I know this thread is old and dead, but I have to comment on a few things. First John Ligenfelter or however you spell his last name had a twin turbo trans am @ 298mph with about 1300 hp. So the 1600hp guy is just an idiot. Secondly, thirdgens are unibodys no seperate frame and body. Finally, tell me everything you know about the frame mounts and engine mounts for this swap please.
Well since I don't plan to take this car over 200mph I should be ok... The motor mounts I used were TA Performance 1820CC engine mount kit. It comes with frame pads and engine mounts and they're made for mounting a 400-430-455 into a `68-`72 GS/Skylark or `76-`87 Regal. I just put them on the engine and dropped the tranny and engine assem in place and tried over and over to get everything straight and when I got close enough I drilled holes in the frame for the pads and bolted them in place. I then fabricated my own transmission mount which you can see in the pictures on my site. If I had more money I would have bought the Spohn torque arm+cross member http://www.spohn.net/product.cfm?productid=1301 for mounting a th-400 into a 3rd gen. Then I would have bolted the tranny in place 1st and went off it's position for the motor mounts. After I got everything in I took measurements and had a custom length driveshaft made for it.
Thank you. I am planning on using the stock 700R4 with a BOP adapter and its staying in the car. I had already scoped out your website as I have been researching this for a few days. I am about 90% sure that I will be buying a 74 455 out of an estate wagon. It will require a rebuild from what I understand, but I am getting it for about 200 dollars. If this is a bad move someone please tell me now. I understand its a smog engine, but I have heard I can use 70 heads and high compression pistons to fix that.
