A518 Conversion Questions (Paging 1wildrt)

OK I am slowly doing the A518 Conversion on my 70 E Body.

I have trimmed the transmission and if I raise the tranny into the tunnel I feel like the space is a little tight. That isn't so bad but with the trans about 1/2" from the floorpan/trans-crossmember the oil pan is only about 3/8 from the centerlink.

If anyone has done this conversion (cough 1wildrt cough) could you look at these pics and tell me what you think? I had the frame straightened years ago and now I am worried it is still off and hence the tight clearance on the oil pan.







More pics
http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/IMGTX/public/A518%20Conversion/

Did you take a measurment prior to removing the original trans, with the stock crossmember & mount in place? On both that I've done when the measurment is correct you could still jack the trans up 1" to 1.25"...I did slightly dimple the floorpan on the drivers side, you've seen the tight area...

I am going from a 440 to a 360 Magnum. I haven't had the 440 in the car since before I decided to do the conversion, so I didn't take measurements first.

To me the transmission looks really low in the back but maybe it's an illusion from the deeper pan. Do you remember how much distance is between the top of the tail housing and the tunnel? Mine looks around 5 to 8 inches.

Thanks for pointing out the need to dimple the floor pan. I remember you mentioning it but forgot to do it. I think if I dimple the floor at the fitting on the drivers side I can get another 1" higher at the back of the transmission.

I will start by dimpling the floor pan and if I have to I will swap the 440 back in but the transmission is buried deep in the back of my brother in law's shed.

Can you scrounge up a small block 727 just to trial fit? I actually used an empty case on the 518 while testing the first time, makes it alot easier...

BTW this isn't for your vert is it???

would also bolt the motor in during the 727 trial fit. get everything level and measure from there.

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would also bolt the motor in during the 727 trial fit. get everything level and measure from there.

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I believe the 360 is already living in the car...