LS1 swap motor mounts for 2nd gen T/a
 

I'm converting my 1980 trans am to 5.3 and 4l60e, I would like to get your guys opinion on what motor mount work best. I'm thinking of doing clam shell chevy type. I want to keep my column linkage for backup and neutral safety switches. So I want motor mounts that will locate the engine and trans in the correct position. Any recommendations appreciated

Thanks Gary

From what I've read on LS1tech.com Holley has a very nice mount, oil pan and header package to do the swap on 2nd-gen F-body cars.

Column shift linkage is easily adapted no matter where your trans is located using a Lokar or Shiftworks kit, I used one but at the moment I don't recall which vendor.

Scarebird the original engine still in the car 301 4bbl

b-man thanks i was looking at the shiftswork for the cable hookup. I check lokar see what they have. I will be rebuilding the 4L60E anyway(broken sun shell basically got it for free) so I'll replace the shift shaft with short one from a 700 for proper cable alignment.

Would it not be a simple thing to just bolt some Camaro engine mount brackets to the front crossmember of the Firebird to make the mounting kit work?


I was able to bolt down some Chevelle engine mount brackets into my Tempest to accept the LS3/4L70e combo using the Edelbrock swap parts that were available at the time.

Thanks Guys. I will be changing the frame mount as well. I was planing on going to the small block Chevy frame mounts., clam shell engine mounts. I suspect the subframe is already drilled for those(305 was available in 80). if not no big deal to drill 4 holes. I will probably buy the adjust ls mounts that will allow engine to be moved back and forth.

Looking at cuthroat4x4.com mounts ourselves. Their adjustable mount is able to be set in stock, and also 1" forward and back positions. This uses the Camaro sbc mounts. One thing that is NOT clear to me until I call them is what it does to the original slight offset the engines had to the passenger side. Be aware the Holley mount ELIMINATES this offset, and is one of the reasons they suggest using ALL their other swap parts together. This can make a difference when it comes to headers (holley's LS swap headers for 2nd gen F-body ONLY fit if you use their mounts, etc...), transmission fit inside the tunnel, etc. There is more info on their whole application and some issues with it listed on LS1tech.com

Look on Dirty Dingo. To me their's look the best for fitting any set up one shot deal. The 80 301 should have clam shell mounts already.

Wow! I didn't realize this was such an old thread. I'm sure this was addressed long ago...Lol

Just swapped a Pontiac motor in my Camaro project-Clamshells are different from SBC to Pontiac. Most frames have both sets of holes.