Today I tried dropping my fresh 1974 454 into my 69 which previously held a straight six. I did my homework and have the correct frame mounts, and hung the headers in the engine bay before hoisting in the motoer. However, when it came down to lowering the motor into place, I was unable to get the pan behind the crossmember. I have a kickout pan that measures 7 3/4 from the block to the bottom. It measures about 10 inches across, and I can't seem to get the engine back far enough to drop the pan behind the crossmember. The only thing I haven't tried is pulling the trans out. I think it is a Moroso pan, but I'm not sure # "26729" or "20729". My engine builder put the pan on for me and is away on vacation this week. I can email pictures if someone can post them. Thanks for any advise in advance.

Do the motor mounts line up from the motor to the frame?

If not, you may have to remove the trans to move it back byut that is usually not right unless you have used the 6 cylinder stuff?????? Is the engine hitting the trans when you have it at the point where the pan is hitting the cross member?

I put big block fram stand in the car, they look like they will line up, but I can't get the motor back far enough because the pan will not drop in. The back of the motor is up against the trans.

I have a Moroso pan with kickouts on either side, was able to drop it in with the trans in the car, but it almost had to drop straight down to do it, real tight fit. I dont think I could install it with the trans bolted to the motor because it had to drop so straight down behind the crossmember.

Did you change the trans from a glide to any kind of TH? If so the trans mounts are different and that may be causing the trans to be too far forward.

Yes, I canged it from a PG to a TH400, and moved the trans mount. I was actally running the car with the six cylinder, and the th400 for short time. The trenas extends about 2 1/2 - 3 inches past the firewall. Is this too far?

Neither number you list show any related product from Moroso. The kicked out pans for a Chevelle are listed here with dimensions:

http://www.moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?catcode=11902

I have used the 20403 on a 68 and a 71 with success.

This is the pan number that worked for me in my 69; MOR-20403. I installed the engine (BB) with McLeod scattershield and TKO 600 all bolted together. I had the car upp in the air about a foot on stands, stood the engine almost on its end and it slid right in. I did this by myself with no damage to the firewall. I had another pan that would not work, the engine hit on the steering and it sat on the crossmember. Hope this helps. Edd

Heres my moroso pan. I had to notch the cross member to make room.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2097000-2097999/2097761_92_full.jpg

thanks for the link. My pan actualy measures 10 3/4 where the 20413 is 8 3/4 and the 20406 is 8 13/16. I think this is the problem area.

Wow Scott, I think that is what I would have to cut out of mine to make it fit !!

unbolt the crossmember, there should be some flat area on the frame rails so it can slide back a little. That might let you get the engine in on the mounts. then pull the tranny up to the engine, get a couple of the bottom bolts tight. You might find the crossmember lined up on a different set of holes in the frame or it can be drilled. It';s possible or even likely the 6-cyl crossmember is different. 6's weren't sold with TH400s so it's likely there's some kind of mismatch there.

I'd get a better/different pan before hacking up the front crossmember. Chevelles are already a little weak there, that's why the cars sometimes need an offset shaft in the upper a-arms to get the front end aligned.

Thanks guys. I keep you posted.

Scotts looks like the infamous Milodon gold anodizing. The front corners of my kickouts are cut off to fit behind the crossmember. I'm with Tom, get a new pan vs. cutting the front crossmember.

Jegs and Summit do not have the Moroso 20406 that Jeff linked me to for my Gen 4 motor, so may have to go with a stocker....

The Mark IV 454 uses the 20403, 20401 from Moroso and they are available:

MOR-20403 (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MOR%2D20403&N=700+0&autoview=sku)

The link is the pan I have on my Blown 540 and what is currently riding around in Old Blue.

Okay I called Summit and they said call them in AM and they will get their purchasing dept on it if you want one of the 20406s
1-800-230-3030

I like this pan. Maybe the 3/4 of an inch that my pan is longer in sump length, than this one will make the difference?

unbolt the crossmember, there should be some flat area on the frame rails so it can slide back a little. That might let you get the engine in on the mounts. then pull the tranny up to the engine, get a couple of the bottom bolts tight. You might find the crossmember lined up on a different set of holes in the frame or it can be drilled. It';s possible or even likely the 6-cyl crossmember is different. 6's weren't sold with TH400s so it's likely there's some kind of mismatch there.

I'd get a better/different pan before hacking up the front crossmember. Chevelles are already a little weak there, that's why the cars sometimes need an offset shaft in the upper a-arms to get the front end aligned.


Tom is correct. The TH400 requires a different location of the cross member on the frame rails. Nearly all Chevelles are drilled for the different locations. It locates further back. About 2" if I remember correctly.

So remove the trans cross member, and put the engine in on the mounts. Jack the back of the trans up and connect the trans mount to the k-member. Set it all back down and see if there are holes in the frame that match up. If not, you will have to drill them.

The pan should fit the front k-member under the engine.

Ron

The Mark IV 454 uses the 20403, 20401 from Moroso and they are available:

MOR-20403 (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MOR%2D20403&N=700+0&autoview=sku)

The link is the pan I have on my Blown 540 and what is currently riding around in Old Blue.



This is the pan I used on my 67. You need to have the front corners of the pan angled like this. Way preferable to cutting the crossmember, IMHO. I also had to put the trans in separately, and drop the engine almost straight doen.
John

I had to cut down mine and re-weld a notch in for the pan on my 502 to fit.

I didn't have to do any cutting in my car. With the 20403 pan and a stock bellhousing I was able to slide the engine in with the trans in place. With the ultra bell the extra thickness of the bellhousing made it that I had to remove the trans to get it in.

After giving it another try today, I would definitely have to angle the front corners of the pan, and even then it would be a very tight fit, that I'm not happy with. I'm think I'm going for the Moroso 20406 which has a 8 13/16 sump length, but I have to special order it and wait a few weeks. My other option is to go with a stock Moroso 20449 zinc pan. This is a street car with a once a year trip to the track. Do you all think a stocker will do the trick?

if you don't have a HV pump stocker will work fine. If you do have an HV pump it can get iffy on the top end of the 1/4. LS-6 Chevelles came with a warranty., no HV pump.