Hello,

I'd like to install a BBC I have in a 1986 caprice station wagon. What kind of motor mounts should I use ? Any part number would be appreciated, too.

thanks,

Jean from Belgium, Europe

Hi,

I think you should be able to use the same motor mounts .. asuming your caprice is already a small block v-8. It most likely uses the metal cup-shaped bracket that bolts to the engine block, with the rubber "insulator" part captivated in a sort of flat rectangular shaped "clamshell" arraingement on the frame.  It should use those but , .. you might have to watch out for AC box clearance on the passengers side of the firewall. You might be on your own to figure out which cast iron exhaust manifolds to use, but I think a set of shorty headers from a 70-81 camaro with big block may fit. You should be good with your stock front springs. especially if you reduce front end weight by using an aluminium intake manifold and headers. Some of the other members may want to add their thoughts as well, as this is something I wanted to do in my various caprices over the years, but never found a good 454 cheap enough. (I did however, figure out how to hang a mechanical clutch linkage in those cars, using mostly factory parts. Driving a big 4 door caprice was a blast with a 350/4 speed combimation!) Good luck with your project!  Mike

Hi Mike,

thanks for the prompt answer. I bought the car for about 600 bucks with no engine (originally a 305) but with a TH350. I found a 454 LS6 crate engine in the back of a local garage for the same price(and yes it is one, I dismantled it to verify the state and replace the worn parts), and I even got the flywheel and the lakewood bellhousing for free. I plan to use the TH350 and will maybe look for a manual trans swap later( I'll keep the parts anyway, it is seldom enough here !)

Back to your answer. I don't have the motor mounts anymore so I'll check for polyurethane new one for a SB in the caprice. I will take those for the tranny, too. For the springs, I have iron heads but a Team G aluminium intake. I have also the iron manifolds from a 69 BBC car (can't remember which one), so I'll see how it bolts together.

Thanks again,

Jean

Back to your answer. I don't have the motor mounts anymore so I'll check for polyurethane new one for a SB in the caprice. I will take those for the tranny, too. For the springs, I have iron heads but a Team G aluminium intake. I have also the iron manifolds from a 69 BBC car (can't remember which one), so I'll see how it bolts together.

Thanks again,

Jean

Hi Jean,

Wow! Sounds like you got a sweet deal on your motor and parts.. wish I could find a deal like that around this area. It might be a good idea to check with the folks you get your mounts from, to make sure things will bolt in. I'm sure you will need those "clamshell" mounts like I described earlier, but you will need those upper pressed steel mounts that bolt to the block. Check this link out for a picture... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Matching-Pair-BB-Chevy-P-U-Motor-Mounts-Like-New_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50454QQitemZ8075311687QQrdZ1 These bolt to the block...

and these here are a the "clamshell" type that bolt to the frame... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy-Motor-and-Transmission-Mounts_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33727QQitemZ8075393662QQrdZ1 This set of parts should get you in the right direction.

As long as you are using the TH350, the existing transmission crossmember should be ok.. and your driveshaft should not need to be cut or modified.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your project!

