Motor Plates

[70 nova]

Hey guys. If I am putting in aluminum motor and mid plates, and my converter just has the standard pilot sticking out of the front. What do I have to do, do I have to sent back to get a long pilot put on or can I just put shims between the converter pads and the flexplate. Also is a poly tranny mount strong enough, or do I need to put one or two limiters.

[supernova]

Why are you using aluminum?
I use a 0.090 thick peace of sheet metal. No coverter problems

[70 nova]

I was just figuring the aluminum would be lighter than the steel one. So if I use a .090 steel one, the pilot should be OK.

[supernova]

How thick was the aluminum going to be?
.090 is not as thick as a peace of aluminum that you would use. There is a lot of internet chassis builders that sell the steel mid plates. Not to many people use aluminum because it has to be thicker.
I use S&W race car's for a lot of my chassis parts. Just look around and you will find what you need, even Jeg's sell one.

[70 nova]

I think the aluminum was 1/8 thick, but I'll probably go with the steel. What about the limiters, is the poly tranny mount enough, or do I need the limiters, and if so how many. About S and W, what about their roll bars, how do they fit. Not looking to spend alot, probably going to be a mid 10 sec car, so I'm going to do it myself. Thanks supernova.

[supernova]

If your going to use the poly trans mount you need to use the poly engine mounts also. the rule is the trans and engine mount need to be the same.
I used solid motors mounts with a rubber trans mount about 20 yr. ago. It flexed to much and broke the trans case.
In your case I would use the poly and not worry about the limiters. The poly mounts are very strong, and take some of the vibration out of the ride. I would'nt even use a mid plate for a 10.000 second car unless your going to use a trans brake and if your going to use a mid plate I would use solid mounts.

This motor was a 10.36 motor in a 68 Camaro on a foot brake with n2o and you can see that it has poly mounts.

[John_Heard]

I disagree somewhat, on a motor plate/solid engine mount car most people use a soft trans mount either rubber or poly, but not solid. I have a poly on mine with motor plates. Solid/Solid I believe might lead to issues when the frame flexes.

[supernova]

I disagree somewhat, on a motor plate/solid engine mount car most people use a soft trans mount either rubber or poly, but not solid. I have a poly on mine with motor plates. Solid/Solid I believe might lead to issues when the frame flexes.

Hey John,
My 68 Camaro had sub frame connectors and a 6 point roll bar. It ran 10.30's, no t-brake on a 250 shot n2o, no mid plate, poly mounts and never flexed the chassis. Ran it that way for 2 1/2 yr's and never had an issue. on 10.5 tires.

[John_Heard]

I'm sure poly would work ok, it's the solid trans mount that I've heard people having problems with cracking cases.

[70 nova]

Yeah, I do have a trans brake. So if I use a motor and midplate would a poly trans mount be good, and if I use a .090 steel midplate, the converter would be ok? Thanks.

[supernova]

When you find a mid plate that you want, ask if it comes with flywheel spacer.
Like this.

[vegaracer]

We were braking tailsotcks on our trans when we were using a solid mount. Went to a poly trans mount and the problem went away. We run a 3/16" front and mid plate on our car, and just had the snout on the converter extended to match the mid plate thickness.

[lightnin]

ran into same problem with all solid (motor and mid plates) went to stock trans mount never broke one after

[supernova]

I must be doing something wrong. I run a rubber trans mount and brake my trans twice. Put a solid mount back there and it does just fine! What did I do wrong?
It makes me think I should use a rubber one with this new build. Solid engine mounts ( front plate not allowed for the class ), mid plate, and maybe poly mount?

[sc racing]

Ive had set ups all different ways: motor plate with mid plate trans bolted directly to crossmember no broken bells or tailshafts. solid motor mounts with both solid and rubber trans mount no broken bells or tailshafts. Ive never used a solid trans mount with rubber motor mounts.