Hey guys I had a quick question for you all. First off, my 67 was originally a 6 cylinder car but the previous owner swapped in a 350 from a 1970 corvette. My buddy and I swapped in a running 350 that he had from a previous project car. Now when we put it in, the distributor (its an HEI) is pushed against the firewall, so bad that it limits the amount I can adjust the timing. One thing I was thinking is that the motor mounts may be different between the 6 and 8 cylinder motors. If thats not the case, does any one have any suggestions on what the problem could be? Thanks for your sugestions in advance...


Heres what it looks like:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e42/ryperry/P1030054.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e42/ryperry/PB170030.jpg

The motor mounts were different for an L6 and a V8. In fact, the frame mounts were different between small block and big block v8's. The clearance between the distributor and the firewall is pretty tight with the correct motor mounts. I am not sure but I don't believe you could have installed the V8 using the L6 motor mounts.

I am not sure but I don't believe you could have installed the V8 using the L6 motor mounts.This is a true statement as both are of a different design.

Having different V8 mounts does help. 307/327 mounts places the engine as you see it by the pic given. 302/350 mounts sets the engine forward about an inch.

Either dent (massage) the firewall for clearance, get a Dave's Smallbody HEI distributor, or replace with a point distributor.

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. Im new to the whole restoring cars thing and everyone here has been a big help! I would massage the firewall for a little more clearance but we had to do that just to get the darn thing in there... This motor is just a donor until I can get something else a little nicer in there. Ill either just invest in my ignition now and replace the distributor or try swapping out the motor mounts. Thanks again!!

307/327 mounts places the engine as you see it by the pic given. 302/350 mounts sets the engine forward about an inch.

Actually, it is the other way around. The 302/350 frame stands put the engine back farther allowing more room for the larger 8" harmonic balancer.

Headers seem to fit better around the steering box with the 302/350 frame stands as more mfg's patterned their headers on the more "High performance" models.

Actually, it is the other way around. The 302/350 frame stands put the engine back farther allowing more room for the larger 8" harmonic balancer.Thanks for the correction, you are correct. -10 points in lab.

Ok, so Im looking at classic industries and I see that for 67-68 they only make one frame stand for the small block (I do see a different frame stand for the 69 302/350). So am I correct to assume that I have the correct frame stands and just need different motor mounts for my 350 to move it forward or am I way off here?

David Pozzi has an excellent chart on his web page giving the different part numbers for all the different frame stands and engine mounts. I think everything is correct on your car. There just isn't the room there ! You may want to go to a small body HEI or just live with it, and hope you don't break a cap ! Mine looks the same as yours. Many repo houses think there are only small block stands and big block stands. This is not true !

http://www.pozziracing.com/camaro_engine.htm

ok, that makes more sense now!! Ill probably just end pulling the distributor and going with a different one. Ive got my MSD 6AL already so I guess thats my next move. Thanks so much for everyones help. I really do appreciate it. :beers:

WAIT A MINUTE!!!! DON'T GO!
What are you doing with that '70 Corvette engine?! You know that's one of the best SBC's ever made right? Rated at 370 horse. (yeah, right) Solid lifters, 12:1. Tuftrided crank, all the goodies. It's the LT1! Famous! Don't over look it! I'd offer to take it off of your hands but I have an L88 in my Camaro. (I've built that year LT1 from scratch. Awsome engine.)
Heres a look at the small distributor on a BBC. Fits fine. This one is by Accel and is pointless. (hall effect like HEI, in fact it uses HEI electronic)
http://epitomesrebuild.com/images/140.JPG

Dont do the denting.. youll end up saying to yourself later.. "that was stupid" as your trying to get the gnaly looking indentations out of your firewall. Just use a small cap HEI.

WAIT A MINUTE!!!! DON'T GO!
What are you doing with that '70 Corvette engine?!


The previous owner had the intake off of it and left it sitting for about 10 years outside... in the rain... when my buddy and I pulled it, the crank was seized up, along with the water pump. Oh yeah and there was a bunch of water in the oil pan. Its been gone for a few months now.


Dont do the denting.. youll end up saying to yourself later.. "that was stupid" as your trying to get the gnaly looking indentations out of your firewall. Just use a small cap HEI.


we only dented it a tad bit. we didnt have much of a choice since we discovered this problem after the new motor was already in at 11:30 at night. Luckily when we dropped the distributor in, it was timed decent enough to drive it home (about 30 miles).

My 68 had a similar setup when I got it back in 94: 350 sitting on 327 frame stands with an HEI wedged so tight against the firewall that I couldn't adjust the timing. I ditched the HEI switched to an MSD pro-billet distributor and 6AL. The 6AL died after a couple of years, but the MSD distributor was still work great when I yanked the engine last summer.