LTX and LSX Putting LT1s, LS1s, and their variants into Third Gens is becoming more popular. This board is for those who are doing and have done the swaps so they can discuss all of their technical aspects including repairs, swap info, and performance upgrades.

LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

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Old Mar 24, 2016 | 11:09 PM
  #1  
68-87Chevy's Avatar
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From: Ontario, Canada
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 4.8L LS
Transmission: 4l60E w/Shift Kit
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear, 3.73 Posi
LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Hello,

I have been perusing this site for a while digging in to try and find all the information about this type of swap. I got my head wrapped around it fairly well for the first go I think, but have run into a possible mix up.

So heres the info on the motor, parts I have used, ETC.
4.8L Truck Motor
4th Gen Fbody Oil Pan
4L60E
OEM style rubber clam shell mounts
Spohn Adapter Plates for LS Swap into Third Gen
Spohn Transmission Crossmember+Adjustable Torque Arm
Prothane Tranny Mount (as per spohn;s recomendation)
Hedman Husler LS Swap Headers

So I DONT have the engine bolted up to the trannie yet, but am trial fitting the motor in the car right now to see about notching K Member (looks like I wont have to so far) header clearance etc...

I have the adapter plates bolted loosly onto the Kmember right now, and I lowered the motor onto the mounts. I had no issues getting the two bolts in (a little wiggling for the pssgr side, but no pry bars). Everything looked good. The Motor is tilted to the back (for sake of explanation later, forward and back not level), being understandable not having the trannie and its crossmember bolted in yet. OK that makes sense..

What I am wondering whether to be concerned about is the side to side level. IT is about 1/2 inch out. I leveled the car and tried again, and its still out. i did a search of the forum, found a couple of threads with some problems similar to this, but not 100% sure as of now.

The adaptor plates are flush with the K member, so I am not thinking spacers... What I did was bolted the one header on an used the engine crane to lift the passenger side of the motor level. This leveled the motor front to back and side to side. Then I let it down slowly and stopped just as the back started to tilt back again. Still level side to side. Then, as I continued to lower the motor down, the side to side slowly went with it.

So this is my question. Since when the engine was about level front to back and side to side, does it make sense that when I bolt the trannie in, It should kind of twist the motor a bit in the mounts and level it out? Im thinking this because of what I said above. It was all good until the front to back level started to decline...

I have the motor mounts set up I think the was the instructions said. The drivers side, 4 bolts lined up and its labelled left, the top of the letter pointing down. The passenger side, 3 holes line up, looks proportional and right to the drivers side, and is labelled right, once again the top facing down. Mounts loook the same as the pictures I am seeing. I am only doubting because the level is off a bit.

I will attach pictures of the pan and the mounts, as well as what levels I was using etc to give you a better idea.

Pictures of the Mounts
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878467
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878467
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878467
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878467
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878467
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878467

Oil Pan From Front
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878676

Levels (yellow on Car, blue on motor) While the engine crane has tension on header. This is just as the back started tilting towards the ground
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878725
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878725

Over all looks pretty good IMO and should suit the car well. Its a daily driver for me, and this will keep my crave to speed (and I have to beat my buddys skyline) occupied while I restore a 68...

Intake just sitting on motor, bolted into mounts

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1458878868
Its late right now, some of this may not make sense, but let me know if you need information, I will try and get it for you ASAP
Any Help is appreciated
Thanks,
Ben
Attached Thumbnails LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_231220982_zpsu8o0q4h3.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_231239121_zpsh2fngfoe.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_225955025_zps5uu8pbst.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_225948875_zpsboiluuwf.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_225817725_zpsuqpuqha9.jpg  

LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_225630253_zpsvyk5juns.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_225938450_zps8f55bdd8.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_231009198_zpslrvrd9vz.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_231014986_zpsadh2kcep.jpg   LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues-img_20160324_205309271_zpsoyhtdwyz.jpg  


Last edited by 68-87Chevy; Mar 24, 2016 at 11:15 PM.
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 10:05 PM
  #2  
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

I have the same issue with my Spohn mounts. The passenger side is about 3/8" lower. I bought the mounts on a Spohn sale and didn't install them for about 6 months. I called Spohn to complain and got nowhere. After looking on the Internet, it seems this is a very common issue with these mounts.
Still not sure what I'm going to do yet. Don't really want to use spacers in there.
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Old Mar 26, 2016 | 09:20 PM
  #3  
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Engine: LS3
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

I'm having the same issue with this style mount and I have one that isn't lining up with the clamshell so I can put the bolt in.

