So let me get this straight. With what would seem to be an obvious pent up demand and a ready made market, NOBODY makes a bolt in frame pad for this swap? Let me say up front that I have not even worked on a 73-77 Regal with the BBB so I have zero experience with this. Could someone either email some pics to me or post them on here of the problem areas? I understand there are holes in the frame for the factory pads but these don't work for the big block. How is it that these holes are/would be/should be/ so much easier to use if a person could use them on the big block pads? Is there some reason that access can't be gained by drilling all the way through the opposite side of the frame? Perhaps a slightly larger hole to allow an appropriate sized socket? How hard would it be to manufacture pads that work with both the existing frame holes and commonly available big block motor mounts?
I'm no expert here...but it seems that with the last year production of 455s, the holes in the frames for this swap have ceased to appear. What huge frustrations that created when trying to drop that 455 into a '81 Regal!!! Yep, the last resort was to drill my own holes to make it all line up. btw...I did see a Buick 455 in a '68 Imp...dude used modded Chebby mounts...if I run into him again, I'll be sure to take some pics!!!
I've done countless motor swaps(olds to chevy or pontiac to olds...) what I normally do is use the frame mounts out of the donor car to start with. Lots of times I just cut the bolts on the new cars frame mounts and weld in the donor cars mounts once I get the motor and trans where I want them. Sometimes I'm forced to make a set of mounts most often in that case it's due to engine height. Depending on what application the guy is going to use the car I like to build custom motor side motor mounts and use the frame mounts in the car. I make solid for guys that just want to go fast and a good insulated mount for more of a street rig. To me it's alot less work and faster to just build the motor side mount after getting the motor where it needs to be then get a few measurements take some 1/4" flat and a welder and your ready to go.
if yiou are looking for frame mounts for a 73-77 you must get the frame mounts from a 73-74 century or regal with a 455.you cannot use the frame mounts from bigger buicks,motor will sit to high in front.lets not say you cant lets just say it is not correct.very hard to find these mounts by the way,and noone makes them..you can use the bigger buick mount if you cut 3/8 of an inch out of them then they will be the same as the 73-74.i have the bigger ones in my car now and im putting the correct ones in a couple of months.fan will hit schoud at top and also would have to get low air cleaner.trust me ive done this twice.good luck ,Ray ________ FIX PS3
i used stamped steel 72 electra mounts in my 76 special and it bolted up and cleared hood with stock aircleaner/intake
you may have used big buick mounts,but it is not correct,if yiou bolted them to the frame where they were suppose to be bolted motor definetly will sit higher and tip up towards the schoud more.they are exactly 3/8 higher than a 73-74 century frame mount.i will post pictures and yiou can see for yourself,not saying they wont work,anything will work,maybe just weld them on the frame and eyeball how motor sits in the cradle.hope your not off so as to have a small vibration when your done.use correct mounts then everything lines up. Ray ________ Landlords Insurance Dicussion
frame pads I have a set brand new of 455 frame pads and motor mounts for sale in the parts for sale section as well as many other 455 items needed like 1975 valve covers.
