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Others have reported that it fits better than the LH8 (doesn't hang as low). I hope to be able to do a test fit next weekend. My transmisison shipped last week.

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It was not a good weekend for the trial fit of the engine/transmisison/oil pan. I didn't realize that the LS1/4L70E bolts to the oil pan. ALthough my autokraft pan looks like it will clear the crossmember, the lack of support for transmission makes me think there is a good chance of breaking the transmission bell housing. The only option I can think of is to have Street and Performance modify my GM LS3 oil pan. All of the other choices appear to hang too low or not clear the crossmember.

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Things are going from bad to worse on this project. I test fitted the engine today, but the motor mounts don't line up. I don't know if I have mis-matched parts or the frame is bent. There is some evidence that the left side was hit in the past. There is some bending where the bumper attaches to the frame. I am at a loss as to how to proceed. The entire front end was removed by the person I bought the car from. He only bought the car for its engine, so there was no engine installed and I have no knowledge if the body panels aligned since they were loose and the shims were not even reinstalled.

In test fitting the engine I had to remove half of the AC box. There doesn't look like there is enough room to re-install it it so it looks like I will need to run an after market system. I don't think anyone makes a complete kit for the 68 so I guess it will be a custom system. Something else I didn't plan on.



This is how much the aligment is off. There is a bolt in the other side.

[jsn829]

I would measure the frame from all different points to see if it is bent or diamond shaped. To bend an engine crossmember is not to easy and I think you would see more damage to the frame. Are the bolt holes for the engine mount on the frame the same on both sides? There is alot of holes on my frame that are off. If you cannot find anything wrong, I can measure my frame mounts to see if they are different.

[jsn829]

You might have to slot the top holes on both sides to make it fit. Edelbrock says to do this on the 64-67 but 68-72 might need to do this to.

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While it wouldn't take much to make it fit, I worry that the frame might be bent. (Or wasn't repaired correctly in the past) I found a hole in one side of the frame that was elongated and a hole on the other side that had been pushed out. I believe chains may have been attached at these points and the frame straightened. There aren't many measurements in the service manual for the front part of the frame. The distance between the frame rails checks out good. The engine that was installed in the car was installed in the other set of holes on the frame. (3 bolts) Since original engine had already been removed, I don't know if there was a problem when the original engine was removed. I don't know if the set of holes I am using was drilled correctly since they had never been used. From the slight wrinkle in the frame at the steering box, my guess is that side of the car had been hit from the side and may have bent the cross member slightly. Since there was never a engine installed in the other holes, I don't know if the hole locations are off or if the frame is bent.

Some measurements of the distance between the holes from side to side would be really nice if someone could provide them. I have also been searching for the dimensions of the motor mounts the see if mine are too high/thick, since it also appears if the pre-load plate was not installed the engine would fit. I am using Tall frame stands from Goodmark, engine mounts from Energy Suspension and Edelbrock LS1 engine plates.

[jsn829]

Top bolt holes-- at the top of the hole straight across is 19 1/4. Front and back holes are the same. I measured 2 frames and they are the same. This is for the holes that are oval on one side and round on the other. Those were the stock pontiac mount location.