Last edited by 95Cam86Roc; Mar 26, 2016 at 09:29 PM.
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Old Mar 29, 2016 | 06:53 PM
  #4  
68-87Chevy's Avatar
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From: Ontario, Canada
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 4.8L LS
Transmission: 4l60E w/Shift Kit
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear, 3.73 Posi
Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

So I was just test fitting the motor before. When I put the transmission on and bolted up its crossmember, it corrected the level to pretty close.As far as I can tell, the header on the slightly lower side fits still so I think its good.
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Old Mar 30, 2016 | 07:58 AM
  #5  
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Car: '86 Camaro, '94 Camaro, 3 others
Engine: LG4 ->L29, L32->LR4, L36, LG4, L31
Transmission: 700R-4, T5WC, 4L80E, SM465, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, 3.23, WTB/WTT 2.93
Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

So it's not level, so what? I had a V8-swapped S-10 I drove that way for years, never hurt anything. I never even checked if my TRD-4536 mounts had my 4.8 level in my '86, it really doesn't matter.
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Old Mar 30, 2016 | 08:27 AM
  #6  
68-87Chevy's Avatar
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From: Ontario, Canada
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 4.8L LS
Transmission: 4l60E w/Shift Kit
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear, 3.73 Posi
Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Thank you for confirming that for me. The first time it was put enough that the header was hitting so I wanted it a little better than that. Now it's within a 1/4 or so inch...
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Old Apr 4, 2016 | 07:32 AM
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Originally Posted by cosmick
So it's not level, so what?
Depends on the reason why. If the whole thing is tilted then the suspension pivots will be out of square and car will handle like crap.
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Old Oct 22, 2019 | 07:45 PM
  #8  
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Hi everyone, Great discussions keep up the conversations. I am thinking about putting a Hellcat 6.2 lt in my 1990 Camaro, does anyone make motor mounts and trans mounts for this swap.
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Old Oct 23, 2019 | 12:22 PM
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Originally Posted by clupster
Hi everyone, Great discussions keep up the conversations. I am thinking about putting a Hellcat 6.2 lt in my 1990 Camaro, does anyone make motor mounts and trans mounts for this swap.

Nope. There is zero market for them because it is a silly idea.
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Old Oct 23, 2019 | 12:38 PM
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Originally Posted by ShiftyCapone
Nope. There is zero market for them because it is a silly idea.
I know, I just have access to a Hellcat 707hp and trans with low miles for about $6000
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Old Oct 23, 2019 | 12:45 PM
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Car: '90 RS
Engine: 377 LSX
Transmission: Magnum T56
Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Originally Posted by clupster
I know, I just have access to a Hellcat 707hp and trans with low miles for about $6000
6k? Nothing wrong with it? Seems fishy. If it does check out, buy it and resell it.
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Old Oct 23, 2019 | 12:55 PM
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

I know a guy that owns a yard and he gets wrecked cars, this Challenger has 10,000 miles on it. He would let it go to me for $6000 but I would need to use it NOT resale it.
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Old Oct 23, 2019 | 01:46 PM
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Originally Posted by clupster
I know a guy that owns a yard and he gets wrecked cars, this Challenger has 10,000 miles on it. He would let it go to me for $6000 but I would need to use it NOT resale it.

It would just be too much work and you'd likely give up. All of these types of builds look doable in person but are never finished in reality. You'll feel good about buying it, but hate it when your project becomes a total disaster.
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Old Oct 23, 2019 | 01:52 PM
  #14  
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Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Thank you, I appreciate your opinion.
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Old Jan 19, 2020 | 12:23 PM
  #15  
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From: Miami
Car: 1989 Camaro
Engine: 5.3L
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: LS Swap Motor Mount and Aligning Motor Issues

Please let me know what engine mounts that bolt up to the engine and if they are stock what engine/car where they from that you are using with the spoon mounts I am currently doing the swap and running into this issue so I am unable to fully drop the engine in.
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