I have a 78 chevy pickup that I dropped a 455 in a few months ago. It really moves good, but im looking for a little bit more. I plan on a bigger cam, bigger stall, TA SP1 intake, and would like to use the T/A competition headers, but I don't know if they will fit. Has anyone ever done such a swap, or know if these headers or another brand will fit? Thanks in advance.
Can you give me a Idea on what parts (engine/frame mounts) are needed and how does it clear the sterring box? Thanks Dan
Check out this thread; http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19341 Mine is a 1 ton and I think it's the same as a 3/4 ton, but the 1/2 ton is different.
Swap Info The swap was really pretty easy. My main goal was to get the motor to sit as far back as I could for good weight transfer since I intend to drag race this pickup. I used motor mounts that fit a 1974 electra. I had them in the shop, so I decided to use them. The mounts on the motor side are rubber, so I fabricated solid mounting points on the frame using a piece of 3 inch tubing with holes drilled in it for the rubber mount that I cut down until the motor sat as low as it could without the oil pan rubbing the crossmember, or the crank pulley rubbing on the swaybar. i tacked the fabbed up frame mounts in place, and went to work on the transmission mount. It turned out that there were already holes drilled in the perfect location for the crossmember when I used my long tailhousing 400 trans. I put in a B&M quarter stick shifter, so i didnt have to mess with the column shift linkage. I used a driveshaft out of a 74 chevelle malibu, and it fit perfect since my pickup is a short box. I run electric fans on the front instead of messing with a mechanical fan. My power steering pump hit the frame, possibly because i set the motor so low, so I just junked the power box and installed a manual one. My oil filter assembly cleared the frame just barely, and didn't have to do any mods there. I swapped in a ford 9 inch rear axle too out of a late 70s Ford Thunderbird. It was the same width as my stock axle, and has the right 5 on 5 bolt pattern. All I had to do was add spring and shock mounts, and i fabbed up a set of traction bars for it too. Its a good swap, well worth the effort. If you have any more questions, just ask.
