81 Monte

[amishbuggy]

I am working on a project car. 1981 Monte (body off and gutted),I have a 500 caddy w/350 tranny that I want to install.

We have the engine mount kit and tranny kit from this site, although the install instuction are quite vague (for the motor mounts).

My ? is how far back can I place the motor, I would like to get it as far back as possible and then fab the body to fit.

Like I said this is a project car and I would like to get the motor and tranny placement done first so that I can build everything else around it.

Thank you :?:

[Montiac]

I've done this swap but I didn't use the stock motor mounts. I fabbed up an engine & mid plate.The engine must be placed back as far as possible(almost touching the fire wall).for better weight distribution. The steering column will have to be moved over some as well. You'll have to fab up a set of headers too. Try Hooker Supercomps #2241 (there made for a BBC swap) and use AL's flanges. I've attached a pic,hope it helps..

[Montiac]

I've done this swap but I didn't use the stock motor mounts. I fabbed up an engine & mid plate.The engine must be placed back as far as possible(almost touching the fire wall).for better weight distribution. The steering column will have to be moved over some as well. You'll have to fab up a set of headers too. Try Hooker Supercomps #2241 (there made for a BBC swap) and use AL's flanges. I've attached a pic,hope it helps..
BTW I wouldn't use a 350,won't live to long behind a 500 unless you baby it!. Make sure engine ,trans & rear is squared.....And use a Ford 9" it's the strongest, lightest and you can swap gears easy.

[amishbuggy]

Thanks Montiac,

Your photo is just what I'm going for, but your talking a little to fast for me.

This may be alot to ask, but if you could detail the mounts for me, that would be great.

F.Y.I., this project was started by my son, who, lost interest in it about 6 months ago, so I thought that I would finish it.
What I have is a block(+.40), crank & heads fresh from the machine shop, the rest of the motor is in boxes in the shop and a 350 tranny.

Once I get the mounting figured out I can fab everything around it and then I can bug you guys about building this 500 and tranny.

Thank you very much

[dave_brode]

amishbuggy,

Fwiw, I'd center the caddy fan in a stock shroud, in case you ever want to run an engine driven fan. Just hang the trans on the crossmember, level the engine side to side, and build mounts as needed . Don't fret the front to rear angle. It's not a big issue. If you'll run a GM rear, locate the trans output C/L 1/2" toward pass side from C/L of the car, as the drivetrain offset in GM cars is 1/2".

Fyi - nothing wrong with a 9", but afaik, a '72 or older GM midsize rear will fit the car. Other here may know exactly what's needed as far as wheel offset, etc. A 12 bolt would be nice, but the 8.5" corporate 10 bolt rear is a very good rear. Most ''70-'72 olds, and *maybe* pontiac 8.5s have bolt in axles [no c-clips]. Unlike the 12 bolt, the 8.5" rears use same gears in both cars and trucks, even the front diff in 4wd trucks. The 3.42-1 ratio is quite common in trucks, and would suit a mildly built 500 in a monte perfectly, imo.

I would avoid the older 8.2" 10 bolts, both bop and chev versions. They are not tough enough. I would also not use the TH350. Although it could be built to survive, a TH400 will be cheaper in long run. I certainly would not spend money on the TH350 to use it. You'll be re-spending at some point.
Dave



<We have the engine mount kit and tranny kit from this site, although the install instuction are quite vague (for the motor mounts).

My ? is how far back can I place the motor, I would like to get it as far back as possible and then fab the body to fit.

[Montiac]

amishbuggy,

Fwiw, I'd center the caddy fan in a stock shroud, in case you ever want to run an engine driven fan. Just hang the trans on the crossmember, level the engine side to side, and build mounts as needed . Don't fret the front to rear angle. It's not a big issue. If you'll run a GM rear, locate the trans output C/L 1/2" toward pass side from C/L of the car, as the drivetrain offset in GM cars is 1/2".

Fyi - nothing wrong with a 9", but afaik, a '72 or older GM midsize rear will fit the car. Other here may know exactly what's needed as far as wheel offset, etc. A 12 bolt would be nice, but the 8.5" corporate 10 bolt rear is a very good rear. Most ''70-'72 olds, and *maybe* pontiac 8.5s have bolt in axles [no c-clips]. Unlike the 12 bolt, the 8.5" rears use same gears in both cars and trucks, even the front diff in 4wd trucks. The 3.42-1 ratio is quite common in trucks, and would suit a mildly built 500 in a monte perfectly, imo.

