Lining up motor mounts?

SilverFire · 11-05-2007, 04:30 AM

About 2 months ago, my silvertop spun a crank bearing. Since I was planning to rebuild it for turbo anyway (just not now - I don't have the money at the moment) I just got another ST to put in.

Anyway, I've got it pretty much ready to try starting up, but I've been fighting with the driver's side motor mount since I first put the new one in. I just CAN'T get it lined up to put the bolt through. The motor (tranny) is about an inch low. I've tried pry bars, a hydraulic ram (the little autobody one is the only one that would fit), a jack under the tranny - everything. every time it even gets close, it's like it's catching on something, but I can't find what. The other three mounts are so loose the heads of the bolts don't even touch the mounts, the rubber on the mount I'm trying to attach is loose and not catching on anything.

Is there some sort of trick to it that I'm missing?

Oh yeah, I'm using the tranny from the old engine, so I know it must fit...

Gairloch · 11-07-2007, 11:55 PM

You get this figured out?

TomsMR2 · 11-08-2007, 05:40 AM

unbolt as many mounts as necessary to get the driver side mount bolted in. sometimes its easier to fight with another mount if you just cant get one particularly difficult one lined up. this is also especially true for suspension bits, but ive had to do it with motors as well.

PearlJammzz · 11-08-2007, 08:39 AM

It's really all just a matter of getting it to come down just right so it wont bind. On your hoist, make sure you have the motor balanced just right and not on some crazy tilt/twist. Also, don't tighten down the mount completely, let it be loose and have a liuttle give, once the motor is in place, torqure it down. The movement makes it easier to line up.

AdReNaLiNe · 11-08-2007, 11:28 AM

I had the same problem, i took all the motor mounts off again (bolts holding them to the chassis. started with the drivers side and worked my way to the passenger side. The passenger side was alot easier to deal with IMO

SilverFire · 12-01-2007, 06:27 AM

It's been a while, but it's been REALLY cold up here in the frozen north. I finally got it all lined up. AdReNaLiNe's solution looked to be the most likely to succeed, to I gave it a shot and it worked. Now it at the shop just up the street to get finished of since I'm NOT doing the rest outside in -20C weather. It shouldn't cost that much - I should have the wiring, coolant and vacuum lines all hooked up already so it's just the tranny, alternator ('cause I didn't realize the 16v was still on the old one), and the troubleshooting... With any luck it'll be up and running by next weekend.

AdReNaLiNe · 12-01-2007, 01:53 PM

Glad I could be a help Silverfire!

SilverFire · 12-05-2007, 02:35 AM

Now if only I could get the shop the car is at to be as helpful. Been there for 10 days and they haven't even looked at it yet. I'm gonna take it to another shop as soon as I can find one that'll do the job. For some reason, the JDM engine scares a lot of them, and the ones that are left aren't too keen on taking over a half-done job. I've got 3 options I need to call tomorrow. I just hope one can/will take it.

11-05-2007, 04:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
SilverFire Some Skills Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 88 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Lining up motor mounts? About 2 months ago, my silvertop spun a crank bearing. Since I was planning to rebuild it for turbo anyway (just not now - I don't have the money at the moment) I just got another ST to put in. Anyway, I've got it pretty much ready to try starting up, but I've been fighting with the driver's side motor mount since I first put the new one in. I just CAN'T get it lined up to put the bolt through. The motor (tranny) is about an inch low. I've tried pry bars, a hydraulic ram (the little autobody one is the only one that would fit), a jack under the tranny - everything. every time it even gets close, it's like it's catching on something, but I can't find what. The other three mounts are so loose the heads of the bolts don't even touch the mounts, the rubber on the mount I'm trying to attach is loose and not catching on anything. Is there some sort of trick to it that I'm missing? Oh yeah, I'm using the tranny from the old engine, so I know it must fit...

11-07-2007, 11:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,854 Thanks: 125 Thanked 258 Times in 228 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	You get this figured out? __________________ "Inside the car, the world beyond the driver's immediate horizon ceases to exist. Alone with the solitude of his desire, survival sense numbed by the speed, he's outrun the mediocrity of the outside world, slipped the shackles it tries to clamp on us all. He is running free, chased only by a fear of failure, for failure is to risk ejection into the real world." ~Mark Hughes

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11-08-2007, 05:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Formerly Tom Brokaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,497 Thanks: 8 Thanked 233 Times in 168 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	unbolt as many mounts as necessary to get the driver side mount bolted in. sometimes its easier to fight with another mount if you just cant get one particularly difficult one lined up. this is also especially true for suspension bits, but ive had to do it with motors as well.

11-08-2007, 08:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
PearlJammzz Cage Fighter Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,140 Thanks: 9 Thanked 70 Times in 66 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	It's really all just a matter of getting it to come down just right so it wont bind. On your hoist, make sure you have the motor balanced just right and not on some crazy tilt/twist. Also, don't tighten down the mount completely, let it be loose and have a liuttle give, once the motor is in place, torqure it down. The movement makes it easier to line up.

11-08-2007, 11:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
AdReNaLiNe PURE OWNAGE Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hamilton, Ont, Canada Posts: 118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I had the same problem, i took all the motor mounts off again (bolts holding them to the chassis. started with the drivers side and worked my way to the passenger side. The passenger side was alot easier to deal with IMO

12-01-2007, 06:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
SilverFire Some Skills Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 88 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	It's been a while, but it's been REALLY cold up here in the frozen north. I finally got it all lined up. AdReNaLiNe's solution looked to be the most likely to succeed, to I gave it a shot and it worked. Now it at the shop just up the street to get finished of since I'm NOT doing the rest outside in -20C weather. It shouldn't cost that much - I should have the wiring, coolant and vacuum lines all hooked up already so it's just the tranny, alternator ('cause I didn't realize the 16v was still on the old one), and the troubleshooting... With any luck it'll be up and running by next weekend.

12-01-2007, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
AdReNaLiNe PURE OWNAGE Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hamilton, Ont, Canada Posts: 118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Glad I could be a help Silverfire!

12-05-2007, 02:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
SilverFire Some Skills Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 88 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Now if only I could get the shop the car is at to be as helpful. Been there for 10 days and they haven't even looked at it yet. I'm gonna take it to another shop as soon as I can find one that'll do the job. For some reason, the JDM engine scares a lot of them, and the ones that are left aren't too keen on taking over a half-done job. I've got 3 options I need to call tomorrow. I just hope one can/will take it.