New Project 1963 Skylark

So here is my new Project 1963 Skylark. The plan is SBC 350 LT1 with a 4L60E trans.  I have already purchased the engine/trans combo with a stand alone harness.  Yes, I know it will be tons of work to make it fit.  I will be on a budget so this will take awhile.

That's gonna be one quick Sky!! Very kewl project -- keep us posted!!

Welcome BTW!

How do I post pictures?

Hit the host images button ( Fourth panel to the right, just above the text pane, 1st icon ).

Hit select files and select your pics from your device.

After selecting all your pics you want to share, hit the send all button.

You can then choose the size of the pics, by default it's 800 ( which is good for the forum ).

Next hit the insert all button.

Then finally hit the send button on the bottom of text pane.  Viola pics!

Thank you I will try.

This is the engine/trans. combo and the stand alone harness

Still trying to figure out the picture posting thing..

Welcome to the group, keep us posted as you make progress...

That looks like a nice start to HOT street machine! Likewise on the updates! And it seems you got the photo thing for the most part figured out. If you unsure how things will look and want to just play around with the image hosting you can always hit the preview button to see what it would look like before actually posting -- just a thought!

Well this weekend I cut a huge hole in the car for the 4L60E transmission.  I got the engine mounts made but I have to admit it took two tries.  The problem was the oil pan height (the Lt1 oil pan is 8 inches deep).  The steering linkage is right below the oil pan and this stops the engine from going any lower in the chassis.  The first set of mounts I made had the engine above the stock height steering linkage (I wanted/needed the engine and trans. lower so I wouldn't have to cut out the whole trans tunnel all the way down under the rear seat.  My solution was to heat the pitman arm and idler arm and bend them down to lower all of the linkage.  This gave me 1.5 more inches I could lower the eng/trans so I had to make the mounts again and grind out the ones I had already made.  That was a pita I really welded those in good. I didn't get a good picture of the engine mounts after I added gussets.

Up next I need to make a transmission crossmember and see I cant get the orginal heater box to fit behind the engine. The LT1 distributor is not in the rear on this engine so the heater may fit (crossed fingers).

lol

Lookin good Shee!!

Excuse my ignorance because I've no experience in this but is are there any concerns for geometry, steering capability, etc.. from bending the pitman and idler arm? Is this a common practice when doing a transplant?

Either way -- looks like you've been motivated! Wish we had Cali weather here lol -- I'd be out doing more myself -- still need to get that darn Reznor hung and hooked up in the garage -- that's goin on two years now lol

Well I am not sure about bending the pitman/idler arm. I know hot rodders have been doing it for years. If it drives badly I will have to figure that out later (maybe rack and pinion). But I will tell you I needed to drop the engine/trans down because the transmission was taking up to much space in the cabin. I also had to think about driveline and u-joint angles. I don't want vibrations in the driveline later.

Regal....I lived in Crystal Lake IL for a few years so I understand the weather. I will never again live anywhere it snows!

sheerider wrote:Regal....I lived in Crystal Lake IL for a few years so I understand the weather.  I will never again live anywhere it snows!

LOL -- yeah most of us on this board currently are living in the midwest ( aka Permafrost ) -- keep telling myself I'm moving away to warmer lands but a good paying job is hard to come by and even harder to leave...

So I got the transmission crossmember designed and welded up. I took a picture of the oil pan clearance from the steering linkage (it's close about half of an inch).  I also included a picture of the bent pitman arm.

Looks good Shee! Your fab skills appear to be on point!

Hard to tell from the pics the amount of bend on the pitman and idler due to the fact the pics are sideways -- anyway you can rotate them before posting? Should be able to do that either from your phone or comp thru windows picture viewer.

Additionally, I think with your blessing we should move this to the projects forum. Thoughts?

yes if you can move it that would be great thanks

Done! Thank you sir!

So I have finished the top side of the tunnel.  I have figured out I am horrible with sheet metal (bending and welding it).  The new engine and transmission are HUGE compared to the old 215/dynaflow.  The new tunnel is about 5 inches taller, about 6 inches wider and it now extends all the way under the back seat almost to the trunk.  I used the old transmission hump, I widened and extended it to cover the 4L60E then I made the rest out of 18 gauge steel.  I had a new one piece driveshaft made $425 (ouch). I am including a pic of the fancy tool I used to bend the sheet metal for the tunnel.

Can't comment on width but from the pics it looks good to me! Seems you did a fine job. I'm assuming you're running bucket seats of some type? and there is no interference with the gas pedal? Those would be my only two major concerns.

Any progress? I have a 62 Skylark and want to put a SBC or SBB in it this summer.