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Hot Rods Mounting Motor to Frame, 31 Coupe

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by CHEN, Jul 31, 2015.

  1. CHEN
    Joined: Oct 21, 2009
    Posts: 58

    CHEN
    Member

    Hey guys, I'm finally at a stage where my chassis is a roller and I'm trying to get my motor into the frame. The motor is all together, and has to be the biggest / heaviest fucking thing I've ever had to work with (originally a motorcycle guy).

    Anyway, I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how the heck I should do this. I rolled the frame out of my single car garage and got the motor up on an engine hoist, then lowered it into position and bolted the trans on. Anyway, getting this thing level is pretty tough, especially because the legs of my engine hoist don't really clear the bottom of the axle, so positioning is pretty limited.

    How do you guys normally get ready to drop the motor into the frame? Is it easier to do with the wheels off, and the frame on a table (or in my case, the floor)? I see some of you guys putting the motor on blocks of wood, or jack stands, but how do you do micro adjustments to level it out, or to get the right amount of pinion angle in the back? I tried to search for some threads but had no luck. Looked through some build threads, but still feel dry on ideas. Any help is appreciated :)
     
  2. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    Are you saying that you have NO engine frame mounts on the chassis?

    How about a picture or two .... they are worth a 1000 words.
     
    volvobrynk likes this.
  3. CHEN
    Joined: Oct 21, 2009
    Posts: 58

    CHEN
    Member

    Yep, no mounts on the frame yet. Wanted to get the motor in position then weld in the motor mounts. I'll work on getting some pictures
     
  4. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    On a Sbc there are 3/8 threaded bosses on the front of the motor I stick a long bolt in each and put a steel bar across the frame and set long bolts on bar block height accordingly a set angle start weldin

    Other motors probably have similar threaded bosses
     

  5. mike bowling
    Joined: Jan 1, 2013
    Posts: 3,560

    mike bowling
    Member

    I'm partial to a chain fall rather than an engine crane which is big, heavy, and takes up way too much room ( I used to keep it outside and ended up giving it to someone). Chainfall is good for chopping tops, lifting bodies on and off and dropping motors in or out. I like it because you've got lots of control , compared to letting the pressure off a hydraulic ram and having an "Oh Shit!" moment. Plus I'm a "one man band" so it works well as far as control of flying heavy objects into position. When I built my garage , I put beams in the overhead so I've got different places I can set the chainfall up. Go slow, be safe!
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 1, 2015
  6. I have a junk/cracked SBC block, and a set of junk cylinder heads. I screwed a few of the head bolts into the block and then cut the heads off the bolts which allows me to slip the cylinder heads on and off with no tools.

    Lighter is better.
     
  7. Martin Harris
    Joined: Aug 3, 2014
    Posts: 328

    Martin Harris

    I sit the frame on a level, then have the engine lowered into roughly the position I want. I stick a couple of car jacks and some blocks of wood under the motor to fine tune the position, all the while with a magnetic spirit level sitting on the block. Then I fill the gaps between the frame and the motor with the required mounting brackets. (in the case of the C Cab that means RHS steel and plate steel cut & welded to suit). Yeah it sounds Mickey mouse but it works:p
    You'll probably find everyone has their own way of getting the engine in place depending on their experience, skill and circumstances.
     
  8. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    Really not a big deal to do, as the guys said, just set the engine down into the frame where it will clear things like the firewall and radiator, then set your angle (I like 3 degrees down myself). Then block it in place using something like wooden blocks, and then sit back and look at it. Make sure the crank center line is centered side to side, as is the transmission output shaft.

    If you are going to use stock rubber motor mounts, bolt them on and then cut pieces of cardboard to size to fill the gap between the mount and the frame. Once you are happy with those pieces, duplicate them with something like 3/16 plate steel and weld those in place.

    Don
     
  9. CHEN
    Joined: Oct 21, 2009
    Posts: 58

    CHEN
    Member

    Thanks guys, this all really helps. I'm gonna go with wooden blocks and jacks, I'm sure it'll all work out fine. I'll be sure to update my build thread with some pics.

    Mike, that chain fall is awesome! Definitely something to look into. I'm a one-man-band also and I could really use something like that for dropping the body on, dropping the motor in, etc.
     

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