Posted by Charlie on November 16, 1998 at 22:19:38:
In Reply to: Chevy 350 conversion posted by Jim Duchanin on November 16, 1998 at 19:32:46:
Mount the rear, then worry about the fan later. The M37 has a gigantic radiator, it'd be enough for a 454 with 50% to spare. I used the same early 60s iron Chevy bellhousing you have on my B1PW/Hercules/NP540 conversion. I built a saddle out of 3" wide channel which bolts to the existing motor mount pads. It has a short horizontal just long enough to clear the pad, then a ~3" vertical drop, then a inclined piece at 30 deg. from horizontal (the motor mount boss on the bellhousing is at 30 deg.), meeting the other side which is the same. I had to shave about 1/4" of rubber off the sides of the big cushion which straddles the channel, and used the smaller rubber piece underneath which nicely fits inside the channel. There was JUST BARELY enough room side-to-side for the two pads, I actually had to torch a fraction of an inch off each side so the pads would clear. Also, I had very slight interference at the bottom of the V with the transmission, but I think the 420 is a little less deep than the 540. I ended up shortening the driveshaft about an inch which means you'll lengthen yours about 1.5". For the front, I welded 3 steel spring caster plates (4" wide) together for a total of 13 degrees. I welded that to the the bottom of a drilled/tapped 1.25" steel plate which takes the 5/8" motor mount bolt. I welded that to the front crossmember which I "smoothed out" with some strips of 1/4". Your front will of course be different. I ended up cutting 3/4" off the fan blades to clear the upper radiator hose.
Charlie