LS motor mounts + crossmember recommendations?

[Ned Kelly]

I'm an LS newb, so looking for some advice.
1988 Burb with a 2" lift, crossover steering, Dana 60 front.
Trying to keep it low. I understand that crossover will work with front springs that sit straight (no positive arch), so 2-2.5" front springs should be good in that regard.

Engine and trans from an Escalade...6.2 with 6l80...will run a NP205 for a tc.


Any suggestions on which motor mounts and cross member to go with?

 

[76k5blazerr]

CPP makes nice adjustable adapters that bolt to your LS and then can be used with the factory "clamshell" engine mounts in your sub. They also make crossmembers.

 

[handloader90]

TNA. He's a vendor on here.

I have his crossmember and LS Motor Mounts and they are really nice.

 

[handloader90]

I hear you can run the ORD big block crossmember and it will clear the oil pan.

DIY4X makes some LS mounts and just the LS adapter plates that would work with that crossmember

 

[handloader90]

Tilden Motorsports also makes a '73-'87 ('91) specific LS crossmember and mounts that can be purchased through Pacific Fabrication.

 

[handloader90]

TNA thread.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/tna-engine-crossmember-kit.306827/

 

[Ned Kelly]

Good info guys.
I see in the above link the frame had to be notched with the factory exhaust.
I'd like to avoid that.
Any particular headers that are recommended?

 

[handloader90]

Good info guys.
I see in the above link the frame had to be notched with the factory exhaust.
I'd like to avoid that.
Any particular headers that are recommended?

Schoenfeld 1302LS1, they have recently updated the orientation of 02 bungs on these headers. If you order these I would probably order these directly from Schoenfeld to make sure your getting the updated product and not some older version ones that Summit or one of the other speed shops may still have in inventory.

You can also use a pair of used or "new take-off" 2012 camaro exhaust manifolds or Trailblazer SS exhaust manifolds and not have to clearance the frame rails. You could probably find a pair of these cheap on eBay vs. the headers.

 

[rjfguitar]

Tilden Motorsports also makes a '73-'87 ('91) specific LS crossmember and mounts that can be purchased through Pacific Fabrication.

PF's Crossmember sucks. It's expensive and I had to fab up my own end pieces to make it actually bolt to the frame. Their motor mounts aren't much better. Mine that were sold to me did not put the engine back into the stock location. With the plates set for the rear most setting, my LQ4 was still 1" forward from stock position. I would source both of those items from someone else listed in this thread.

 

[rjfguitar]

As far as headers I have Doug Thorley Tri Y's and love them, yeah they are expensive but high quality and look great.

 

[Larry]

I hear you can run the ORD big block crossmember and it will clear the oil pan

Yes, I have those on both of my squares with 8.1s with clearance to spare. 8.1 oil pans dwarf GenIII oil pans by a long shot. Did one GenIII small bock into a square with out one and it required some minor grinding on the engine block but was still very close. Recommend the ORD BB xmember for that one too but we were over budget

 

[Rugby_7]

I am also using the TNA engine cross member and ls motor mounts. Great quality and heavy duty. Also using their transmission cross member. Definitely recommend!

 

[Ned Kelly]

Ok, sounds like I'll go with some vendor on here for a crossmember.
Probably ORD crossmember since it should work with only 2" of lift and crossover steering.
I'll go with some CK5 vendor for the LS motor mounts as well, not sure which yet.

Regarding headers, anyone know if the ls3 corvette headers will work without clearancing the frame rails?
I'll also check into the used or "new take-off" 2012 camaro exhaust manifolds or Trailblazer SS exhaust manifolds and not have to clearance the frame rails as mentioned above.

 

[handloader90]

I'm sure they would, I bet they're nice and close to the block.

 

[6872xtc]

I saw a K30 the had truck manifolds on it with just minor grinding on the collector.
But I hear that headers help them run better....

I would like to know how you do crossover with that small lift. I have been told that 3" is considered the minimum. But it can depend on different factors.
So I am wanting to see!

 

[Ned Kelly]

ORD said crossover will work with front springs packs that are flat (zero arch) as the miniumum, which seems to be about a 2-2.5" lift.
I will post up pics on the finished crossover.

 

[Larry]

This is how the ORD GU32005 -Big Block crossmember looks installed with 8.1L’s, which has a much bigger oil pan than a Gen III “LS” engine.

Suburban with Energy Poly engine mount inserts in OEM clams. Can’t see the oil pan clearance in this phone

A little better view of the clearance. This one is the K10 with 8.1L, ORD Xmember and same Energy Suspension poly mount inserts

An example of a “LS” engine with the OEM xmember in a 91 K5. Interference between the block and xmember near the P/S pump

After a lot of elbow grease with a hand file. My arm still hurts over a year later. This truck also used Energy Suspension poly inserts in OEM clam with Dirty Dingo engine mount bracket as you can see in the photo. Love those mounts. Very heavy duty with practically zero engine harmonics emitted into the chassis unlike most all of the competition type engine mounts.

 

[handloader90]

Ok, sounds like I'll go with some vendor on here for a crossmember.
Probably ORD crossmember since it should work with only 2" of lift and crossover steering.
I'll go with some CK5 vendor for the LS motor mounts as well, not sure which yet.

Regarding headers, anyone know if the ls3 corvette headers will work without clearancing the frame rails?
I'll also check into the used or "new take-off" 2012 camaro exhaust manifolds or Trailblazer SS exhaust manifolds and not have to clearance the frame rails as mentioned above.

The TNA crossmember that I have clears my DIY4X crossover steering fine, the draglink is nowhere near the crossmember.

TNA incorporates a panhard bar mount into his crossmembers, cool idea but I opted for a crossmember without one.

Just FYI his crossmember and LS motor mounts are slotted (I don't know a betrer way to word it), they allow you to move things around a little bit to get everything in the stock position so you can use your tranny crossmember and not have to drill new holes to mount it.

 

[handloader90]

And the bottom "brace" unbolts so you can change the oil pan with ease, badass feature that I haven't seen in any other crossmember.

 

[6872xtc]

@handloader90 How much lift do you have? I am just wondering if the clearance between the axle and the TNA crossmember would be a concern with a low lift.