How much clearance in ebody with LA, around stock components

I am looking to find out how much room is around an LA engine, stock configuration (everything, basically) in a 71 ebody (barracuda). I am asking this to see if it is possible to lower the engine and inch or so to gain more clearance in the tunnel. This would be to add a modern transmission without having to cut anything. I want to run my original engine with a 8 speed and seeing what can be done without cutting.

If someone has a small block with stock components (k frame, suspension, steering, etc.) can do a little measuring and see how much clearance there is from the closest component (and what that might be). I think if the engine can come down and inch or so, that would really help. I know Holley has new mounts out for the Gen3/8speed that lowers and moves forward the engine and trans so no cutting is needed but this is just for a Gen3. My original engine is halfway built and I want to use it and a shaker setup.

Bonus question: Is there adjustment in the shaker setup if it is possible to move the engine forward an inch as well?

I think the first obstacle in your way is going to be the steering center link. I don't have a measurement, but from memory those are just below the oil pan. Might be easier to just rework the transmission tunnel?

I think some hemi cars came with k-frame spacers??? Maybe that will help get you another 1/4: or so?

I think you are going to open a can of worms

You will need to make a new shaker base to get an inch there. If you really just want overdrive, and no cutting, go gm auto trans.

I really don't want to cut up the car, so I was trying to see if it is feasible to get things lower. I don't want "the worms" LOL

Neil, I am thinking that center link is the lowest piece as well, wondering how close it is to the pan. Won't spacers interfere with suspension geometry, steering, etc.?

I have a 42RH just rebuilt and upgraded ready to go in case I don't go with the 8 speed idea. I'd rather use that than a GM transmission.

Thanks for the input for the shaker question.

Super Stock - type oil pan with a tube ?

I have seen hemicuda race cars with 1" spacers and the shaker hood bent up down the center to get it all under the hood. I would not do it on a car you want to drive a lot, steering shaft angle, and upper control arm travel issues. I guess with a ujoint on the steering shaft, adjustable upper arms, adjustable struts, the bump stops moved, and a good alignment shop you could do it. 1" If I wanted an 8-speed I would cut the floor out and just do it, cut it in one piece and save it for a resto and enjoy your car. Keep in mind once you experience an 8-speed and a great driving car you will never go back to stock.

The k-frame spacers don't look to be that thick from online pictures (1/4"?). You can only go so far with those before the t-bar socket alignment and other stuff gets wonky.

How about a gear vendors unit behind a 727?

https://www.gearvendors.com/aghr3s.html

A buddy bought an original hemicuda that was a racecar since day one, that is what it had, and a bent down the center shaker, so it all fit. Not all were that thick, just saying it could be done... 450 miles or so on that car.

Indeed.

And, for future reference "gm" is not capitalized. Capitalization is reserved for something of importance.

Go ahead and open up a can: 1" lower engine will improve your handling putting the lump at a lower center of gravity.

Copy that Grizzly! Better handling I like!

This will be a cruiser, so I don't like the idea of moving the K down if it changes all the geometry.

My original trans is a 904, have the built 42RH to go in its place so I don't want to get a 727 with gear vendors. Pretty soon I'll have a transmission warehouse if this keeps up! LOL

Don't want to bend up the shaker stuff either. I can put a spacer under carb to make up height but I wasn't sure how much back and forth adjustment there is.

Oil pan with the tube in it, or notched, could work if it is that close. I will need to crawl under a similar car and see how close it is.

It was mentioned that it might be possible to slot the motor mounts to give some more clearance too???

Still have time to figure it out, no rush.

is the E and B body similar in the transmission tunnel area, or is one bigger than the other ?

I do not think you are going to get an inch drop without hitting something or messing with the suspension geometry or both.

Me personally if my heart was set on it, I would get a low profile dry sump pan system. That combined with the current clearance could net you the inch you need. Then modify the motor mounts. Then add a 1" spacer to the top of the carb and the shaker supports.

