Cross Member Shift

I finally got around to sizing up my Buick 215 in my cj5 over the weekend. I dropped the engine in while attached to the T90 and Dana 18. To get everything where I want it to be, I had to drop the crossmember 1 inch for clearance. No big deal, it will reduce the driveshaft angles too. The crossmember is still in the stock location (not moved forward or backward) so I can keep the stock driveshaft lengths. It clears the firewall just perfect also. However, the engine sits about 1.25 inches off center toward the driver side of the engine compartment. I'd like to get it on center not only for balance purposes, but to clear my saginaw steering shaft. This can only be accomplished if I shift the crossmember 1.25 inches to the right. I sized it up and with a 1 inch drop, everything will clear. The move in the shifters to the right from inside the cab is no big deal either. The only concern I have are the driveshaft angles. While a 1 inch vertical angle reduction is accomplished by the drop, a 1.25 inch horizontal angle will occur with a crossmember shift. Anyone foresee any problems with this? I'm sure I'm not the first person to contemplate a crossmember shift when performing an engine swap. I really don't have much of a choice, but I want to see what you guys think before I build the motor mounts and shift the crossmember.

By the way, my father installed a volvo B20 in a cj5 15 years ago and moved the trans and tcase to the right about the same distance and its been working without any problems.

 

I thought the drive train is ****ed a little bit anyway. I dont see where there would be any problems with it . All the shafts are with in 20 degrees of center arnt they?

 

the stock F head does sit off center toward the driver side. this picture illustates it pretty well....

http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Photos/Owners/Merritt/MerrittEngineRear.JPG

so naturally, any other motor you bolt up will sit off center aswell. the only way to fix this is to shift the tranny and tcase or shift the entire crossmember to the right. (i plan to shift the entire crossmember so the tranny and tcase mounts still line up).

even with the shift, the shafts are well within 20 degrees of center.

i'm looking for anyone else who has done a swap and shifted the cross member. any issues? or has everyone who has done a swap left it in the stock location and has a motor that sits off center toward the driver side? i doubt thats the case cus i figure pretty much any V6 or V8 will have interference with either the stock ross steering or the saginaw upgrade if it is left off center. unless of course your motor sits higher in the engine compartment. the 215 does have a bellhousing which forces the engine to sit low between the frame rails.

what did jeep do when they offered the 225 V6? does that motor sit offcenter?

 

yes it does
about 1" to the drivers side for front driveshaft to starter clearance
also clearance for oil filter to front pumpkin