Now I get to redesign both adapter plates to push the engine toward the firewall two more inches. We will see if any of the clearancing is no longer required, or if it still needs to be done once the OEM mount is moved.

 

You will need 1/4 x 5 steel plate. Make sure to use cold rolled. No scale to deal with, and the edges aren't rounded. Nice clean edges to work with.

 

My first attempt with these was to have a neighbor with a cnc plasma table cut them out for me. Big mistake! He used A36 steel, which hardens in the heat affected zone. The holes needed to be opened up, and I ate three drills before realizing the material was too hard to drill through.

 

I also used the LS to Dakota for ref, but since I'm using chevy small block I changed things up a little. The driver's side lined up pretty well so I just used the 1/4 inch plate as a spacer to match the on one the passenger side for engine height. The one on the passenger side is quite a bit closer to the firewall, so I bolted to the block & bolted the motor mount that direction. One of the unanticipated benefits of that was that it made room for my mechanical fuel pump. Although it presented some other challenges, I found from a prior build that a 1969 Impala radiator fits the core support like it's made for it. The top of the core support in that prior build made it tight to remove & put the radiator cap back on. So after reviewing several other people's builds, I cut off the top of the core support & remounted it to the back below the water neck. It cleared my short water pump, power steering, etc. Between the fans that came with my radiator from Dewitt (Dewitt sells a conversion radiator 69 Impala to LS if you don't have another plan). I removed the tin baffle piece from the bottom of the hood that covered the gap between the hood & core support. I did that on the prior build which also had electric fans & it cooled well without issue. I experimented with the placement of the fan out through the core support, so I purchased the AC condenser so I could make sure there was room between the core support & grill. I also used the the front Studebaker cab mounts, but I went below the frame with my angle iron mount extensions to get the front end down where I wanted. I notched the core support to get it lower & along with 2 inch dropped spindles & shortening the frame rails to get them behind the fenders & grill, got the stance I was after. By doing all of this I hope I still have the Dakota ride & handling they had from the factory but get the stance I wanted. My truck didn't come with a sway bar, so I found one of those (junkyard find) & am going to have to fab through that to make the mount clear the rear of the core support.
I guess I've babbled on long enough. Looking forward to seeing your progress & continuing to enjoy your & others posts on the project.

Top of core support rotated.

Core support, water pump-fan clearance.

Passenger side mount.

Drivers side mount.

Core support notched over frame. The fender was cut from a prior fitting attempt.

Drivers side core support & fender notched over frame.

 

After posting this reply, I'm going to have to fire my editor. I worked at spacing my RADIATOR with fans, not the fans, through the core support.

 

I just ordered some universal urethane mounts for an LS swap into "older vehicles". It's a bit of a gamble, but I am looking into removing the stock mounts from the chassis, and fabbing my own using the universal mounts to the block. More tinkering with the engine mounts when they arrive.​​​​​​​

 

That's good idea. That way you can handle the driveline angle of the engine & transmission with your transmission mount also considering engine to frame oil pan & steering rack clearances along with tuning in your fore & aft engine placement to help your room under the hood. That Hooker Blackheart trans mount has some adjustability that should help too. What transmission is on your LS?

 

6l80e

 

I ordered the steering column today. It has to be custom made. I went with Ididit. I guess no one stocks a column that connects a Dakota power steering unit to a '52 Studebaker truck cab. Go figure. I didn't have as much trouble with the price, but the lead time was a kick in the pants! 16 to 18 weeks for delivery!!! Maybe I will see it arrive by this coming June.

 

Why so long??? Are they THAT busy??

Is that the Ididit in Tecumseh?? I drive by there fairly regularly.