motor placemnt question

I ran into a slight problem with the 98 I'm working on.It came with motor plates it was supposed to have clearence to run a fox body race pan.It does not'they had a external pump on it.It hits the rack moving the rack is not a option as it would be very difficult.My question is what if any negative effect would ther be if I simply redrilled the motor plat to move the motor up 1/2 to/5/8 inch . The headers aare fabbed and they are front exit they are not coated yet I think I can handle that with gentle use of a rose bud .There is no other interference problems.I don't have any wts ect on the car yet.
Is this something ya'll think could be done without negative effects on handling driveing traction ect ... It is a four link car in rear and struts up front .It was being built to be a limited st. car if that helps any
Or would I be better of to bit the bullett yet again and do a external oil pump and pan that will fit .I already have a good fox body race pan and kazie pump. Thanks for your help Ward

I would remount the rack but my second choice would be an external pump/new pan.

Can you use k-member spacers?

whatbumper wrote:I would remount the rack but my second choice would be an external pump/new pan.

X2

i'd move the motor......

I have 2 move the rack and one move the motor.Moving the rack would be a major deal on this car.All the steering is complete.The amount of fabracation is way more than I am comfortable doing.That would be my first option but cos is a major factor since my motor was a total loss.Thought I was going to buy a crank and do a basic rebuid.aLL I have is a 4.3 crank which I can't use in my combo and a set of 6.8 rods which I will use but the thought of moving the K member had not come to me.I was thinking of it a tube car but it is built to limited st rules so it has a k member. I'll check it asap.. Thanks

With a quick look it looks like the k member can be dropped with out any major issues.I'm going to get it up on the rack and look at it tonight. I ask the coug to forgive me for any wrong spelling,inapproiate use of caps,bad grammer or wrong puncutation. amen

Looks like I'll be seeing you later this week, Ward. If it ain't done by then, we'll handle it.

dr's wife racing wrote:I ran into a slight problem with the 98 I'm working on.It came with motor plates it was supposed to have clearence to run a fox body race pan.It does not'they had a external pump on it.It hits the rack moving the rack is not a option as it would be very difficult.My question is what if any negative effect would ther be if I simply redrilled the motor plat to move the motor up 1/2 to/5/8 inch . The headers aare fabbed and they are front exit they are not coated yet I think I can handle that with gentle use of a rose bud .There is no other interference problems.I don't have any wts ect on the car yet.
Is this something ya'll think could be done without negative effects on handling driveing traction ect ... It is a four link car in rear and struts up front .It was being built to be a limited st. car if that helps any
Or would I be better of to bit the bullett yet again and do a external oil pump and pan that will fit .I already have a good fox body race pan and kazie pump. Thanks for your help Ward

Ward,
If you can lower / shim the K-member thats the route to take. Since no one attempted to answer your question on the effects of raising the engine I will. Raising the engine's horizontal centerline will almost always make a car want to hook harder in my past expeiriences. I don't think a 1/2" would make a huge difference in your application. That being said , it looks like you have a new car to sort out. I would attempt to plot out everything you are doing and record it, then plug your info into a program like 4 link wizzard. This should get you in the ballpark.

Travis

I will put the numbers in for you when you get to that point. Just let me know when you are ready.

We had the same problem. We have a 98 with mid and motor plate. We had to end up going with a pinto rack for clearance issues. We did have an AJE k member that will accept big or small block. We ended up having to have a custom made k member made. We had it made so we can drop the pan, if needed without taking out the steering. We have an external oil pan with a jeff johnston oil pan. Our headers are also forward facing. Can provide you with some photos if needed.

this is the frontend i cut off the chassis i bought. its wrecked all to shit but you can see how it was set up.the lower rails do bolt in the factory subframe even though the front is welded,10.5 rules i guess.the car had a TT 632 BBC in it. you can move the rack way out front if you need to.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD EXCUSE FOR AN EXTERNAL OIL PUMP.........

I have the chassis guys coming to look at it this week.I've never used a program like 4 link wizzard. I'm just trying to weigh out my options.I've spent alot of money and time to this point.I don't want some kind of a hack job or to screw the car up.Money is a issue as usual.I'm waiting untill Maverick comes thurs and looks at the fox body before I get the 98 on the lift . I know it doesn't make any difference on remounting the rack the rack is a Stletto spelling???

My BBF 97 has an AJE k member in the factory location and a factory rack and pinion. Using front motor plate. The bottom of the pan has the clearence of a gnats ass between the rack and the front sump is a cunt hair away from the front of the rack. No fitment problems.

Which pan do you have?

I have a moroso fox boy pan.This thing has a bolt in k member but it no where near a factory piece.It is built similar to most limited st cars I've seen .It has a single tube that wraps around the front no provisions for motor mounts or anything.It is a nice piece it is just in my way right now.

Make sure its not over 12.5" high to the damper. You might no be able to keep the front end down.

solved the problem when I went back and bought the whole set up that was in the car motor,pan and external oil pump system.Thanks for everyones help.