Cutout size

[tetomas]

Can anyone who has done an LS swap, and kept the engine in the stock location tell me the size of the cutout that needs to be made in the front crossmember? Working on boxing the open sections of frame, and would like to cut and box this opening while the welding is going on. I could test fit and then cut but it would be so much easier if someone knows the size.
Jimmy

 

[jlcustomz]

Minimum amout needed will of course vary according to what mounts & where you set your location.You could use the picture I provided for a rough gauge, I,d add about 1 1/2" of cutout to oil pan width. Depth of my cut is about 2 - 2 1/2" deep, which has extra room where you can see at bottom. This should be safe enough to do now & fit later. Also if you look at my ac notch behind idler arm , it has extra clearance, partly because I later sawpped to sanden comp after 2 factory ls comp failures. At the top of the motor mount area I took out an extra inch of rear depth fo just a little ways down.