i recently swapped out my 350 in a 1971 el camino for a 396 out a 1968 chevy c10 and now the power steering pump is hitting the steering box, i was wondering if anyody makes some custom brackets for this application.
thanks,
Chris

Did you use the brackets from the truck? I think they have the box on the outside of the frame if i remember right. If not, they are definbately wider than a chevelle frame. Try to find some from a chevelle,camaro,nova,ect. You can buy them new if you have to.

You probably just need the correct brackets for the car with a big block.

i used the original brackets from the truck, i was told that i might need to move the engine back about 4 inches.

The truck would have the short water pump set up with a remote reservoir for the power steering pump mounted to the core support. It should all fit if using the correct remote reservoir type pump.

A better set up is the long water pump, brackets and pulleys from a 69 - 72. The belts are shorter, the alternator is on the passenger side instead of hanging over the drivers side valve cover.

I would not seek any advice from the person that told you to move the engine back 4" :rolleyes:

i used the original brackets from the truck, i was told that i might need to move the engine back about 4 inches.

you do not need to move the engine back at all. the big blocks and small blocks have the motor mount bosses the same distance from the tranny so they should go onto the same mounts. not sure if 69-up need different frame mounts btu i`ve seen people mount big blocks on small block frame mounts before. like was said, just get the correct brackets for your car and you`ll be fine.

64Elcamino touched on something I was going to mention also. 68 trucks were a short waterpump application. Your El Camino would have been a long waterpump engine if it were a big block.

So in that case. I would run all long waterpump brackets and replace the pump with a long water pump to accomidate it.

i talked to a guy who did the same swap and he said he had to move the frame mounts back a little bit.

I really don`t think you need to move the motor back at all. Does the motor fit on the frame mounts? Is it just the pwr steering that doesn`t fit? Think about this, if you move the motor back, you`ll have to move the tranny crossmenber back and probably have to shorten the driveshaft. If the motor fits fine and it`s just your acc. brackets then just get the right brackets. Don`t make more work for yourself. OPGI sells a bigblock pwr steering bracket set up as well as other companies adn you can find them used on ebay all day long.

i talked to a guy who did the same swap and he said he had to move the frame mounts back a little bit.
He may have moved them, but he certainly did not have to. If you move the motor back, then you have to move the transmission back, then the linkage will not work, the cooling lines will be to short and the driveshaft will be to long.

With the right accessory brackets everything will fit correctly, even using the small block motor mounts.

edit>Hey Anthony I guess you can type faster than I can :D

edit>Hey Anthony I guess you can type faster than I can :D

thats funny cuz usually everyone else beats me to the punch. at least we are giving him the same info and not sending him in several directions.