weird measurement for pre-95 van owners

[Mr_Roboto]

Hey, I'm looking for an odd measurement. I want to know how far the distributor is away from the back of the dog house. Preferably measuring from the shaft, not the cap as the V8s use a different cap on them than the 6es. While I'd prefer anything pre-95 if you've got the 1990 and earlier that's even better as they changed the dog house slightly so I'm not sure if the opening shape is different. I am 99% sure that the engine is repositioned in the later vans however so that's why I'm bringing it up.

[chevymaher]

It may be earlier than 90 for the doghouse change. My 90 and my 94 doghouses were identical. Same dash, instrument cluster interchanged but was different. Engine was positioned the same also.

[Phantom]

, if it is critical to get accurate measure , for $20 you can get a doghouse from a salvage yard and cut an opening for measurement ,

[Mr_Roboto]

The thing is that I need the measurement not of the dog house its self but of the distributor to the dog house. If the transmission's angle is right on my swap, the distance from the distributor to the doghouse edge should be the same. This gives me a way to figure out if I am in the ball park on this swap before I weld up the cross member.

[Jasen]

Give it a fair eye ball, then put a blob of modeling clay on to the dist/cap, so that when you put the D/H on the clay will mold to the D/H. I've used this trick to fit things that can't be seen or measured.

[Mr_Roboto]

My problem is I already yanked the 700R4 so I don't have the original angle. I think there is some confusion over the measurement I need, maybe a pic will do better.

[Phantom]

I was thinking that the engine is still there , if you have a doghouse mounted in place and cut a hole in the doghouse in which to stick a yardstick or other measuring device in and put it up against the distributor shaft , then look at the yardstick to see how many inches it is from the dist shaft to the doghouse wall , if the doghouse is mounted in place then you have a stationary neasuring point at the dist shaft and the doghouse wall , considering the doghouse is only there for measuring purpose , which is why I suggest a salvage yard one , so you don't have to cut an access hole in the doghouse you plan to use after the work is done ,, as it be hard to get a measurement from the inside of the doghouse wall to the dist shaft without cutting on the doghouse wall

[Mr_Roboto]

You guys are way over complicating this. Check the picture out. Really easy to do without a second dog house, cutting a hole etc. etc.



In this case there's about 3.5" between the edge and the shaft. Easy.

[Phantom]

Not sure how to say this , but straight out ... the measurement you show in the pic would be the first most logical measurement to make to get an approx measure ,,,just as you did , remove doghouse and measure as you did ....which prompted me to say that it depends on how critical the measurement needed to be ... sometimes 1/4 . 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch can cause parts not to line up correctly , depending on how critical the measurement needs to be would dictate the need for another doghouse , a misalignment of 1/8 might have been a problem depending on what you were seeking to achieve

[Mr_Roboto]

Looking to be in the neighborhood atm, not within a thousandth tolerance or anything. My big issue is I want to see how much if any notching I'm going to have to do of the unibody where I'm hitting right now. The under drive uses an adapter that is significantly larger than a traditional 4L80E tail housing.

[chevymaher]

Okay I went down laid under the van. 2 3/4 inch from the outer edge of the distributor shaft. The part the hold down clamps on. to the edge of the floorpan where the dog house sits. I bent a piece of metal until it spanned it. I will find 2 pics so you know which points I used.

Edit the pics. From the point on distributor marked 1st pic.
Second pic that point on distributor to floorpan used.

[Mr_Roboto]

Okay I went down laid under the van. 2 3/4 inch from the outer edge of the distributor shaft. The part the hold down clamps on. to the edge of the floorpan where the dog house sits. I bent a piece of metal until it spanned it. I will find 2 pics so you know which points I used.

Edit the pics. From the point on distributor marked 1st pic.
Second pic that point on distributor to floorpan used.

distributor.jpg

measure.jpg

That's what I needed. You're stock location too I'm willing to assume. You rock! It appears I have PLENTY of clearance, just gotta get everything sectioned, notched and reinstalled for my trans now. That could be the interesting part to say the least.

[chevymaher]

Yes everything is the stock location.

[Mr_Roboto]

It appears I have 3" as you measured, so everything just "fell into place." I'll be able to do this without cutting the unibody, and I'll have to do some serious work to the cross member. I think it's going to need 2" of notch just to get to the height it's installable. My current plan is to weld in a piece of square tube, then cut out the center piece where it'd hit.