motor mounts/motor plate

[jacobgiles]

when should you switch from a solid motor mount to a motor plate/mid plate setup? in other words, how much abuse can a solid moroso type motor mount handle?

[John_Heard]

Quite a few of the cars that race in the MAKO Real Street class are still using stock type solid mounts and you do occasionally hear of a problem like a bent mount after a big wheelstand but in general they work. I'd highly recommend motor plates, they just make things so much easier to work with. A lot of work getting them put in, but after that they are nice. Don't forget to put in some lateral limiters with the motor plates.

[jacobgiles]

is that to keep the motor from pushing or pulling front to back?

[John_Heard]

Yes, some people just use the trans mount, but if you're using a rubber mount I don't think that is good enough. I have one on each side of the motor bolted to the old engine mount holes that run forward to the front crossmember.

[jacobgiles]

do you have to shim the converter when you have a midplate?

[John_Heard]

You very well may need to, you also must make sure you have enough of a pilot on the converter to go into the crank. I use a 1/8" steel midplate on mine and did not need to have the converter modified but I did have to make some spacers. With the 1/4" aluminum ones I would imagine a longer pilot would likely be needed.

[jacobgiles]

would i just leave the motor in the stock location? or would i want to move it lower or back or anything like that? just a stock suspension small block car.

[aitch o]

if you have the header and oil pan room, it might be advanatageous to move it up and back 1" each.
it will help the f/r weight bias and launch transfer.

[jones_performance]

some say that a front and mid plate will also reduce cylinder distortion in the engine.

[ccjohn2]

I've been wondering the same thing. I've bent 2 sets of solid motor mounts, the second time enough where I could not get the driveshaft out of the car to remove the trans. Those bowtie blocks are heavy. Couple that, some decent traction and the theory that things at rest want to stay at rest I guess something like that could happen. What do you guys think as far as motor plates? Full motorplate or the 2 piece motorplate?

CJay

[a1elec]

anyone know if the motor mounts that bolt to the crossmember are different from small block to big block or is the difference in the mount that bolts to the block? john

[BBC71Nova]

yes I believe they are different. The BB ones move the engine to one side a little I believe and may be even tilt it some.

Here is a post with some info... http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/sh ... hp?t=44405

John

[ccjohn2]

The big block frame mounts move the engine up 1" and over to the passenger side 1". I've tried the small block ones - they sat the engine lower in the chassis creating header issues(large tube) with the steering shaft ragjoint, I've even tried 6 cylinder mounts - they moved the engine back so far that it almost touched the firewall had to drill holes in the firewall just to install the bolts in the trans. Made the one tube on hooker super comps almost touch the firewall on the driver side.

CJay

[John_Heard]

FYI - Lemon's BBC headers are designed to work with SBC mounts for 3rd Gen Nova/1st Gen Camaro.

[a1elec]

very confusing on steves nova site. does anyone have small block frame mounts where you can measure the height for me. im trying to find out if i have small or big block frame mounts. thanks for your help. john