Aaron

Thanks for the pictures and information. I was wondering why my gen light was coming on after I swapped in the 454. I have a feeling it's due to the 86 alternator being used when I have what appears to be the external regulator. I hope I didn't damage anything by running it with the new one hooked up. I was carefull with the wiring and thought I was smart to remove the connector and put female spades to hook up the newer alternator. Maybe the plug being different was trying to tell me something!

I drove (at idle) the car home with just manifolds. Overall the swap went well and I made due with the brackets it had. Now I'm on the look for the pulleys/brackets and proper front portion of the fan shroud. I don't fell bad about the swap, cause I'm almost certain it was not the original engine and tranny. The tranny had the universal type bolt pattern and I think a true tranny for the car would have only been the chevy pattern. The numbers on the engine point to a 73 engine and also the back of the flywheel was painted orange. Seems strange they would have put all the hoses, wires, AC, and everything else all back in place. I'll check the numbers again before I sell the 350 just to make sure.

Well the 454 is in... What a huge pain in the butt, the factory header style exhaust manifold really needs plugs installed but after waisting hours trying to find them I just welded them shut. One of them touches the rubber boot on the steering column, need to fix that asap. I was able to get the SB PS pump mounted by using the truck brackets. I feel like I can get it running tomorrow, atleast I hope so. I wanted to kick myself after I opened the drivers door for just a sec only to realize I had just messed up the paint on the ledging edge of the door as it just barely touched the fender! Of course I had it lifted just several inches off the ground and forgot it was suspended on the lift. Guess that was just a nuff to tweak the body or the gap is to small to begind with.

Something like this is what I need. http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIG-BLOCK-CHEVY-...7f0&vxp=mtr

I had a quick look on ebay this morning and didn't see much in terms of used, but I'll keep looking. If I change one pulley and or bracket I have a feeling I will need to change them all. I think I need at least the crank pulley, water pump pulley, PS bracket, and Alternator braket. That would allow me to use the old alternator with the skinny belt and the 350 PS pump in the BB bracket, right? I have to get it running and out of the craft center today to avoid extra charges, but if I can drive it five minutes back to the house I should be allowed to do a little work there.

I quickly figured out I was going to be in trouble with the PS/Alternator mounts. I'm going to try and get away with leaving them as is, like the same mounts that were on the truck until I get more money and time to buy the proper ones for the Monte. The engine mounts thankfully are in stock at the local parts store. I'll snap some pictures tomorrow and show the progress. Hopefully I can get it back running by tomorrow evening and get it to the exhaust shop. Why I decided to do this several weeks before I leave... I guess I was getting bored sitting at home on leave.

I got the 350 out in about 3 hours today at the craft center. I had no help, but that's ok cause it was fun and I made sure I was careful with the paint. Now the problems I still see coming is the fact the 454 is out of an 86 truck. The alternator pulley is wide and so is that portion of the crank pulley and the plug on the alternator looked differnet than my original. Maybe I could swap the fan/pulley on the alternator itself and use the older one. Next is the power steering pump is way differnet than the one on the 350 and the brackets look to be designed for the pump that was in the truck. I guess for now I will just unscrew my 350 power steering pump from the hoses and try to use the pump that is on the 454. I've got to go to the parts store tomorrow and grab motor mounts since they basically fell apart on the 350. Hopefully they have that HEI pink looking wire kit so I can run in to the fuse box for now. I was going to make a video of the entire procedure but ended up filming just short clips cause I'm in a hurry.

Any tips you guys can give that would help for a smooth install? I have no intentions of getting it perfect just now and will just hook up the big block to the th350 trans till I return. I expect problems in the area of the power steering hoses, will likely have to disconnect the AC for now, need to figure out how to power the HEI, and what changes may be required for the alternator to work. This 454 is out of a mid 86 Chevy. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/96/40123736045648064570710.jpg

My heater core took a dump all over my passanger side floor the day I was to bring it back home. I had to cut the lines and do a loop till I get around to changing it. Thanks for posting all the pics and tips on how to change it out!

Thanks for posting rodney! I was just out in the garage trying to figure out how I would get the same exact parts looking good again.