BBC motor mount question
 

I am in the middle of building my 69 Camaro and I pulled the motor (BBC) over the weekend to begin stripping/smoothing the firewall and noticed that whoever owned the car before me used a hammer to dent the firewall in enough to allow the distributor to clear. (Denting it big-time!)

The car was originally a small block car. So I am wondering, why he would have needed to do that to make it fit. Even now, with the "hammer adjustment" the distributor is super tight to the firewall. Does it sound like he used the wrong motor mount perches or could it be something else? Do BBC motor mounts move the motor forward compared to small block mounts?

Thanks,
Mike

they're usually dented for HEI clearance when someone adds that distributor to the car. The factory big block frame pads move the engine slightly forward and about an inch to the passenger side.

I have a '69 Camaro with a 454 and the large HEI distributor and I did not have to dent in my firewall. I have about 3/8" of clearance between the firewall and distributor. I used NOS/original 69 Camaro BB Frame mounts(3980941 L, 3980942 R) and motor mounts(old # 3990918, new # 3962748). Your issue is definitely the motor/frame mounts. The NOS mounts also move the engine slightly(maybe 1/2") to the passenger side to provide more room for the exhaust header to steering box clearance.

I bet it has small block motor mounts. I'm not to proud to say that I used a block of wood and a sledge hammer on my 1968 Yeller Camaro when I was 18 to get an hei to fit my 355. :lol:

My big block now is installed with 302/350 mounts to center the driveline and my msd distributor is snug but servicable. No way an hei would fit.

Not to thread jack but...

Todd, are you running the big block or small block radiator support?

I ended up sourcing 3 different sets of frame mounts to take to the fab shop for my build. I need to check but I'm pretty sure Dan ended up using the small block mounts to center the driveline. After committing to the T-56 and the accompanying tunnel mods it wasn't a huge issue. I haven't gotten far enough yet to know about other clearance issues though, e.g. distributor, fan shroud, etc.

Thanks, guys. I'll order the new mounts now.

They also may have mounted the engine further aft. This was done to my car before I put my BBC back to the original location. No clearance problems

Small block, I have to take off my alternator and A/C nose cones to drop my radiator into place with the fan shroud connected. It would be seriously tight with big block mounts.

Mike, make sure you get the frame stands as that's your problem. www.pozziracing.com has the motor mount numbers.

I will, Todd. Thanks. Once I get things going, maybe you can come by and check out the build.

Sounds good Mike. What part of town do you live in?