Leaderboard

I hit a mental roadblock for the last several weeks trying to figure out how I was going to support the engine. This is one of those moments where it would've been awesome doing a swap on a framed trucked because the support likely would've remained 100% intact. Instead, removing the subframe and trying to replicate the OE positions ends up being a massive pain. There are just way too many constraints. The left and right side mounts positions on the subframe aren't in symmetrical positions, and they're angled, and with the way the motor is slung up, it's impossible to know where the original position was to feel comfortable enough piecing something together while underneath. I had spent some time early in the project mapping all the distances and angles off the subframe, but even after CADing their positions, it was still difficult figuring out how to place them on the truck. Passenger chassis rail has too many parts around it to comfortably weld onto, and driver side, while wide open, has other design constraints I need to work around (like placement of the upper panhard mount). And then on top of everything, just trying to keep things serviceable (like having the mount supports detachable to make replacing the motor mounts easier in the future, as opposed to fixed mounts on the chassis and trying to lift the engine 2"+ higher). So, last Wednesday I had the day off and was staring at things again and just decided to chop up the subframe to see if I could use the arms off it, since it'd effectively retain all the OE positioning. It seemed promising, and spent the weekend trying to make it work. Basic plan (for now) was to lop off the front subframe mount and build a new plate to attach to the arm. It also needed to incorporate the mount for a bumpstop (cheapies from GM applications). The RH arm is basically done, but I wrapped the weekend by fitting it to the truck and haven't gotten more pics of it yet. LH arm below, just to give an idea of the starting point. I started on the RH side because it had less constraints. New front mount in place and welded up. Need to add a gusset in there above the bumpstop. The little piece of metal between the arm and chassis rail is a disc with a tube sleeve welded on. It'll get welded to the rail, and also in the wheel well so that I can put a bolt through it and tighten it against the rail for additional support. I may add one more sleeve and bolt towards the rear, not sure yet. Right now I've left the rear subframe mount alone, but am planning to replace with plate steel and add provisions for a crossmember (basically restoring a missing link). It'll also add more support to the arms for the motor. One major advantage of this approach will be on the driver's side. The flat underside will give me real estate for the panhard mount. Since the driver's side chassis rail will get a lot more plating for the steering box, it should make for a pretty solid mounting option.

Hey, that's what I did! Y'all make me feel like I might actually be doing things the right way sometimes!