I'm getting ready to finally install my built 455 into the 85 Regal, and have a few questions after reading the FAQ and similar postings. The transmission is a rebuild turbo 400 with short tail, and I purchased the TA motor mounts and aluminum pads with the holes predrilled. I do not have a crossmember yet, which leads to my questions: 1. Will the G-Force (or Iceman) crossmember bolt directly in with no drilling so I have my transmission in place to begin mounting the engine? I have a spare empty 455 block to mount to the tranny I'm going to use in order to get the motor mounts where they need to be. If I know where the transmission has to go with the crossmember, I'm thinking the pads should go in a little easier than what I've read. Also, should I assume the (3) predilled holes in the pads will not line up with any holes in the frame? 2. I have a 2.5" exhaust system to use, minus the mufflers and tailpipes, and would like some input on which brand/series mufflers sound/work well with the 455. The car will be street driven, the quieter the better, but not too quiet. The car will use the stock exhaust manifolds with ported heads (built to Stage 1 specs). That's it for now, I'm sure I'll have more questions as I progress. Believe it or not its been almost (7) years since I've began this project, and my goal is to get it running this year! Any info is appreciated! Scott
which ta frame pads do you have 68-72 abody? these are the ones i used and no holes lined up .i mocked it up with the stock 350 trans and a spare block and a degree level. marked and drilled holes and adjusted from there the crossmembers are available as far as i know direct bolt ins but i have an earlier crossmember that uses a extention that requires drilling. i also had the stock driveshaft so i could get the trans location by where the rear seal rides on yoke. for mufflers flowmasters are ok if you like loud,i have afterburners which sound like flowmaster knock-offs.if you like quiet go with walker/dynomax super turbos. either way i suggest tailpipes mine is very loud and even with regular muffs it will have a deep moan even idleing. good luck andy
Scott Glad to see that Regal spark your interest again!! Yep the IceMan crossmember will fit just fine, cant remember what year yours is but if is a 82 or earlier you have to have the frame extension. Unfortunately those holes in the frame stands wont line up with anything, have to drill your own, using the iceman crossmember and your eng trans mock-up, and with the frame stands mounted to the engine mounts and mounted on the engine set up the engine where you want it. Once your satisfied, marking their location will be easy ,for visibilty spray a can of light color paint ( I used silver) right over both frame mounts and the frame, let dry , then remove eng mock-up and stands from the car entirely,the outline of the frame stands and those three holes will be quite visible on the frame, and easier to get to, and drill out. The outline shoud help again once you reinstall the frame stands by themselves. A good thing about the exhaust manifolds,they can stay on the eng during the install of the engine, mufflers will be your choice. I run Headers that connect to 2.5" mandrel bent pipes (true duals i might add) with Pit Bull mufflers donated from my Grand National's exhaust , stop in some time to hear it, they aren't deep, but they do rumble tho. :laugh: :bglasses: Hey good luck, hope these answers help some Later
The mounts are from TA Performance, the 68-72 A-body kit. Sounds like I'll need to drill. I got my empty block and tranny bolted together tonight, ready to pull the car in the garage and begin (will be ordering the iceman crossmember this week). Was going through my parts tonight and found the TA composition intake gaskets. I have a new Eldebrock intake which needs to be bolted on, but I'm thinking the valley pan gasket may be the gasket to use instead of the TA gasket. It's been a while since I've researched this, but what's the advantage of the TA gaskets? I still have to use part of the old valley pan to shield the lower part of the intake. Chris - I'll look you up once I get this car going. It should have been running a long time ago, too many distractions over the years! Luckily the car and parts have been stored in a dry garage, and the crank was spun every other month, hoping everything's still ok. Thanks for the info!
where to get the "ice man" cross member I'm in the middle of doing the same thing, only with a 84' t-type. How different is this cross member to the stocker ? :blast:
The stocker is a tube built to withstand about 150 HP and maybe 250 lbs. of torque. With a stout 455, you'll start oblonging holes quick. Plus the new one will accept a dual exhaust and is much stronger. For the $140, it's money well spent.
Hmm, that cross member looks gooood - :TU: If it will fit my 84 t-type and turb 400 tranny I'll have to get one here in the next couple of weeks - How do I get one? :blast:
Just ordered a crossmember from Iceman a few days ago - price looks good! With any luck, once I get the crossmember the car's going into the garage for assembly! Still looking for some insight on mufflers. I visitied the flowmaster web site and sampled the sounds of each series. I like the sound of the super 40 series, but fear it might be a little aggressive for a street car. The 50 series Delta Flow sounds really nice to me so far. Anybody else listen to these sound clips? http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/sound.html
muflers if you want a good sounding muffler thats quiet go wih the super turbo by dynomax as stated before. the flowmasters are nice but much louderand will tend to get annoying after awhile