E bodies are pretty much built off the B body chassis. Many of the B body suspension parts dating back into the mid to early 60's interchange with the E bodies. The frame rails floor pans inner fenders are the same on the 71/72 b bodies and all e bodies. As are the radiator supports.

Just an FYI

Don't forget steering box, PS pump, torsion bar interference either.
Only way to determine fit is with the engine & accessories in the car and mocking everything up.

IMO, moving the engine 1" up down, forward or back, is going to require cutting and welding. The question is actually is there less cutting and welding by moving the engine than opening up the trans tunnel. I'd say it depends on your expertise. Of course with a '71 Cuda, value impact of those mods and the ability to reverse them could also be a factor. Plus you have a shaker, so you not get another layer of complexity to making it work correctly.

FWIW, I did lift my small block .5" up in my E body's engine bay using spacers in between the engine mounts and isolators. Theory being by lifting the engine, I can now drop the car down lower. Engine weighs 500#, the rest of the car weighs 3000# Which has a greater impact on COG weight? IMO, by moving you engine forward an inch, you negate any handling gain you would have by dropping it an inch.

A friend of mine did one one his 70 Challenger. If i remember right, all he did was a little grinding of the trans case, a boss and a little off of a stiffening rib on the trans case. it went in without any trans tunnel modifications. He used a special trans mount for it, but that was about it.
if i remember a 42RH is based off a 904( A500 )? the one he used, was the A518 (46RH). I'll get a hold of him to clarify exactly what he did. it works great for him.

it sounds like it's not much work then, to stuff an A518 in the tunnel.
i'm being sort of a [thread] "jack", so if a B-body's tunnel is sort of close, a 518 will work there as well. [thinking of my charger]

you are correct. an A500 is based off of a 904. however, the overdrive units are the same for both, with exception [i "think"] of the diesel A618 unit.
[PLEASE correct me if i'm wrong on the overdrive units, guys ! ]

Yes it is easy to put an A518 or A500 into a B or Ebody with minimal trimming to the trans ribs and a special transmission mount.

I posted a bunch of pics in this thread.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthread...4/re-four-speed-overdrive-automatic.html


The OP was looking at putting an 8 speed into his car and was looking for option that didn't require cutting the tunnel.

To that end a question for roadrunninMark. Have you looked at the distance from the in/output shaft centeterline of the 8 speed to the bottom? The A518's are a bit thick on the bottom end. Will you have ground clearance after you drop everything an inch?

Thank You for that link sir !
it answered a lot of my questions !

IMGTX, I have not done any real world measuring as I do not have one of the 8 speeds at this time. I have just been following a lot of swaps using the Gen 3 with it. There are guys getting them under the cars without cutting, using the Holley mounts/ Hemi Denny K's. These setups lower the engine and move the engine forward about 1" in each direction (according to Holley's site) and the trans then clears everything (with a little grinding of nonessential pieces and changing the breather to a 90 degree). Before I go out and get the transmission and related parts, I wanted to see if what I want to do is possible. I don't think anyone has put the 8 speed behind an LA yet, then there is getting it in the car without cutting. So I am trying to do 2 things that hasn't been done yet, that I know of.

There is a thread going on over on forabodiesonly about getting the trans to work behind the LA and I've been communicating. There were 2 people who were going to try it but went on to other projects. As the A bodies are a lot smaller, I was hoping some members on here had info in regards to componentry for e bodies. There is a guy in Texas that has one in his Chevelle and he loves it (also commented in the thread) so it shouldn't be too much of an issue getting it to work behind an LA, since the gen3 is a smallblock. I think the hard parts have been solved already (controller and driveshaft) so what is left is fitment and function.

The A518 was a Truck/Van Transmission so they never cared about ground clearance. I would think the 8 Speed, being used as passenger car transmission, should be designed for low ground clearance, so odds are on your side.

Please keep us updated. I would be interested in your progress.