Left: The core
support from
US Car Tool is
designed to
mount a 26-inch-
wide radiator with
extra clearance
for a conventional
water pump
and fan. The
core support is
built from heavy
12-gauge steel
for additional
strength at the
front of the car.The OEM-style motor mount on the
right fits our K-frame, but the internal
rubber bushings were in poor shape.
Fortunately, Schumacher Creative Services
makes replacement spool mounts with
polyurethane inserts as shown on the left.
Right: Car crafting is all about
the mock-up. An A-Body–
compatible big-block oil pan
requires clearance for the
steering linkage, and it’s much
easier to work out the issues
on the bench than in the car. Be
sure to install everything on the
mock-up to verify that it will fit
and work together when it goes
in the car. We test-fit four oil
pans before we found one that
worked right.We had a chassis shop install the new core support as well as the stiffening structures
under the inner fenders. These new parts make the chassis stiffer and will provide a solid
foundation for other items like the front spoiler, radiator, and hoodpins.Below: A late-model B-Body radiator is mocked-up in the car for now, but a final decision
hasn’t been made on which radiator to use. We will cover the new cooling system in an
upcoming article once we figure it out.AUGUST 2019 CARCRAFT.COM 35With the motor plate out of the picture,
we had to use a factory-style K-frame and
motor mounts. This is a vintage Direct
Connection K-frame with late-model spool
mounts. The spool-mount K-frame is from
a 1973-or-later car, but it bolts right into
our 1972.