So with the old engine gone it was time to get things cleaned up and ready for what (at the time) was planned to be a “simple” engine swap. Mary dove in head first to tidy things up…
but then, after some always dangerous thinking, talking, and planning we came to the decision that if there was ever a time to do a sub swap – it was now. There had always been a list of reasons not to do it but with the new front sheetmetal most of those reasons were gone. A huge part of the decision making process surrounded the factory “dry sump” oiling system. In stepping things up a notch there were some avenues we looked in to to add a scavenge stage to the oil system. None of them, however, would work with a stock subframe without a significant amount of cutting. Couple that with the need for a subframe for my other ’67 and I eventually convinced myself to do it.
After some talking with a couple of vendors I wound up working a deal with Art Morrison Enterprises to build a slightly custom subframe. The tweaks we requested were pretty minor and AME accommodated them without hesitation and a week later it was in the shop and off to powder.
I know that you’re supposed to mock everything up and do all of the little work before committing to power coating but in this instance I just didn’t have the time to “waste”. With only a short travel fuse to work with we needed to have everything together for an all out thrash over the weekend.
Parts were ordered
and we were off!