Thread: Project Special K

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Spent the last two days fitting the engine and tranny to their new mounts in the truck. I'm close but need to get the engine back about 1-2 inches more for my crank pulley to miss the front cross frame member. It involves cutting out an old cross member in back where the stock tranny mounted and then getting the engine to sit in place on the new cross mount engine mounts, which are on a tubular steel bar with the ability to pivot front to back for angle placement and can be slid foward and back to line up correctly with the engine. Monday my friend is volunteering yet another day to help get the big mother in! Thanks Mike I owe you.

Well even though I'm working this weekend I've been posting to get help on my two current issues. 1) the tranny binding up on the engine when the bell housing is torqued on, and 2) the positioning of the engine and tranny into the truck to get all the necessary clearances. The positioning is solved thanks to those who have boldly gone where I'm trying to get! Some folks on another forum that specialize in Ford trucks, helped out. I have to cut the old transmission crossmember completely out to get the engine in the right place. I was held up by this because the former owner had managed to keep it in place but had also mounted the engine at a twelve degree angle to do it!
Also the old crossmember is the stock brake mount as well, which is used for the new brake booster as well. The solution, it seems, according to several F1 drivers, is to cut off most of the old cross member just leaving the chunk that the brake booster mounts too. This should work because it has a massive bracket that bolts to the frame as well, so it should remain plenty strong, yet is far enough to the side that it shouldn't touch they c6. Also the new mount winds up being about 5 inches further back!
As to why I'm binding the tranny, a more experienced Ford guy will have to let me know! Just a update.
Here is a shot to show the old position and engine angle

and here is a pic of the brake member where it is bolted to the old modified crossmember.

Here are some shots of the new mounts I'm working with.


and the old tranny mount which is in the way
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