Hi Guys! This is all new to me, I have just posted my first thread in the big block engine forum, so I thought I had better introduce myself here too. I am working on a 1970 GS 455 4-speed and am in the beginning stages of a frame off restoration. I am using a 1976 455 and Muncie M-20 trans. I bought the car with no drive train in it aside from the rearend. It had Chevy motor mounts in place, but was smart enough to attempt to replace that with a 455 Buick. I had the frame all powdercoated and engine and trans rebuilt and was attempting to install in the frame when I realized that I have a terrible problem. The centerline of the tailshaft on the trans is 3" off to the passenger side. I called Year One, where I got the frame mounts and they assured me that the motor mounts that I had purchased from NAPA were correct. I had the frame on the frame rack last night at work, and we cannot find any problems. Please help me!!! I am not comming up with any answers yet!! Thanks so much!
Gear Grabber.. ( first name? ) Are your frame mounts here? As long as the mounts are here on the frame, and the engine mounts are in the rear set of holes (which is actually the 2nd and fourth hole back from the front of the block) then you are in good shape. I willing to bet you have the LH mount in the wrong position.. and yes, it does hang off the front of the frame... Looks weird, but that is correct. Here is a pic for you.. JW
Thanks for the picture Jim I looked at my frame, it looks like the mounts are in the same place as your picture. I tried to attach a picture of my frame, but the file was too large. Thanks again and if you think of anything else, please let me know! Kevin, aka Gear grabber
I just did a swap in my Sportwagon from a 350 to a 430 and it was no problem. Jim's pic is 100% right on. Check your mounts on the block as he said. You may have them in the wrong holes on the drivers side. If the mounts are in correctly, then they may just be too stiff and pushing the motor over a bit. If you remember that geometry class most of us slept through in high school, just a small degree of an angle off will become greater the further you move away from the center. So, just a small shift in the mounts themselves will result in the tail of the trans being moved over quite a bit. Once you bolt it to the crossmember it should be OK. Regards, Mark
Just a question here. Are there left and right mounts that may be on the wrong side or are both mounts the same?
Thanks for the ideas guys, but the mounts are in the right places as far as I can tell. The frame mounts are definatly different and on the correct locations. The engine mounts are identical LH and RH, so that doesn't matter. I am about ready to slightly waller out the holes on the frame or buy different brand motor mounts.
:grin: Hi again, I have the frame mount problem corrected!!! I ended up putting some used motor mounts that I had on another engine on and installed the engine and trans assembly. I laid the crossmember in place and did some measuring. I was only 3/4 of an inch off to the passenger side. I was able to pull the tailshaft of the trans over enought to install the bolts in the trans mount. I pulled out the assembly again and switched my new mounts RH and LH even though they look the same and reinstaled the assembly. It was just like the old mounts!! Only 3/4" to the RH side. I was unable to budge the new mounts(yes they are rubber) any, so I wallered out the frame mount holes slightly on both sides and reinstalled the frame mounts and engine/trans asssembly. Don't know why the different measurements, but I am glad that I can move on from here. Once again, thanks for the quick responses and I hope that someday I will be able to help someone out too!
