Points to consider (in no particular order):
. Many factors affect the location of the motor in a street rod chassis. Plan ahead.
. The frame should be at ride height and rake when mounting the motor/trans.
. On MII suspended chassis, have the rack mounted. It is usually higher than the crossmember and can interfere with the oil pan.
. Get Inline Empire Driveline tech sheet re driveline angles. (http://www.iedls.com/ptsetup.html)
. Carb does not have to be level, but try to be close.
. Pinion angle (up at the front) should be the same as the crank/trans angle (down at the rear) and the u-joint angle should be 3 degrees or less.
. Crank c/l does not have to be in line with the pinion when viewed from above.
. Crank/transmission line does not have to parallel with the frame c/l when viewed from above. e.g. The transmission is in the center of the frame (located because of the stock x-member passage) and the front of the motor is offset to one side (usually the passenger) for clearance. The 3 degree u-joint angle is the determining factor, as above. (Per Inland Empire Driveline/Armando)
. Have motor/trans to know the clearances required.
. Have the rad mounted. It often can be moved, but sometimes must be in a specific location (and sometimes on an angle).
. Know what fan will be used so clearance can be planned.
. Have the body mounted.
. Have the firewall or be prepared to custom make it.
. The floor might have to be modified for trans clearance.
. Headers & steering will want the same space. Consider this when positioning the motor.
. Rubber OEM mounts absorb more engine vibrations than urethane 4-bar bushings. The urethane 4-link bushing mounts usually look more “high-tech. Use the mounts that suit the style of your project rather than worrying about the amount of vibration transfer. It won’t be that much different.
. Plan hood clearance.
. Have the water pump installed so clearance can be planned.
For a complete list of our easy-to-install engine mounts for Chevy, Ford, and Chrysler motors, click here.
Glad to hear that the motor can be offset slightly – we’re putting a Ford 2.3 SOHC turbo in an MGB and there are definite clearance issues on the driver side due to the steering column and the big bulge in the motor on that side. My question is: do the motor mounts have to be in line across the motor, or can one be an inch or two further back than the other? Thanks!
Hi Jason. I would say the best spot for the mounts is where they fit best – I don’t think there’s a hard rule about having the mounts inline, so if that’s how they will let you work everything out, I’d go for it.
DW