55 Pontiac help!

I've been working on my 55 chieftain 2 dr coupe for a little over a year now and it's time to put the engine in. I got a crate 350 chevy with trans combo (belly ****on but super reliable!) and went to drop it in when the dramas started! The sump was fowling on the steering rack so I tried lifting it but then the transmission started fowling on the tunnel. To have the sump and the transmission clear of hitting anything the engine is at a crazy angle which doesn't make any sense.

In a nutshell has anyone put a 350 in a 55 pontiac? if so any chance of any advice?

maybe something worth mentioning just in case anyone else has any good ideas is that the chieftain looks like it has the same ch***is as the 55 chevy convertible (with the k member). Not the same ch***is as the sedan.

Thanks a million in advance!!

 

You can buy modified oil pans to clear the steering linkage.I have seen self notched pans and is a solution if you are handy with a mig.

 

You didn't mention whether you have a USA or Canadian version of the Pontiac.The wheelbase on the USA car is 122"(or 124" if it is a Star Chief)whereas the Canadian version is 115"(actually a Chevrolet frame).

 

Ive put a 350 700r4 in a Safari, had all the room in the world. Is a Cheiftan different?

 

I put a BBC in a 56 Chieftan 2dr hrdtp with a turbo 400 trans and had no clearance issues.

 

Notching the oil pan (sump) is definitely something I thought of. Forgive my ignorance but is there any reason I couldn't do that? Wouldn't affect how the oil gets around the engine?

I'm pretty sure that it's an American Chieftain - not the Starchief model. Mine has the stumpy trunk.

Thanks for the help!

Unfortunately I'm not handy with a mig at all! Anyone in the UK who could do that modification?

 

Some of the mid 1960's Chevy II oil pans may work for you. They are made for a different cross member than the standard ones. Sorry I don't recall the exact year model anymore.