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Technical Engine mounts for early Olds into ‘51 chevy coupe

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by J_J2, Jul 25, 2020.

  1. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    Sorry about the stupid question, I’ve been trying to find mounts but have come up goose eggs. I found plenty for small block and big block Chevy but nothing for early olds. Does anyone have any suggestions?


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  2. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    IMG_1215.JPG IMG_1216.JPG



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  3. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I don't remember that anyone ever made such an animal; maybe someone here knows. Lacking that, I have a set of Hurst mounts to put an Oldsmobile Rocket into a '40-'48 Ford (which is the standard front configuration for all Hurst mounts). Since the hard part of the Old front mount is getting them bolted to the engine, fabricating a set of brackets to accept the standard Ford biscuit mounts and the the Olds Hurst mount would be the simplest way to accomplish this. The Hurst mounts not only bolt to the front of the engine, but each one has a larger bolt that goes in from the side that really ties things together. Unfortunately, these mounts are not easy to find, either. It took me over a year to find a set that I could afford. If you want, I could post a picture of of my mounts and you can get some idea of what it will take to make your own. In the dim recesses of my memory, I think I remember that Hurst may have offered a set of brackets for an early Cherolet that accepted these mounts, but I'm not sure.

    Of course, I may be all wet and the exact thing you need exists out there, but I don't remember ever having seen one.
     
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  4. flatford39
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 2,799

    flatford39
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    Is there a big difference between Chevy frames and Olds frames from that era? Maybe you could adapt Olds motor mounts to the Chevy frame.
     
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  5. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,133

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Hurst made frame brackets for your Chevy. Model AC-50. Get some of those and either Hurst or Hurst knockoff Olds motor brackets and youre set.

    20190722_180443.jpg
     
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  6. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    Thank you all for the replies, I’ll start looking around to see if I can find a set of Hurst mounts, or a force comes to worse I’ll try to find some photos and maybe fab some up thanks again!


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  7. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
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    Update: found a guy on eBay who makes reproduction Hearst motor mounts for the early Olds!


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  8. 52HardTop
    Joined: Jun 21, 2007
    Posts: 1,078

    52HardTop
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  9. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 7,856

    302GMC
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    from Idaho

    You got some steering box clearance to deal with, and the emergency brake setup has to go. Probably going to end up with no firewall ribs ...
     
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  10. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,133

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Looks like a pretty simple affair to fab up the frame side of the equation.

    20200725_145842.jpg
     
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  11. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    I don’t know if there are huge differences other than engine, I’ll look into that


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  12. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
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    It looks like something maybe even I could do LOL


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  13. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
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  14. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,719

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    I can't imagine where the firewall ribs, would be any interference issue at all. Since these cars had straight sixes, going to a big V8 like the Olds is still two cylinders shorter, and I doubt those ribs are high enough to take up all that space. Likely the engine bay will have tons of room for the Olds without firewall mods.
    Steering box is a push-pull setup for the pitman arm and drag link, so not an issue either. But the idler dead front center will require the rear sump to be far enough back to clearance it. And the engine high enough above it to allow the leading edge of the pan to be above the idler.
     
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  15. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
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    IMG_1250.JPG

    Got my eBay motor mounts today look to be very very good quality.


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  16. those hurst mounts are nice, I have a set for the 324 to go into my 32 sedan. But they will not work with the frame mounts on a 49 to 54 chevy. those only work with small or big chevy and side mounts. the hurst mounts for the early olds bolt to the timing cover and the block, you'll have to fab up some type of frame mount most likely. just get a set of universal biscuit type frame mounts. cut and weld as needed.
     
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  17. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Two good reasons. First, if you want a Chevy body with an Olds motor just buy an Olds 88. 1949 and 1950 used the Chevy body, 51 up used the larger B body. So buy a 49 or 50 Olds 88 and you have the same thing with the advantage of the heavier Olds chassis and drive train, brakes etc.
    Second reason, it is a very tough swap. The engine compartment is made for a narrow straight six engine, period. It is possible to squeeze in a small block Chevy, the Olds is considerably larger and heavier.
    I would forget the Olds engine and use a Chevy. A later 235 or 261 six is a bolt in, and would be my choice. The small block V8 is popular, and will fit with some fenageling. Anything bigger requires serious chassis work.
     
