C10 Motor/Frame Mounts

[1967Ragtop]

Good Afternoon and Hello,
This is my first post and I'm a new member so hopefully this will make sense. I just purchased an 84 shortbed that was sold as a Choo Choo Custom. Unfortunately the previous owners blew up the motor, replaced it with another one, and made plenty of "repairs" to it in the past. My goal is to return it to a pretty much stock form and I've already run into the first roadblock. I swear the motor, an 80-85 350 according to the casting number on the back edge, is sitting too low in the frame. I went to install a 7 blade factory fan/clutch assembly where a small flex fan used to be, and it won't fit inside the shroud assembly. The shroud is a typical two piece unit, the same exact one that is on my 87 K10 truck. It fits the rad nicely and bolts right up to the brackets attached to the rad support. The fan blades hit the bottom of it and there must be a good 2.5 inch gap between the top of the blades and the upper inside part of the shroud. I also noticed the power steering pump is really low...most of it is tucked beneath the top of the frame rail and it looks too close to the main crank pulley. Did GM use different motor mounts, engine brackets, or frame brackets for different years or for different motors? Because this thing is just not right. Any advice or pictures of what it should look like would be great.
Thanks,
Mark

 

[Ricko1966]

Welcome,good intro. Thanks. Make sure no one has installed a body lift on it. That will throw the fan center off. All kinds of possibilities I suppose on mounts if someone just grabbed any old mounts out of their junk drawer from,a monte,a camaro etc. But if they are using common gas truck mounts there's just 2 flavors Big block and small block. Big block mounts on a small block should have you sitting 3/4 inch 2 low not 2 inches.

 

[1967Ragtop]

I just compared this to my 87 and I bet they are a good 1" off from each other and the 87 is totally stock. This shortbed has been cobbled together over the years, 350 instead of a 305...vortec heads...turbo 350 instead of a 400 (I think), and I have no confidence they have the proper tranny mount installed. The power steering pump has a homemade bracket on it so it's surely not where it should be. Right now I bet they used big block mounts which I guess would lower the snout of the motor and if they put the wrong tranny mount /crossmember in it that might tip the front even lower. I won't even get to the number of "Extra" electrical connections I see dangling in the air.

So, here's a follow up question. Are the brackets that connect the frame to the center crossmember the same for C10's regardless of motor size? I hope so and I'm counting on that being the case. Maybe they have multiple spots where you coan bolt mounts? What about the rubberized mounts that bolt to them? And finally, the brackets that bolt to the block...are they motor specific? I do see different rubberized mounts listed for sbc and bbc so I guess that pretty much answers that question, but I'm trying to figure out what to purchase this weekend when I go to Fall Carlisle.
Thanks in Advance,
Mark

 

[ali_c20]

Welcome from Austria. The C10 Engine brackets or perches on the frame are the same for the V8 engines. What is the angle of the engine/transmission in the frame?
The Th350 /Th400 have different mounting locations, if the PO just swapped it in and used what he found the angle could be off and that also effects the position of the fan.

 

[1967Ragtop]

I'm 99% sure the trans is not in the right spot either so that certainly could be making things worse. Just looking at it you can tell somethings off. I think I'm going to order new mounts and see if I can get my hands on a set of small block engine brackets this weekend. Then I'll look over the tans mounting. I don't want to waste too much time on that because I plan on putting a 700R4 in early next spring.

 

[Sad Sack]

...don't forget to add pics! Guys here get testy if no pics of your Square, Lol.

 

[Sad Sack]

You are using the "clamshell" style mount right?

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[1967Ragtop]

To be honest, I don't really know what's in there right now, but I bet they are not the right parts for this truck. I do plan on pulling the mounts and brackets out soon. If I can get my hands on a set of used engine brackets this weekend, ones that are for sure the correct ones, I'll be happy. Then I'll order a new set of mounts. Hopefully I will see a clear difference when I compare those things to the ones in the truck. Like I said, the previous owner slapped this thing together using a bunch of random parts.

 

[1967Ragtop]

To be honest, I don't really know what's in there right now, but I bet they are not the right parts for this truck. I do plan on pulling the mounts and brackets out soon. If I can get my hands on a set of used engine brackets this weekend, ones that are for sure the correct ones, I'll be happy. Then I'll order a new set of mounts. Hopefully I will see a clear difference when I compare those things to the ones in the truck. Like I said, the previous owner slapped this thing together using a bunch of random parts.

 

[1967Ragtop]

Here are a few photos of my new ride. Ever hear of a Choo Choo Custom? Let's just say the 80's should stay in the 80"s, but I love the Square Body Chevys.

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[Grit dog]

The up fitter package has nothing to do with the drivetrain. That was just bngs, chachkis and probably some gaudy wood trim and a center console that should have stayed in a shaggin wagon conversion van.
You have another truck to measure stuff from. So, IMO, measure stuff. Like the motor mounts.
Cool short bed though. Good start for a project!

 

[1967Ragtop]

HI Grit Dog,
It is or should I say, it will be a cool little ride once it's done. I was amazed to see the amount of velour they glued to the inside of that cab. It was everywhere. The only thing that I plan on keeping are the fender emblems and the one on the dash. The little train is kind of cool.

 

[bucket]

Choo Choo Customs was/is based out of Chattanooga, hence the "Choo choo". That bolt-on hood scoop likely has some value.

How close is your oil pan to the crossmember? The engine can only get so low.

 

[Sad Sack]

To be honest, I don't really know what's in there right now, but I bet they are not the right parts for this truck. I do plan on pulling the mounts and brackets out soon. If I can get my hands on a set of used engine brackets this weekend, ones that are for sure the correct ones, I'll be happy. Then I'll order a new set of mounts. Hopefully I will see a clear difference when I compare those things to the ones in the truck. Like I said, the previous owner slapped this thing together using a bunch of random parts.

If ya need to order:

https://www.lmctruck.com/mechanical/engine-emission/cc-1973-87-engine-mounts-engine-bracket-and-transmission-mounts

#1 and #3 and #4

 

[83Stepper]

Like @Ricko1966 suggested, check to make sure there isn't a small body lift in it or that somebody didn't "chuck a puck" in with the existing body mount. The front clip and radiator definitely does seem to be higher than it should in correlation to the fan. Nice looking truck btw!