Alright, got some time this evening to wrench on the car and made some good progress! Got several big items checked off my "to do" list for the weekend...
First, I got the grommets installed for my engine harness:

Next, I got the engine and trans set down in the car. Let me tell you, there's just barely enough room to get that thing in there with the setback engine mounts! 1.5" doesn't sound like much but that's just about the difference in the motor/trans fitting and not fitting. Thankfully, the trans crossmember fit like a champ. I need to drill one trans mount hole that didn't line up but overall, I'm real happy. I got the crossmember from Bowler at a deal because it had some powder coating chipped on it. I fully expected to have to modify it as they said it was for a big block/6 speed combo.

Here's a shot of the clearance between the firewall and motor...apologies for the poor lighting, it was about 10:30 at night...the DSE headers fit well; as they should!

Here's a shot of the front showing the clearance you have with the Mast oil pan. I've been happy with my decision there. You've gotta be sure to get the matching dipstick, though. One other item of note is to be dang sure you follow their instructions and clean that thing thoroughly, it was covered in grit from the casting process. You definitely don't want that stuff getting in your engine.

Here's a shot from the side showing the clearance of both the oil pan and the DSE headers. I'm extremely happy with that. No more worrying about dragging headers on speed bumps, etc. it's a little hard to see in detail but the header tubes are actually about an inch or more above the bottom of the oil pan. You can see them in the pic just above the drain plug. They also sit about an inch or two above the subframe rails so there's literally nothing hanging down. It doesn't appear as such, but that shot was actually straight on from the side.

I don't know any combination that's gonna give you better ground clearance than that!

Just a gratuitous engine shot😬

Yet another shameless pic of the engine...I've got a Holley Mid-Mount accessory drive kit that's been on back order but it's supposed to ship first of next week.

those front tires are monsters, killer stance :thumbsup:

That's all kinds of sexy. :thankyou:

Simply Awesome !!!


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