502 Crate motor

S

steven d. ferguson

New member
Aug 1, 1999
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Other Jim,
Yep! I believe Buskirk does them this way. It requires the adapter
plate you mention that is available in the Speedway catalogue and also
spacers on the torque converter matching the thickness of the adapter
plate. It's pretty simple to a point. Now you have to find headers and
a motor mount arrangement that works. I've had to fab up stuff like
this before for hot rods and it's more fun than work. (Careful if you
say that in the presence of one of these coaches.) I don't see a problem
with the pan as nothing is under it.
The 502's come with a pretty whimpy timing chain so a switch to a
Cloyes true double roller is a must. I'm not sure how the centerline of
the water pump lines up with the center of the shroud, but I'm sure
there's some slack in there somewhere. I'd be careful since that shroud
is so critical to cooling. All in all, the Chevy is cheaper than a good
Olds rebuild and if it ever failed, rebuilding is very reasonable as
parts are fairly inexpensive compared to what I've seen advertised for
the Olds.
I'm sure there's more but I haven't gotten there yet. My coach has
only got 40,000 miles on it and it runs pretty darn good. But when it
starts dying................you know the rest.
HTH your dreaming,
Steve Ferguson
 
This installation has been done by Buskirk's. They have done 2 in the
past 2 years. Requires special mods to the oil pan for the axles to
clear and brackets to mount the axle supports. Does Speedway have a
800 number so I can order a catalog?

John & Stephen,'
As usual, I should have read the whole digest before posting. It
didn't look like any mods had to be done to the pan but if Buskirks had
to do them, it's a must. I'd sure like to see one that is done. Check
the Internet for Speedway on-line. I've bought a lot of parts from them
in the past and I think a lot of their staff and inventory. Good folks
to do business with.
Steve Ferguson
 
Here's a 502ci Vortec crate engine in a GMC. It was done by Ken Rose of

San Antonio.

bdub,
I'd sure like a view from the other side. Any chance?
Steve Ferguson
 
Steve,
I've seen the conversion that was done at Buskirk's, The real trick is
the oil pan modification. They use a piece of thin wall tubing to go
thru the pan for axle half shaft to pass thru to the final drive. The
tubing just clears the crank throws. I have talked to Max Pardy the
shop supervisor to see if they were offer the conversion as a kit, but
no work as of yet if they will.

J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
77 Eleganza II
Michigan

>
> Other Jim,
> Yep! I believe Buskirk does them this way. It requires the adapter
> plate you mention that is available in the Speedway catalogue and also
> spacers on the torque converter matching the thickness of the adapter
> plate. It's pretty simple to a point. Now you have to find headers and
> a motor mount arrangement that works. I've had to fab up stuff like
> this before for hot rods and it's more fun than work. (Careful if you
> say that in the presence of one of these coaches.) I don't see a problem
> with the pan as nothing is under it.
> The 502's come with a pretty whimpy timing chain so a switch to a
> Cloyes true double roller is a must. I'm not sure how the centerline of
> the water pump lines up with the center of the shroud, but I'm sure
> there's some slack in there somewhere. I'd be careful since that shroud
> is so critical to cooling. All in all, the Chevy is cheaper than a good
> Olds rebuild and if it ever failed, rebuilding is very reasonable as
> parts are fairly inexpensive compared to what I've seen advertised for
> the Olds.
> I'm sure there's more but I haven't gotten there yet. My coach has
> only got 40,000 miles on it and it runs pretty darn good. But when it
> starts dying................you know the rest.
> HTH your dreaming,
> Steve Ferguson
 
AS another comment: Looking at the pictures that Bill has on his site
the oil pan appears to be a stock type. Buskirk's pan was much larger
to increase the oil capacity.

>
> Steve,
> I've seen the conversion that was done at Buskirk's, The real trick is
> the oil pan modification. They use a piece of thin wall tubing to go
> thru the pan for axle half shaft to pass thru to the final drive. The
> tubing just clears the crank throws. I have talked to Max Pardy the
> shop supervisor to see if they were offer the conversion as a kit, but
> no work as of yet if they will.
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC GreatLaker
> 77 Eleganza II
> Michigan
>

> >
> > Other Jim,
> > Yep! I believe Buskirk does them this way. It requires the adapter
> > plate you mention that is available in the Speedway catalogue and also
> > spacers on the torque converter matching the thickness of the adapter
> > plate. It's pretty simple to a point. Now you have to find headers and
> > a motor mount arrangement that works. I've had to fab up stuff like
> > this before for hot rods and it's more fun than work. (Careful if you
> > say that in the presence of one of these coaches.) I don't see a problem
> > with the pan as nothing is under it.
> > The 502's come with a pretty whimpy timing chain so a switch to a
> > Cloyes true double roller is a must. I'm not sure how the centerline of
> > the water pump lines up with the center of the shroud, but I'm sure
> > there's some slack in there somewhere. I'd be careful since that shroud
> > is so critical to cooling. All in all, the Chevy is cheaper than a good
> > Olds rebuild and if it ever failed, rebuilding is very reasonable as
> > parts are fairly inexpensive compared to what I've seen advertised for
> > the Olds.
> > I'm sure there's more but I haven't gotten there yet. My coach has
> > only got 40,000 miles on it and it runs pretty darn good. But when it
> > starts dying................you know the rest.
> > HTH your dreaming,
> > Steve Ferguson
 
Would be really nice to have an NEW ENGINE drop-in replacement engine. I
keep think about the astronauts "here we sit on top of 50,000 parts, and
they are all Low bid..."

gene

>Other Jim,
> Yep! I believe Buskirk does them this way. It requires the adapter
>plate you mention that is available in the Speedway catalogue and also
>spacers on the torque converter matching the thickness of the adapter
>plate. It's pretty simple to a point. Now you have to find headers and
>a motor mount arrangement that works. I've had to fab up stuff like
>this before for hot rods and it's more fun than work. (Careful if you
>say that in the presence of one of these coaches.) I don't see a problem
>with the pan as nothing is under it.
> The 502's come with a pretty whimpy timing chain so a switch to a
>Cloyes true double roller is a must. I'm not sure how the centerline of
>the water pump lines up with the center of the shroud, but I'm sure
>there's some slack in there somewhere. I'd be careful since that shroud
>is so critical to cooling. All in all, the Chevy is cheaper than a good
>Olds rebuild and if it ever failed, rebuilding is very reasonable as
>parts are fairly inexpensive compared to what I've seen advertised for
>the Olds.
> I'm sure there's more but I haven't gotten there yet. My coach has
>only got 40,000 miles on it and it runs pretty darn good. But when it
>starts dying................you know the rest.
>HTH your dreaming,
>Steve Ferguson
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
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