do now, I'd have done things a little differently.

Maybe I should have done more research and slower building, but I had somewhat of a time budget; I'm still loving it, though and got to use it today to pull out a mired Jeep .

Yours sure is coming along nicely!!

 

Yeah I wana say the first gen mounts are in the middle of the bolt pattern. As opposed to, in rear of the pattern like mine. I immagine you have a lot more weight on the tail shaft. I figure there is only about 40lbs at the rear of my tranny. It is really well balanced on those mounts.

 

that looks pirtyyy!

 

Mostly posted just to put up a better pic with the valve covers on. Engine looks funny without them.





Still working on the tranny crossmember. I took back the stock NV4500 rubber mounts, and ended up buying some 69-74 volvo 142 engine mounts. They are a simple rubber puck and have a (7/16-14 stud out of both end) wrong they have been changed to 10mmx 1.25 going another route. I should get them at the end of the week. So far I'm pretty sure I can reengineer the stock tranny mount moved farther back.

Other than that got the engine mounts fully bolted in with the shock mount in the right place.

I also got both of the frame mounts for the tranny crossmember out. Did I ever tell y'all I hate rivets. I ended up grinding the heads off all 6 rivets. 3 came right out no issue. The other 3 I had to grind then drill out. Then I had to grid them out of the mounts as well. Yippie!





Well that crap is done. 6 less rivets to deal with later on. I'll end up welding closed the holes I don't end up using to move the tranny mount further back.

Until next weekend.

 

Happy New Year bud. Nice progress as usual. Have you ordered your turbo or found one or two you are going to go with?
How are the eyes doing?

 

Happy new year to all as well.

So far my plan is to go with a D-Tech 62 over HT3B. I found a set in kit form for a reasonable price. It's just a matter of saving up. I live really close to the sierras so I want that extra air to keep the egt's down.

My eyes are getting there. I'm still fighting some blury vision caused by the steroid drops the doc has me on. I'll be done with those Sunday. Then things should improve dramatically after those wear off. When I wake up I'm at 20/20 or better but that degrades over the course of the day.

 

Ok. Slow progress this weekend. Been knocked out with the Flu. I cannot sit still so work commences, albeit at a slow pace. Work a little rest, and repeat.

Took a big chunk out of the stock crossmember.



I ended up keeping the rear tranny mount stand hole. Drilled two more and kept the mount on the same plane.






The two halves mounted in place. The tranny mount is a energy suspension part number: 3.1108G. It is a Polly tranny mount meant for 80's & 90's chevy th350-th400 trans. Bolts right up to the NV4500 no modification required.



Now time for a little C.A.D. This is what I worked out. I wanted to keep it simple strong, and as few cuts as possible. I do not have access to a brake at the moment that can handle 3/16" so cutting and welding is the only option.





Tomorrow I should be able to get this cut out and welded together. I want to get this sucker buttoned up then I can work on the engine crossmember.

 

This for me is like the dream build! But I want a SC 4x4 Looking good keep up the good work! BTW, whats average cost on a swap like this? PM me if you don't wana share outloud. Im really interested in doing this a few years down the road if possible.