Thread: Motor mounts not lining up

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How far south are you from Detroit??? this could be an interesting road trip

Originally Posted by cffisher

Not sure how the trans mount would effect the engine mounts in the way he explains the problem..........If you have access to another truck I'd sure measure it and compare...ONE request when you figure this out post the answer cause there are a lot of us stumped..

I agree, Charlie. The tranny mount could affect the front to back MM position, but I cannot see how it could affect the spread of the mounts which is what's placing them a hair too high relative to the frame. How about if you slot your MM holes where they bolt to the block toward the top about 1/8" to 1/4", shifting your MM's down on the block a smidgen, which will put them just a bit closer together, dropping them down deeper between the frame rails. I cannot see that a minor slotting will affect your mount in any way as long as it's equal on both sides.

Man, this is becoming a case for CSI.

Ok, let's get it down to basics. It looks to me like your mounts do not go on the angled portion of the frame like I envisioned, but rather, they go straight up and down on a vertical portion of the frame. Is that correct?

If so, if you put weight on the engine mounts by taking some support out of the engine lift won't the frame portion of the mounts slide down that wall and line up with the holes?

Everytime you install a motor there is some fudging with a picklebar to get the holes to line up, and it looks to me from the pictures you took that those mounts are able to slide down that vertical wall the extra distance you need. Or am I missing something?

Don

No, scrap all of the above. The one picture you posted was throwing me off, I see they do go on an angled portion of the frame, in the other pictures. Hell, just redrill the holes a little higher on each side and be done with it. It's nothing us hot rodders haven't been doing for a million years and a 1/4 inch per side is nothing.

You might want to try a set from the local chevy dealer.

I will definitely let you guys know how I get this resolved. This engine is going in this truck, one way or the other! I'm just not about to get it in there the wrong way, not after all the money I've put in it...
I live in southwest Ohio, so about 4 hours south of Detroit.
I'm going to measure some other trucks in a few hours... Ill let you know what I find out.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Man, this is becoming a case for CSI.

Ok, let's get it down to basics. It looks to me like your mounts do not go on the angled portion of the frame like I envisioned, but rather, they go straight up and down on a vertical portion of the frame. Is that correct?

If so, if you put weight on the engine mounts by taking some support out of the engine lift won't the frame portion of the mounts slide down that wall and line up with the holes?

Everytime you install a motor there is some fudging with a picklebar to get the holes to line up, and it looks to me from the pictures you took that those mounts are able to slide down that vertical wall the extra distance you need. Or am I missing something?

Don

No, scrap all of the above. The one picture you posted was throwing me off, I see they do go on an angled portion of the frame, in the other pictures. Hell, just redrill the holes a little higher on each side and be done with it. It's nothing us hot rodders haven't been doing for a million years and a 1/4 inch per side is nothing.

They definitely go on the angled portion of the frame. I have pictures of the old mounts still installed after I pulled the old motor, and they are in the exact same spot.
Honestly, I really thought about redrilling the holes. The reason I haven't done it yet.... First, there is a reason it's not lining up, I didn't want to rig it up. A 350 came out, a 350 should go right back in! Something's wrong, and i'd rather find the issue, if possible. Secondly, if I move my bolts up, that means the engine will sit a bit higher, and I'm not sure if I will have to worry about problems with the transmission and transfer case lining up properly.

Originally Posted by rspears

How about if you slot your MM holes where they bolt to the block toward the top about 1/8" to 1/4", shifting your MM's down on the block a smidgen, which will put them just a bit closer together, dropping them down deeper between the frame rails. I cannot see that a minor slotting will affect your mount in any way as long as it's equal on both sides.

I could also do that. I want to find the problem, first, though. There HAS TO be a reason this isn't lining up. It's almost the same engine going in as what came out. Only difference is they are about 10 years apart.
Let me measure some other trucks, and try to get a hold of the guy who has my original motor mounts. I think I got his number... I'll let you know in a little bit.
Thanks!

Ok im pretty sure it's in the block- side mounts. I can slide my hand between the motor mount and the frame mount on my current one, but couldn't on any other truck I seen. looks like if I get a shorter engine side mount I'll be fine. Unfortunately the guy I sold my block to sent my old mounts to the scrapper.
I'll let you guys know when I get new mounts if thats the problem.
Thanks again for all the help.

Hello,
I'm new here, but I hope I can help . Are you missing the 1/4" strut brackets for the trans support ? They go between the block and block side mount. I have an 85 truck with 700r4 and need to use the brackets to shim out mounts.

Welcome to the forum, looks like you are contributing good info already.

Don

Originally Posted by insidemic

Hello,
I'm new here, but I hope I can help . Are you missing the 1/4" strut brackets for the trans support ? They go between the block and block side mount. I have an 85 truck with 700r4 and need to use the brackets to shim out mounts.

Welcome to CHR insidemic

I have built a dozen of these trucks and never had to shim out a motor mount. thats new to me but his problem was he was already to wide.

Ok, thanks everyone for all the help! I finally got my engine in my truck. It ended up being the wrong mount. The correct mount was just a tad bit shorter, not as curved (more boxy looking), and the holes for the through bolt was closer to the block by about a 1/4". The correct brackets also have the nut attached to the passenger side mount whereas the other mount did not.
I attached a picture of the original mount and the correct mount side by side, and as you can tell, they are not much different at all. The correct mount is the one in front (the one I haven't painted black yet)

Thanks again everyone for all the help! With the correct bracket, it literally took 5 minutes to put the block in. It dropped right on the mounts perfectly!

IMAG0679.jpgIMAG0678.jpg

I think that nut is there so you put the bolt in from the rear . The fuel pump would be in the way,going from the front.

Very good, glad you got it figured out. Bet you know more about Chevy mounts than you ever wanted to know.


Don

Originally Posted by cffisher

I think that nut is there so you put the bolt in from the rear . The fuel pump would be in the way,going from the front.

Yes, absolutely correct... which is what I did.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Very good, glad you got it figured out. Bet you know more about Chevy mounts than you ever wanted to know.

That's for sure!!!

Just when you think you've seen it all .....

Ran into this delima on a 350 install from a 2wd 1990 suburban into a 4wd 91 Suburban. Big thanks to Clubhotrod forum making the solution public.