[DB68]

Will an HEI Dist. fit in a 68 or do I have to dent the firewall like I just did in my Nova?
Mike

[MAXIMUM69]

DB68,

The original design GM HEI will fit if you remove the plug wire retaining ring. Also, you will have to install the cap AFTER the distributor is in.

Once it is in, it will be very tight and difficult to work on. I did it once, but now have an aftermarket ditributor with an external coil.

[BPOS]

Mine fits my 69 without any problems. Some just plain don't fit. It might have to do with whether or not your subframe is aligned to the unibody properly.

[DOUG G]

Maybe I was lucky? one in the car when I bought it and <350?>motor was pulled shortly there after. Installed 406sb and another HEI in its place without problem.Also no hammer marks on firewall.

[DjD]

This has been discussed in some length. If memory serves me correctly 302 & 350 frame mount towers set the engine back closer to the firewall and 327 & 307 mount towers move the engine forward leaving more firewall clearence. Cars where the GM large body HEI's fit have the 327/307 mounts.

[Joe Harrison]

are you sure there are mounts for a 302/350 and different ones for a 307/327? I only thought there were small block frame tower mounts and big block frame tower mounts. I am I confused? or has the Janitor been sniffing to much floor wax?

Joe

[DjD]

I should clarify as what I said was for '69 only. The '67-'68 small block (all) used the same tower as the '69 327/307. To really complicate this there are many possible mounts to connect the engine to the towers. There are 2 givens, all small blocks have the same mounting points and unless nothing else is visually messed up the body and subframe are the same from car to car.

This leaves the frame towers and motor mounts to change where the engine sits under the hood.

Check this out Joe...

http://camaros.org/engine.shtml#EngineMounting

Nothing clears the head like ammonia when mopping a floor!!

[Joe Harrison]

I am really confused after reading that. Not that I don't understand it, it's just confusing.

Pass the ammonia [img]graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[TJS69]

Please check David Pozzi's page on frame stands and motor mounts.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...aro_engine.htm
My personal choice for a small block is 1969 350 mounts and frame stands. This should make your headers clear the steering box and an 8" balancer clear a standard size sway bar. It will require very slight massaging of the firewall for full size HEI clearance.

[Seattle Sam]

To be clear, there should never be any difference in the front to rear location of the engine no matter what mount is used. In fact the big block and the small block motors rear web should be in the exact same relationship to the firewall. This is because the motor must bolt to the trans bell housing, which is located by the trans cross member and will not move forward or back.

If I understand these different frame mounts, they vary the installed height of the motor slightly. If that is the case, a motor on the shorter mounts must tilt forward slightly when bolted up to the trans, and the small change in angle is enough to allow HEI clearance.