Mike

I installed a 454 in my '88 Caprice a couple of years ago and I used the polyurethane clamshell inserts for a small block Chevy from Energy Suspension in Jeg's High Performance Catalog. They worked perfectly! I used a 700R4 behind it with a stand alone lockup torque converter switch. Hooker Competition Headers for a 1973-'75 big block Chevelle bolted right up. I didn't have to modify anything on them. To run a dual exhaust on your car, you can take a floor jack and a piece of wood and raise the floor in front of the driver's side seat very carefully until you have enough room to run a head pipe from the header on that side. Chevrolet never made a car with dual exhaust from 1977-1990, so I modified a 1973 Cutlass dual exhaust crossmember to fit my car. I widened the crossmember on each side about 1.5 inches because the frame on the Caprice is wider than the Cutlass. 1973-'77 A-body cars should have the same crossmember if they came with dual exhaust. The crossmember mounting holes are already drilled on the passenger side of my Caprice, but I had to get a piece of the frame under the driver's door from a Caprice wagon and splice it into my frame to be able to bolt up the driver's side of the crossmember. My engine originally came from a 1989 K3500 Chevy truck, so I was able to use all of the serpentine belt drive system from the truck on my Caprice. The power steering pump pulley comes very close to the steering box, but it does clear enough to work. The lower radiator hose will work from the small block, but you will have to make an upper radiator hose. Use an A/C compressor hose assembly from a 1985-'88 V8 Camaro or Firebird as it will fit the relocated compressor. I used one from an '86 Firebird and it worked like a charm. You'll have to get new A/C hoses made up for both ends where they bolt into the back of the compressor and into the evaporator. I've yet to do that to mine. Use a 4 core radiator and trim the fan shroud back so the belt drive system will clear. Your front coil springs should be enough to support the new engine's weight, especially if you use an aluminum water pump and intake manifold. Aluminum heads would further reduce weight as well as being a performance benefit! Gear the car accordingly if you are looking for some get up and go, as wagons are very heavy. I wouldn't go more than 3.42 or 3.73. I cobbled up some throttle brackets to make one that would work with my intake, Quadrajet, and overdrive transmission combo to allow my TV cable to work correctly. Hopefully what I've told you will help you with your project. Good luck and keep us informed.   

Hi Gents,

thanks for your answers, I know what I have to look for now. I hope to put the engine into the car during August, because I still need to do some shopping on ebay and summit and then send everything back to Belgium.

I'll keep you informed,
Sincerelly,

Jean

Hello !

After quite a while I found time to try to insert the combo engine/tranny into the engine bay. It seems to me that the oil pan will interfere with the front crossmember. Just to be sure, is there any modification you need to do on the oil pan ?

The picture of my oil pan is on http://agnes.homelinux.com/chevy/cimg0983.jpg

thanks,

Jean, Belgium

I installed a 5 quart stock style oil pan on my engine from Milodon. It fit the frame perfectly. Your oil pan kickouts are probably what's interfering with your crossmember. You won't be able to use your existing pan unless you change it to a stock style pan.    

Or he can cut and box the crossmember. We put a 455 Olds in the same chassis with the Toro pan and had no clearance problems.

Thanks for the prompt answers !

I had the luck to find a stock BBC oil pan this morning (you can't imagine how difficult it is, it's like trying to find a part from a LADA (russian car) in the US) , so I went back to the crime scene to swap the pans, in a very rainy and windy weather... Did I say the car was outside ? :-)

Anyway, the oil pickup tube has also been modified and is lower. It seems that my new oil pan is nearly 20 centimeters deep, and my oil pickup sits 22 centimeters below the engine block. I also have a steel sheet hanging 5 centimeters lower than the main caps (and attached to the 3 from the back). It seems the oiling system of that engine has been modified quite a bit from the standard BBC. I will remove the sheet because it won't clear the stock pan, and replace the 6 main bolts with others (have still to look after) and find a stock oil pickup. In the worst case i will modify the oil pickup I already have.

BTW : is a SBC oil pickup the same as a BBC ?

I hope to get it working this saturday.

PS: it's funny I also have a '69 Toronado, too !

Oh boy, sounds like you have a slight basket case on your hands but it sounds like your back on track to getting it right. Whether its B C O P, its a big block and thats what matters. Taking a steep hill at light throttle compared to half is always fun.

Hey if you are going to put a 454 into wagon, i'd rebuild that 200-4r tranny instead of putting in a 700-r4. if you got big block torque you won't need that 3.06 first gear, plus that jump to second is going to seem even bigger in a 4125lb car. BowTie overdrive make a real nice 2004r. i got the stage 2 with a 2200 stall (3.42rear end and 30"BFG allterrains) and she launchs real nice plus i had to STRAP the tailgate shut cause it was popping open when barking into 2nd gear! plus you get a better OD and you wont have to change the crossmember And get a new driveshaft. I only have a 306hp 309ftlb 307 olds in my wagon but i haul 500lb+ of tool all the time and with that drivetain she isn't a a corvette but she is in no way a slouch either