[Boucher421]

I measured my McLeod at 6 1/4" deep.

[Boucher421]

20 3/4" block to bolt holes.

[TJS69]

Well that is only 1/4" difference, so that should work. The 20 1/2 should be to the center of the slots, and should allow a 1/4" each way.

Your pictures showed the engine pivot ball right in line with the frame bracket, so the engine should be positioned fine.

It SHOULD just bolt together.

[TJS69]

OK, I looked closer at your engine and frame mounts and they look correct. About 5/8 of an inch is how much they should hangover the back of the crossmember.





The problem seems to be the crossmember. Let's see a picture of that SBC crossmember. The Pontiac one you had was for a TH-400 and will not work. A BBC would be 3/4" too far forward and 1/2" to passenger's side.

[Boucher421]

Here's the new one:

http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-t...1967-1969.html

I'd take a pic but its under the car right now. Ill tell ya though - the two crossmembers look nearly identical, except the new one has the additional piece welded on the bottom.

Check out this add from a different site - is there any chance some vendors mislabel them??:

http://www.restorationperformance.co...mission/Detail


REGARDLESS - I checked to see how much lateral play I have (you mentioned big block would be forward and towards passenger). To line up with the holes, my tranny needs to be pulled towards the drivers side about 1/2 inch, BUT the bellhousing is within 1/8" of touching, and shift rods within a 1/4" or so.

I took body alignment measurements and all seemed pretty square, but I'm wondering if the subframe is on a bit crooked?

Obviously I'm running out of ideas.

[TJS69]

I am wondering about the subframe also, because things just don't seem right. Is it the original one to the car ?

Crossmembers are mixed up all the time, that is why I wanted to see a picture of the one that you had, not the manufacturer's picture.

The bottom of your crossmember should just have the small oval opening, not the large cutout that BBC's and Pontiac's have. (see above photo's)

[Boucher421]

Small oval:

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/...38C2AEEA1B.jpg

[Boucher421]

I'm 99% sure the body and subframe are not the original match. Looks like an RS body (trim) but subframe was not setup with hideaway lights.

[TJS69]

Hmmm... Where did you get that crossmember ? It should have 2 slots to bolt to the trans. mount. I don't know if it is an optical illusion, but it only looks like 1 hole. 1 hole could work if you had a 3 hole trans. mount, and the hole was in the right spot. Take some measurements and see what you have.

[Boucher421]

Optical illusion from angle:

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/...D8221AD2BD.jpg

I have a couple pieces of string taped up to help with measurements in the picture. Ill try to pull the xmember out in the next day or two to get better measurements. Fwiw - when I examined new and old, they seemed 100% same. Ill measure though.

[TJS69]

In that picture it looks about 1/4" off. Loosen the mount to transmission bolts and see if you can line it up. May be even loosen the subframe to crossmember bolts,

[Boucher421]

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/...C43E1DF558.jpg
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/...C4554CE1F4.jpg

Measurements look spot on. The picture you said looked 1/4" off didn't reflect reality. The crossmember was not bolted in, and was not perfectly lined up with holes.

I've loosened all bolts, and will try to wrestle the subframe into a different position.

[TJS69]

Sorry, I thought it looked real close ! The engine and transmission are bolted to the subframe so loosening body to subframe bolts shouldn't help.

I have heard of another set of holes in the subframe for the transmission crossmember and I have heard of only the 2 of the 3 holes there. I would look to make sure you don't have more holes to move your crossmember forward. If a TH-400 crossmember had been used before, the farthest forward holes may be plugged with dirt and grease. This might make them hard to see !

[TJS69]

[TJS69]

I just wanted to correct myself on the crossmember. Your original crossmember was for a 1969 Firebird. I believe this was the crossmember used in all '69 firebirds EXCEPT those with the TH-400. ( I had said it was for a TH-400 for some unknown reason) The transmissions mounting holes would be the same as the "4 speed" crossmember that you now have. The Firebird crossmember would be much weaker than that of the Camaro piece. I am not sure why they even bothered making this piece unless it was for cost savings.