Suspension Geometry Question

[FattyMcBaggins]

Hey guys,
I have an S13 with a VQ35 swapped into it. I currently have the motor out of the car, and I'm trying to troubleshoot a few fitment issues. I'm using McKinney mounts, which fit and function great, but the VQ is a very tall motor, and I currently won't be able to fit a hood. I already got spacers for the hood, but I still don't think it will quite be enough. So, I was considering making 1/2 inch spacers for the front cross member to lower it a bit, effectively lowering the motor. My only question is if this will screw up the suspension geometry a ton, or if the effect will be nominal. I do have FULLY adjustable suspension, including the front LCA's, so I'm thinking I could be able to compensate for it? Ideas please, and preferably only constructive (or informed) ones. Thanks guys.

Here's a photo of where the engine was sitting:

[OutToWinPAHC]

What about a mount kit that allows for hood closure?

[AZhitman]

I ran into this on my KA-T S13. Changing the motor mounts makes a lot more sense (the McKinney mounts aren't ideal). How much space is currently between the subframe and pan? THAT is the distance you want to reduce.

Spacers on a crossmember = bad idea. Not only will it jack with your geometry, but you're altering the integrity and load bearing characteristics of a pretty important structure.

I'm guessing you have an HR, because McKinney claims the DE and RevUp VQ's fit beneath the stock hood with their mounts.

Drop the engine lower in the cradle.

[OutToWinPAHC]

There are too many VQ's with stock hoods, you can do it

[FattyMcBaggins]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I don't have an HR, the motor is from an '03 G35. The way the motor sits, is that the oil pan hangs in front of the crossmember, and the rest of the motor is sitting almost right on top of the cross member. Behind the cross member the engine dips back down to meet the transmission. It essentially sits like an upside down "U" over the cross member, so there's not too much wriggle room.
The spacer's seemed like a simple solution, but if it's going to throw everything out of whack, then I'll pass. I've done everything the right way so far, so I'll just keep truckin'! I also want to keep my motordyne plenum spacer because it adds more POWAH! Thinking about just putting the motor back in for now and modding a custom hood next month, then if I feel energetic enough later down the line, my buddy and I can fab up/mod a custom crossmember and mounts...We happen to have access to a pretty sweet fab shop. I'm so sick of doing body work at this point, so the hood sounds like a pain in the a** to me! haha. I spent over a year doing all of the prep work for the paint job, and then another month doing the engine bay! AH!!!!!!!
Thanks again for the input, you two have always been pretty helpful!

Oh, and when I bought everything from McKinney and asked about hood clearance, they said that they'd never put it in a car with a stock hood. It was always something with a CF or FRP hood.