Hello everyone, I am new to this site. I have a 1969 Cutlass S we purchased. It was running, but not well. The guy had pulled the 350 and put a 455 in it. I pulled the engine, completely tore it down and bought new parts. I took it to a very good local builder and had him do his magic. $8000.00 later (mostly for the parts, some for labor) I have the engine back. I tried to put it back in the car and found that the motor sits crooked. When the tranny is bolted up the tail shaft sits toward the passenger side of the tunnel. It is bad enough that I cannot get the tranny bolted to the cross member. The tranny is a Cadillac TH400 that I had rebuilt as well. I have had the engine and tranny in and out of the car three times now. I have tried new motor mounts, new frame pads (the ones for a big block because the old ones were 350 pads). The car does not appear to have ever been wrecked, the only thing I can think is the frame is twisted a little because of the torque of the motor. I am at a total loss at this time and I am considering using an adjustable mount/frame pad if there is one made for this car. Can any of you shed a little light on what may be going on or some helpful advice to get this car back on the road? If any more info is needed let me know. I appreciate the time it took to read and give your opinions.

 

Welcome to the site. Pictures of your frame brackets on the front xmember would help. If it were in there before you pulled it correctly there is no reason for it not to be now.

 

The motor was in there before, but I don't think it was correct. It appears the u-joint was hitting the trans tunnel. I also found there was no motor mount bolt on the passenger side. I bought the pads and mounts that are in it now from Fusick. I forgot to mention these things. I will get some pics and post them. Thanks for the help.

 

This is a good read also:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...tion-list.html

 

Sounds to me like you've got a bent frame.

Choices are find a body man who's good at straightening frames or get another car.

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

 

Although I'm not sure its possible, but could the frame brackets be mounted in the wrong holes?

 

Which "Cadillac TH400"? Most of them were long-tail. The stock trans in a Cutlass would have been a short tail. Also, read this thread for motor and frame mount info. The BBO was factory installed in Cutlii, so this is a bolt-in operation. Pictures of what you have would help us diagnose the problem.