LS Adapter Plates .....Be Careful!

[IMPALA MAN]

Bet few if any knew. Very simple pieces right? We have all thought they were simple enough to make ourselves, right. You can't get them wrong....right?

If you look closer, you will see that the plate has four holes (in a perfect rectangle) that bolt directly to the LS Engine. They also have one hole that goes through the Factory SBC or BBC engine mount and into the LS Block.
The remaining two holes in the SBC or BBC mount, bolt to threaded holes in the plate.
Did you know you can bolt it in......

This way (single bolt on the SBC or BBC mount at the top)
http://www.autopartsdb.net/assets/im...g/A/AT1003.JPG

Or this way......(single bolt on the bottom)
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/wp-...%20(Small).JPG

So what's the big deal right?
When you install the plates with the two bolts to the top, the engine sets a little over 2" LOWER than the other way.
This and all of the different heights of factory engine mounts and stands may explain why it seems so hard to get headers, oil pans, steering boxes and other things to fit in these swaps.
The solution,
1. Find out what the product (headers, oil pan, etc.) was built around before generating a headache.
2. Read the instructions on the plates.....if there are any?
REMEMBER: THIS HOBBY IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

[GregWeld]

Good post!!!!


Simple is not always simple.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Im not a big fan of.....you gotta buy all my "stuff" to make it right. And bolt on isn't really a bolt on for "EVERYONE". There are so many different cars and believe it or not, not all of there are exactly the same. Just because it works on X car doesn't necessarily means its going to work on F car. You would be surprised how many builds we get in the shop where we had to make a few changes even though we are using the exact same parts and its the same year and model car.

We make a motor adapter plate but you have to do the work to make things fit. Most of my customers know this or it is explained to them. This is one of the reasons its not on my site for sale. Fortunately we have enough projects to use them on so we are slowly generating a menu of compatible parts. One day we will make our own engine frame stands to compliment off the shelf parts. IE: for use with average joe headers and factory oil pans.

If you want perfect engine placement, drive line angles, hood and header clearance you gotta do some research, planning and some modifying.

[Jr]

Good post.

I can't remember the last time a "bolt on" part actually bolted on with no modification.

[CamaroMike]

Yeah made my own and had to do some modifications on some crazy things.

I tell people all the time, every time you change something on a car there always seems to be some kind of reaction. For example, "bolt on" headers then having to add bungs for emissions, o2 sensors etc.. Then it really needs to be tuned for the headers, it goes on and on. New cars are just as bad if not worse than old cars

[IndyNova]

To add my .02, last fall when I began my ls swap into my 69 Nova, I bought a set of hooker plates that utilized a standard small block motor mount. My car had a late model 5.7 sbc and had the "clam shell" mounts. I took those off and used sbc towers and mounts. Put the motor in, everything fit great....until I went to buy headers. Found out the mounts I had wouldn't work with what I had- same header company that made the plates-I had to buy a new set of mounts that use the clam shell mounts. so long story short, had a done the research, I could've bought it all at once and not had to pull the motor back out to put new mounts on. Lesson learned I guess

[rickpaw]

Originally Posted by IMPALA MAN

So what's the big deal right?
When you install the plates with the two bolts to the top, the engine sets a little over 2" LOWER than the other way.

Yup. That's correct. I had initially installed the plates with the two bolts to the top, and the headers (Dynatech) were hanging too low with DSE LS motor mounts. I scraped the driveway every time. Flipped the plates around (two bolts to the bottom), and gained all the clearance I needed.

Before.



After

[Blake Foster]

And this is why we came up with our LS install kits. Frame stands, motor mounts, adaptor plates, Oil Pan, Headers. And matching T56 install parts. we fit the parts, we know they work, with the max ground clearance, best possible drive line angles, (without completely reengineering the floor)

http://www.speedtechperformance.com/...cat/cat142.htm

We have them for first and second gen Camaro's 64-72 A Bodies, 68-72 Novas

we also have the Fly By Wire gas peddle mounts in the works that will be added to the LS install kits.

Oh and all the parts to specifically work with the LS TRUTURN steering system

[boostin05blacks]

This may be the reason why my dynatechs are hanging so low. To think I've fought with this for over 2 years. I go back and check my posts from when I did this a long time ago and the mounts are 2 bolts up. Ill be messing with this soon enough to see if it fixes some of the issues Ive been having. Thank you for sharing!

[IndyNova]

I tried flipping my mounts over and it wouldn't sit down on the frame stand due to the ridge on the mount. Did u guys just cut that section off to get it to clear?