Thread: Project "Left Overs" is back alive !

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Well Don, you have got us all building your car for you now and we don't have to fight the mossies but I agree with whoever said loose the moon tank, keep those small headlights and exactly where you have them. Heck hows that and I didn't even get my hands dirty

Well I like the moon tank. However in that shot it looks out of place. I think it is the tires and hubcaps. I know you got some pie crusts for the rear. Those will change the look and attitude. It just doesn't have the drag look in that pic, but I know it was just an early mock up. But in the end it only has to look bitch-en to you. I am going to take out the 32 grill and make one from alum. with dimple die holes to give mine more of the late 60's drag look. I'll cut it down and use on my rpu. Yours is coming along nicely. Ain't it sweet when they start looking like something besides a pile of parts.

I've actually been thinking along the same lines, the Moon tank may be better saved for another project. I would like to build a little Austin Bantam drag car, like I had lots of years ago, and do have that 355 Chevy engine that came out of the drag Camaro I bought. As this rpu is coming together it is starting to want to be something else than I originally thought, so I may just do it as an old roadster and leave it at that.

Today Dan and I started building the engine mounts. Hurst doesn't make one for the 64 394 Olds, but we got one figured out that is coming along pretty well. I forgot my camera at the shop, but will post some pictures of it tomorrow. I ordered a pair of early Ford bisquit engine mounts and we are using those on the ends of the mount we are making. It took a lot of thought to come up with something that would work and still look clean, but thanks to Dan's help I think we hit it.

Don

All sounds grand Don, I hope i'm not being picky here but i would prefer to see the trackrod mounted below the steering arms, at the moment its visually making the front look higher than it really is, just a thought.

Regarding the Olds motor mount, I made this one for my 32, Might give you a few ideas

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I've actually been thinking along the same lines, the Moon tank may be better saved for another project. I would like to build a little Austin Bantam drag car, like I had lots of years ago, and do have that 355 Chevy engine that came out of the drag Camaro I bought. As this rpu is coming together it is starting to want to be something else than I originally thought, so I may just do it as an old roadster and leave it at that.

Today Dan and I started building the engine mounts. Hurst doesn't make one for the 64 394 Olds, but we got one figured out that is coming along pretty well. I forgot my camera at the shop, but will post some pictures of it tomorrow. I ordered a pair of early Ford bisquit engine mounts and we are using those on the ends of the mount we are making. It took a lot of thought to come up with something that would work and still look clean, but thanks to Dan's help I think we hit it.

Don

Not familiar with the term "trackrod", Steve. I think you are referring to the tie rod? If so, that picture with the tierod mounted out front was the old frame and front suspension that are not being used now, the new setup has the tie rod mounted behind, in the normal position. I only posted that old picture for reference of how the headlights looked.

As for the motor mount, ours is similar (but not as shiny ) however the center of ours had to be different because Oldsmobile changed to an aluminum timing cover in something like 1963 and the usual Hurst type mounting is not possible. There is nothing strong enough to bolt straight into, so the majority of the load has to be carried by the bottom of the timing cover, just like it was with the single front mount Olds used. Your Olds is the one that had the conventional pattern in front, so the Hurst style mounts, like you made, will bolt on.

We are going to use the biquits on the ends, as you did in that picture. I also picked up an Energy Suspensions transmission mount yesterday and we are going to fab up a removable rear crossmember around that.

Don

The project is coming along great, Don!!!! Sometimes when a project has to sit in the corner for awhile, when you get back on it the new and better ideas for the build just start flowing!!!!!---At least that's one of my favorite excuses for taking so long on building my own stuff!!!!!!

I agree, Dave. As much as I love doing this stuff, sometimes you just need a break. Now that we are back on it again it is more fun. It has "slightly" been a few degrees cooler the past couple of weeks, due to the all day rains we have been getting at times, so that helps make it more fun too.

Don

I'm so used to side mid engine Ford mounts, that these front mounting systems throw me for a loop! I have to say if my mounts were in front, I would be happy right now, but alas my driver's side header is not clearing the motor mount/ steering box space, thus the long pause while I figure out which direction to go now!

Steve, I wish Olds had used conventional side mounts prior to 1965, when they finally went to them. Their setup as always the reverse of what everyone else was doing, they put one mount in the front, middle of the motor, and two back on the bellhousing. Hurst made mounts like the one Steve in UK posted, but they only fit something like 1949-62, then Olds went to the aluminum timing cover and Hurst mounts didn't fit.

It will be somewhat of a long distance between the new front mounts and the tailshaft mount on the TH350, but it is what it is, and I will just have to live with it.

Don

Gotcha Don, I thought you had changed it all. That Energy suspension mount is it a Poly one, If so it shouldn't be used with the rubber mounts, when used this way they have been known to break off the rear mount, they are ok if Poly front and rear though.

Originally Posted by roadster32

Gotcha Don, I thought you had changed it all. That Energy suspension mount is it a Poly one, If so it shouldn't be used with the rubber mounts, when used this way they have been known to break off the rear mount, they are ok if Poly front and rear though.

Boy, you're just full of good news today ! I'm going to chain the engine down (mainly for old school looks) so if it moves it deserves to break the mount off !

Don

You'd better step back and look at the mount deal again-----you will need a mid mount when you use those front and tail trans mount or the engine will not only torque over bad but you'll break the trans in the bell housing area!!
there's a reason why and how the oem did what they did and its usually cost or warrantee related

I think a mid plate would resolve any issues before they happen and the costs of replacing a damaged tranny.Even if you didn't break the case,that kind of flexing isn't good for any trans.

I'm going to risk it. There have been a lot of cars built with Hurst front mounts and then one on the tailshaft, with no problems. If I were drag racing this car or beating on it that would be a different story, but I take it pretty easy on my cars, so I should be ok. If I want a car to beat on, I have my 27, that is what it was built for. This one will be my cruiser.

If you think about it, side mounts are only about 6 inches back from the front spot, so how much more balance can you get there than a properly mounted one right in front? If I find there is a problem down the road, I'll deal with it. The car I am cloning had the same Hurst front mounts and one on the tailshaft of the Cad/LaSalle trans, and it worked fine. Like I have always said, there is the perfect world and then there is the real world. Ideally, this engine would be set up for side mounts, but it isn't, so I have to deal with it the best I can.

Back to the build. This weekend we got the front mount built and also built the frame mounts that hold the early Ford bisquits. I had a couple of partially complete biquits in my stock, enough to mock things up until the new ones come Tuesday. Dan busted his tail for two days, figuring out the best way to build the mounts and then doing the actual fab work. I did about 10% of what he did, and I really am appreciative of his hard work. It turned out much better than what I would have turned out.

Now we can build the transmission crossmember, which should be a piece of cake, compared to the front one. Here are some pictures from this weekend.

Don

I will have a closer look in a few weeks time Don but its looking goodo