Motor Mounts...BIG problems

[Stallion]

So I just started to change out the motor mounts today on the '78. This is turning into a huge project. I got both frame retaining bolts out no problem. It's the mount-to-engine bolts that are killing me. First off, the upper right ear on the driver side is nearly impossible with the frame there. I can't get a wrench on it at all...no universals, no combination, no simple socket. Nothing. I really don't know what to do.

How can I go about this? I really want to do this myself, don't want to take it to somebody else.

Also, I got a cherry picker to take the engine off of the mounts when time comes, but how much should I lift up on the engine? I obviously don't want to lift too much because the transmission and everything else is still in place. I just need to slip out the mounts and bolt in the new ones (IF I CAN EVER GET THE OLD ONES UNBOLTED).

Help please!!!

 

[Stallion]

Help!!

 

[bobherr46]

It has been a while,but when I did this on my 79 I had to raise the motor several inches to get to the mount to motor bolts. I also recall that the bolt that is giving you problems was a PITA because the power steering bracket was bolted on at the same spot. You can raise the motor several inches. Just check for clearances. Don't let fan get into shroud. Motor get into firewall,etc. The trans. mount is probably bad too. Change it after the side mounts. - Bob

 

[Bill75]

Motor mounts

Bob has good advice, I did mine last winter and had some trouble getting at the bolts but just took my time and it went OK. Remove the tranny mount bolts so the engine can be raised. Use blocks of wood under the tranny and raise the motor. Don't use the oil pan to lift it. I seem to remember having to go to Sears to get a universal 1/2" drive swivel for the driver side bolt that was real hard to get at.Change the tranny mount as well while your under there.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Watch the distributor if you start moving the engine.

 

[bobherr46]

Mr. Chadwick is right. Definitely watch the distributor. I forgot to mention it. I would take the cap off leaving the plug wires on and just move it foreward a few inches. That way if the front of the motor gets up too high it won't crack the cap by hitting the firewall. - Bob

 

[Stallion]

Okay...so here's the million dollar question:

Today, I jacked up the engine to see if the motor mounts are actually bad. I had something leading me to believe they are (the fan scraping the shroud under high load), so I decided to find out for real.

So I jacked up the engine to see how much give the motor mounts had. Here's the verdict...the mounts gave about maybe a half an inch...a little less then that. Wasn't too much, but there was a little. Thing is, I don't know what's normal for them. Is that good? Bad? Or what. Do they need to be changed?

Help!

 

[mkapp7879]

Is the rubber separated from the metal? The safety interlocking mounts don't move too much but if your motor rises up enough to cause the fan to hit the shroud you probably got a broken one. Always the drivers side first. With the hood up and the motor running, hold the brakes while CAREFULLY applying the gas with the trans. in drive and see if you have any movement that way.

Mike