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  18. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    My dad put an Olds in his ‘49, my uncle told me he used the Hurst mounts, and it was a pretty easy install, he helped him do it.


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  19. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
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    Good to know. I stand corrected. Why don't you ask your dad or uncle how they did it?
    While you are at it do us a solid and take some pictures, and give a complete description of what you do, to help the next person make this a "pretty easy" job.
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2020
  20. Swing that rascal up in there and start making the areas that need removing and get it nested in there on blocks and jacks where you like it then start on mounts. It's been dome before....there's no magic way though...you just have to work your way through it. Even the most skilled have to get the body and the engine and trans close to each other. You probably won't get it done with that Olds setting on the floor.
     
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  21. if your using the stock chevy front suspension, I would look into putting new springs up front. That olds is pretty heavy. In my 51 chevy I sold a few years ago, it had a small chevy swapped into it, and the front springs were trash. After a little research I ended up going with a new set of MOOG springs part number 8542. they are for a 70's mustang II or pinto front end, but have the same spring diameter with a spring rate a little stiffer than the stock rate, but are almost 2 inches shorter that the stock springs. I ended up cutting a coil off of mine to get the ride height I wanted. That lowered it about 3 inches over stock. With the olds motor, I bet the stock length of the MOOG 8542 spring would have it set just right. My 51 rode great, I put shorter shocks and shorter bump stops in it and it rode like a Caddy. best of all, the Moog 8542 springs were about 75 bucks, instead of 200 for some drop spring that is probably the same thing any way.
     
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  22. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
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    Unfortunately my dad passed last August, my uncle is almost 80 and doesn’t really remember many details. But I will be taking pictures as I go once I get started.


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  23. The idea of finding an Olds frame would sound easy. only the Olds used coil springs and the Floor would be modified and the frame construction is way different resulting in new Body mounts.
    So back to laying the engine in the bay and facing up some mounts and use the biscuit mounts to rest them on.
    Earlier Olds and Pontiacs used different frames
     
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  24. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have enough faith in Hurst that I have to believe that if the sold the engine adapters and frame brackets for a particular application (as they do for this one), it will work. If the early Olds and early Chevy have the same body, wouldn't that mean the the frames would be quite similar in configuration which would also tend to make this an easy swap?

    As to getting a complete Olds, try finding a decent Chevrolet these days, much less a '49-'50 Olds 88.
     
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  25. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    That’s for sure! I’m gathering parts right now and waiting for my hand to heal up should be another six weeks or so and I’m gonna get after it.


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  26. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
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    I can't see in the picture so I'll ask : Do those mounts have the provision for the bigger bolt that goes in sideways?
     
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  27. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    Yes they do I just didn’t get it in the picture


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  28. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
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    I’ll probably get flamed for this, but I’m actually building an Olds powered gasser, i’ll be replacing the front end with parallel leafs and a straight axle.


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  29. Oh man if you doing that and dumping the stock suspension, you just made putting that olds in way easier. The steering and crossmember are the prohibitive things in doing and engine swap in that car. I'd take the stock front end out, mock you motor up and build another crossmember that bolts to the bottom flange of the chevy frame that mates up to the hurst mounts up front, and another crossmember that would mount up to the mounts on the Olds lower block/Bell housing. That would make it way stiffer with no added weight. A vega box mount plate welded to the drivers frame rail and a GM/Saginaw 525 steeing box make a great cross steer setup in these cars too.
     
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  30. J_J2
    Joined: Jan 15, 2020
    Posts: 184

    J_J2
    Member

    Thanks for the info! Thats pretty much the plan, this is my first attempt at one of these. I have an idea of what I need to do but that doesn’t always transfer to reality.


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