Finally dropped my 383 in and can't remember a few things.....

[bassackwards]

It's been 6 months since I pulled the other engine out and can't remember a few things.....

It was a 5.7 TBI with a 700R4. Keeping the 700R4 and added a Vortec 383.

First question. Does the bellhousing use 4 bolts in the lower holes and 2 studs in the upper holes?

I have a tube looking shield that came from somewhere down there that wires went through to be protected from the exhaust pipe. I can't remember where it goes.

After the Rockauto fiasco with sending the wrong motor mounts I am moving forward today.... hopefully!

 

[sweetk30]

stud bolts go were there needed to hold hoses or tabs for stuff like dipstick tube .

small bent tube for wires shields starter wires from up top on pass side and goes on last 2 belhousing bolts on pass side .

hope you did not get stock replacement rubber clamb shell mounts . lots of members here have had problems with them failing in short order . i always do energy-suspension inserts if stock mount style is used .

 

[mechted]

Tube = probably heat shielding for starter wiring. Coming down from the firewall to the passenger side of engine. Should fit somewhere in that area

 

[bassackwards]

Thanks! Too late on the engine mounts. Hopefully it will not be too hard to swap them out when they fail

 

[diesel4me]

I "delete" that tube and run the wires directly to the positive battery post,even if that required adding some length to reach it..
GM used to wire up the harness that way previously..
I feel they made a mistake putting the main power wires in that conduit..

I had enough roached wires and fusible link problems from the exhaust heat roasting that tube the wires ran thru,got tired of fixing them,and re-routed them,leaving the fusible links intact up close to the battery,where you can replace them with ease should they ever fry from a short circuit..better than lying under the truck an hour fumbling around..an added benefit is there is only the purple "crank" wire and the positive battery cable at the starter solenoid after you re-route the main red power wires..

 

[bassackwards]

Does the trans dipstick tube go under the bolt head or onto a stud?

It sure looks like it wants to line up touching the transmission ( with the bracket under the bolt head). Not sure this is right though and access is really tight in there. I cannot get it to go onto a stud after I install and tighten it, I tried the stud first since that made more sense to me.

 

[bassackwards]

Got this far today

There is a big rod with 2 bolts coming forward from the transfer case. Where does it mount on the front?

 

[sweetk30]

2 bolts on t-case end ? if so they stay there and the bent over end with 1 hole for 5/16 or 3/8" will get a bolt / stud combo on the engine bell housing to hold it . its the t-case brace rod .

 

[bassackwards]

Got that figured out.

I have to say that these Doug's headers are the best quality work that I have ever seen. Heavy, straight, and have plenty of clearance on every side.

I snagged them off CL for $200 and they had never been installed. I have to plug the air injection holes though.

 

[bassackwards]

It's alive!

Got it fired up today and ran it a minute or so with open headers and no coolant so I didn't let it run long but even that is a milestone!