Big block duster pain in the A$$

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I put the 451, Lakewood and A833 in from the top with the K-member, torsion bars and steering column removed. Mini-starter installed first.
Then the headers (Hedman B-body 78030) from the bottom with the engine partially raised.
Finally the K-member, torsion bars and the steering shaft after cutting the column tube back to the firewall.

If I ever have to do this again I will try the complete assembly from below. But in a dirt-floor barn that wasn't a great option.

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Lol I hear ya on dirt floor! I pulled my 400 block on the edge of a dirt cliff in my buddies yard using an engine hoist. It was made easier by laying down some spare sheets of plywood,and I had 2 guys for counterbalancing the engine hoist as it tried to twist and flop over. Fun!
Well,not really but very challenging...
 
well not according to the guys i spoke to here that have done the swap. the oil pan needs to be dimpled.
 
67Dart440GT said:
Is the motor sitting level in the car? You may have to shim the passenger mount if using the biscuit style...
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The reason I asked this is it looks as if your pan is hitting on the passenger side. Is the motor sitting level in the car?
 
Fisher said:
well not according to the guys i spoke to here that have done the swap. the oil pan needs to be dimpled.
Click to expand...

And here are some photo's of the swap I did on mine. No pan mods needed.
 

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my 383 with hipo exhaust manifolds in my 69 gt dart with ps pb air , it was a boxed/open end wrench shorty that got plugs in and out . from the bottom mostly . but the install of that combo went in whole from the top with the hood on , but in/out from the bottom works great . everything can be set up and places correct without the flowing f....in words .
 
I asked this question once but never got an answer. Can the center link be installed end for end the wrong way? or will it only fit one way.
 
Called Schumaker today and got the deal. I have to dimple the pan some fit some dont. Its a car by car fit issue he claims. He did turn me on to a better pan to use that is a better fit without any issue. Its a 971 pan 73 and up.
 
IIRC 971 pan does not have a dimple in it for pitman arm clearance but the 187 pan does. Wondering why Schumaker said to go with the 971...
 
Got mine in by myself maybe an hour or 2 at the most. But changing the plugs is a royal pain in the A$$!!!
 
The only spark plug that was difficult is #6 has to go in from the bottom the rest are fine.
 
Well i have two 187 pans and a 699 pan and mine wont clear, so if the indent isnt any larger on the 440 source pan that wont work either. Still need to dimple my 187 pan
 
Fisher said:
Well i have two 187 pans and a 699 pan and mine wont clear, so if the indent isnt any larger on the 440 source pan that wont work either. Still need to dimple my 187 pan
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Then you have the early center link with no drop or the engine sitting a bit low..... My bet would be center link as I can set the oil filter on the K frame before I have pan issues.
 
I have spoken to Mr Schumaker, and he said its a car by car fit issue some clear some wont. Another fellow from big block dart, measured his 383 cuda for me and from the bottom of the frame fails to the center of the water pump is 7" mine is the same, so the engine is at the correct height. My center link looks like it has a pretty good drop too it i have seen the other ones , and there is no offset to them.
 
Ok i dont have the dropped center link. Mine is only 2.5 " from top to bottom. so it is the 6 cyl link. Will a V8 link be different?

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187 pan is what i used , from a c body . and the drop link is close , and after the motor mounts settle in , idler arm issues at least on my 69 . and i hope you got the pinned drivers side . those mounts are thin . and make as much room for the oil pump to move around the k member mounting . mine would hit the pressure relieve spring bolt hex , and loosen it , cause an oil leak . that and ps leaks , did not make the driverside rubber mount last don't know about the urethane ones , should whole up better . well mine was a daily driver .
 
Is your link anywhere inside the indent relief? Mine is just ahead of it the thickness of the bar itself.
 
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