I would avoid the older 8.2" 10 bolts, both bop and chev versions. They are not tough enough. I would also not use the TH350. Although it could be built to survive, a TH400 will be cheaper in long run. I certainly would not spend money on the TH350 to use it. You'll be re-spending at some point.
Dave



<We have the engine mount kit and tranny kit from this site, although the install instuction are quite vague (for the motor mounts).

My ? is how far back can I place the motor, I would like to get it as far back as possible and then fab the body to fit.
You know me Dave..Always overdoing.........LOL

[Montiac]

Thanks Montiac,

Your photo is just what I'm going for, but your talking a little to fast for me.

This may be alot to ask, but if you could detail the mounts for me, that would be great.

F.Y.I., this project was started by my son, who, lost interest in it about 6 months ago, so I thought that I would finish it.
What I have is a block(+.40), crank & heads fresh from the machine shop, the rest of the motor is in boxes in the shop and a 350 tranny.

Once I get the mounting figured out I can fab everything around it and then I can bug you guys about building this 500 and tranny.

Thank you very much

NO problem.....I seem to over do everything.....Lol
If you got the mount kit from AL,give him a call.I seem to remember something about the Caddy engine sits futher back in the G-body chassis,that's the reason for the flat stock...Hope it helps.....

[dave_brode]

Hi John,

Montiac"]amishbuggy,
You know me Dave..Always overdoing.........LOL

LOL. Yes, but in your case, overkill is just right. Can't wait until you open some eyes with that chassis and caddy power.
Dave

p.s. - anybody save the 8.5" swap and wheel offset info from Cooke?

[amishbuggy]

Thanks for the replies, I'll be sharpening some bits (with my new DD750 that I got for fathers day) and doing some cutting, drilling and welding.
I'll post some pics of the project a little later.

Again, Thank you

[Joel Nystrom]

AmishBuggy,

You might want to check out my online photo album about putting a 500 into an 81 ElCamino. I think you will find some helpful hints. :)

Just click on the link below:

http://public.fotki.com/hemijoel/elcamino/

[DOC]

Hey Joel,

That is a very cool set of pictures. I really like your column shift mods. One suggestion though, a little less speed over the speed bumps. :lol: :lol: :lol:

DOC

[Joel Nystrom]

....One suggestion though, a little less speed......
DOC

A little less speed??? I don't understand the concept? :lol:

I'm glad you liked the pics!

[DV8]

Dave, I have most of the info from Mike Cooke.....

Its at home in my Project X binder.... :twisted:

A 12 bolt from a '70 A-body will bolt right into a G-body, by the way. Use 9" rims with 5.5" offset, that's about the most you can fit without major surgery. I am currently using 8" rims with 4.5" offset.

[cadfor]

hey Joel,

I like the pictures of your car, nicely documented and it looks great. I have 2 questions How is the 700r4 holding up to the 500? and how well does the motor work when it goes into od?

You seem to have done what is not normally done and was wondering how it's working for you. That is the 700 behind a 500.

thankz

[Joel Nystrom]

I like the 700 trans, it has worked out pretty well. It has a deep 1st gear and a big spread between gears. The 500 is so torky that it loves eating up those big rpm drops when it shifts, and the overdrive is a dream on the highway. I don't even drop out of overdrive when passing.
I did have some problems at first. The trans was pretty close to stock and it failed. So I had it beefed up with all the best stuff, now it holds up fine. I started out with a tci Holeshot converter, and it stalled to high to work good on the street with the 500. So I put in an almost stock lockup converter, and that works good. The tranny builder rigged it up so there is no electronics for the lock up. It just locks up at about 45 mph. I have had to fiddle with the shift points, and I still have a problem with it wanting to drop out of overdrive when I step on it to hard, regardless of the mph.

One slow day at the dragstrip I put on 49 passes. And the tranny is still fine after 35000 miles.

[cadfor]

Thanks for the information. I'm thinking on giving 700 a try except I may us a 3.5 or 3.7 rear gear. Thanks again for your info.

[Vern]

You might also consider and compare the 2004R. But I would nix em both if it is for a drag only vehicle or a heavy truck or something.

[cadfor]

Thanks, it's going in a 2900# street rod, it will see the track but not as a living, just to air out :lol: