b2bomber Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Hi its Sean, from Basix Hot Rods, Hi Bob. I put a volare front suspension in my truck and instead of cutting up the firewall I am moving my engine forward and raising it. I am asking, has anyone out there done this with there truck, if so what did you do about the radiator? Did you have a custom one made or were you able to use the original style. I am playing some games with it and just wondering if anyone else has done this before me. Thank you for any help you guys can give me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 For balancing reasons I'm leaving the engine in the orginal location of the X-member and using an Aluminum Radiator . If I WAS to move it, I would remove the radiator fan from the engine, put an electric fan on the front side of the Radiator and if neccessary, move the Radiator forward through the "U" brackett. The only other factor I haven't delt with is the oil pan. I'm mocking up the motor and tranny this weekend for the tranny X-member (I want to keep the orignal gas tank which will present its own unique problems). When the motor is in, I'll take a few pictures of the oil pan location. My thought is a switch to a 360 truck pan might fix the problem of a new forward location of the motor. 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Fargo Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Here is a pic of my engine compartment with motor in right location for the volare clip.... As you can see there is no room to run a fan on the motor< I have 2 push fans on the front side of the rad keeps it very cool. So If you move your motor forward you will have to also move the rad forward as well which may be more work and money for you . The last pic is to show the firewall section that I moved back . hope this shed a bit more light for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blohmiller Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 From what I have found they say to use a car pan but I was planning on running a 383 in mine. One guy i was talking with that make the mounts to put the big blocks in these K members says I need to use the pan out of a car my enging is comming out of a truck so I guess theres differant pans for cars and trucks. Bryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b2bomber Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Here is a pic of my engine compartment with motor in right location for the volare clip.... As you can see there is no room to run a fan on the motor< I have 2 push fans on the front side of the rad keeps it very cool. So If you move your motor forward you will have to also move the rad forward as well which may be more work and money for you . The last pic is to show the firewall section that I moved back . hope this shed a bit more light for you Thanks for the pics, what radiator are you running? Also can you post some pics of the firewall from the inside. Thank you Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Fargo Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 the rad is out of a 79 dodge 3/4 ton with a 360 and I will send you pics of the inside asap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Hey Sean, I have both types of oil pans. I'll take pictures of both for you. Just thinking out loud.... if you raise the engine, move forward (like you mentioned) and use a truck pan, it might work. Otherwise, nothing wrong with modifing the fire wall. 51 fargo's (and others) have done nice work with the center hump. 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Fargo Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 here are the pics of the hump and inside firewall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMcKinney Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 What type of steering column did you use? Mopar? GM? MMckinney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Fargo Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 What type of steering column did you use? Mopar? GM?MMckinney Mopar.... came out of a 1980 dodge van Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Sorry so long for the pictures. This is all of course off the top of my head, I have no idea if anyone has done this before. Just thought I share a random idea on moving the engine forward. This is the 360 Car oil pan. This is the 360 Truck oil pan This is the "mock up motor" on the volare set-up im workin on. That's the 360 car oil pan. It sits right at the back of the cross member. The back of the pan is shaped to clear the steering linkage. This is the 360 Truck pan sitting a little higher and forward on the cross member. Like i said, havent done any measurements or clearance checks, but seems like a possibility. What do you think? 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Fargo Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 I think I leave the engine in the stock Volare spot and move firewall section back. If you move engine forward you still going to run into clearance problems with either pan. Car pan is shaped to clear steering and truck pan is a rear sump and will be in the way of the steering, Also truck pan is abit deeper to hold more oil as well . It seems to me to be more work having the motor forward. than it,s worth . just my 2 cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b2bomber Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Thank you 51 Fargo for all of the pics and your info, its a big help. Well, I am a bit stubborn, so I am going to go ahead and see what I can do about moving the engine forward and up. Heres to luck to you guys and me with our trucks. If it doesn't work, drinks are on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b2bomber Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Hey 51Fargo, do you mind putting up some pics of the outside of the truck, to see how low it sits. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 The engine would be raised, so rear of the truck pan would be no lower than the Car pan, clearing the steering linkage. I think the real problem would be the handling dynamics though. The front weight would be to much for the volare to handle as far as adjustments go. There isn't whole lot of play in the adjusments for a good ride. Honestly, it was the look that changed my mind about the stock location. I saw pictures of 51Fargo's and Keith's truck. I had to agree that locating the engine in the stock position is the best idea. And after checking the alignment numbers, it was even more obvious that the stock position was better. But its Sean ride, and I like thinking out loud. So if you decide to move the engine forward, I say "its all good, its hot rodding". 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blohmiller Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 On that 360 will theses motor mounts work on a 383 or are the different on the big blocks I really don't want to pay that guy 125 for mounts that i can find Bryan Sorry so long for the pictures. This is all of course off the top of my head, I have no idea if anyone has done this before. Just thought I share a random idea on moving the engine forward.This is the "mock up motor" on the volare set-up im workin on. That's the 360 car oil pan. It sits right at the back of the cross member. The back of the pan is shaped to clear the steering linkage. 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Fargo Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Hey 51Fargo, do you mind putting up some pics of the outside of the truck, to see how low it sits. Thank you. Hey no problem as you can see the frame in the back ground is sitting at stock hight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b2bomber Posted April 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Very nice truck, I really like the white walls with the red rim look. Really fits your truck well. Yes it is hot rodding. :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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