Within the next two weeks, I'll be dropping my 632 C.I. engine in my 70 SS clone. According to all the measurements I've taken, it's gonna be a real tight squeeze, and it's just too close to call. I think that I'll be able to fit everything under the stock 70 cowl hood ( just barely!) but the deep oil pan that I have on this engine might end up presenting some problems with the steering linkage clearence.

The pan isn't any problem where the sump is in the rear, but because this engine has a 4.75" stroke, the front of the pan had to made deeper to clear the crankshaft and the connecting rod caps. So incase the steering center link gets in the way, does anyone know of any place that sells custom center links for GM A-bodies that provide more clearence for big oil pans?

to the top for a good question

Howe Racing makes a stock-replacement center link with dropped-center for engine clearance: http://www.howeracing.com/Steering/Index-Steering-Centerlinks.htm

Warning: You will need to cut the front of your crossmember for clearance.

i wonder if that drag link works with the rest of stock parts-i am putting a gen 3 engine in a 69, and the tie rods hit the pan, i heated up the pitman arm and idler and bent them a little to lower the d/l, and cut out part of the frame, and was gonna weld in a patch, might look at their d/l

I believe it will work with stock tie-rod ends, but you may want to call first to verify.