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Ord VS Factory engine cross member (LSX Clearance)

Babaganoosh

Babaganoosh

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Does anyone happen to know how much closer the ORD engine cross member is to the 350 oil pan? I'm looking to clear a LSX truck oil pan, and wondering if they could custom make me one to clear before I order it for simplicity.
 
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Good point, but they are closed. :haha: It's hard for me to make a phone call while working, but I think I might be able to swing a few mins.
 
They make 2 different 'members, one for SBC and BBC. I would assume the BBC has more clearance downwards for the deeper pan. :dunno:
 
I am not sure why this is what it is but I have a ORD cross member and it is a sbc one cause that is what my truck came with. With the new oil pan on my 454 it clears by .040 or so at the rear tube. They said the it needed to be sbc to match the truck.
 
I think the LS pans are square aluminum things. The ORD cross member goes directly under the factory BBC or SBC pan. Mine clears my BBC by like an inch any bigger and it would not fit.
 
Interesting...

Looking at this thread the ORD cross member doesn't clear the pan.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271118&page=2
But post 91 says it fits but very tight.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271118&page=10
Post 108 Has the ORD cross member and the twisted engineering cross member
Post 109 has my answer. I think I need ORD to make me a custom one with Inch lower then normal.

Now I wonder how much difference the small block vs big block ORD Cross member is so maybe I can have the BB member clear but fit the small block motor mount plates.
 
kgblazerfive said:
I think the LS pans are square aluminum things. The ORD cross member goes directly under the factory BBC or SBC pan. Mine clears my BBC by like an inch any bigger and it would not fit.
Click to expand...

This is the oil pan I will be trying to clear.

dim_oil_pan_02-06_truck-900x800.jpg
 
I could buy a oil pan, but I already have the truck one and smoothed it out and painted it. :doah:

705.jpg


I also have the 4wd cross member going into a 2wd truck, but I like the looks and function of the ORD member much better.
 
Depending on what you are using the truck for I would be wary of getting any cross member that hangs down to far.

If it has to be lower because of the oil pan, I would want it the closest that I could to the pan. If it was a wheeling truck, just a driver not really going to matter.
 
In relation to the mount is all that matters. May be taller physically but where is it relation to the mounts.
 
This truck will see mild wheeling hardly any crawling.

I would assume close to the factory small block 350.

Here is a picture of Tecks truck, you can kind of see where it would sit.
IMG_1152.jpg
IMG_1152.jpg


I will be using dirty dingo adjustable motor mount plates to mate with the standard 350 plates to slide the engine forward or backward.
DirtyDingoMounts.jpg


I also wouldn't mind using ORD's or DIY4X motor mounts.
 
You know how Kert is pretty flexible in fabricating his parts that he could modify the motor mounts like making the engine sit an extra inch higher than the standard mounts he offers out to sell. Would this be adequate clearance under the 'member? Then you'd only have to space the tranny/t-case up an additional inch with spacers and to play it safe with body clearance just get some 1" ORD body lift pucks.
 
I can only verify my combination :-)

Holley LSX Conversion Pan
ORD BBC Crossmember
Dirty Dingo adjustable frame mounts

With the DD mounts I was able to slide the motor back a few inches which gave me barely 1/4 on an inch between the pan and the crossmember. If the motor was was in the stock location, it would have hit.

Look in the last half of my LS build and you'll see a pic of the clearance I have.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280586
 
That is very possible.

Here is a member that used a ord cross member with a lsx swap.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3131490&postcount=169

How he got it to work
You either need the ORD motor mount 1" wider (less the width of the washers) or the Dirty Dingo mount 1" narrower.

I do not see the problem with my setup, especially vs the $ of custom fab, but agree it would be nice to find something that was premade compatible.

ORD's mounts position the engine higher, which you do not need if you are flexible on engine position (front to rear), but help if you are not or are unsure. I can move mine against the firewall and about 6" or so more forward than the DD bracket will allow.
Click to expand...

Here is the oil pan he is using.
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance/809/19212593/10002/-1
809-19212593_2.jpg
 
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