Hey gang,

Well, the 383 is almost done, and am getting ready to drop it in. Here's my really stupid question. Every time I've dropped an engine into the car, it was going back into the car that it came from. The Z-28 I got had NO engine/tranny in it, and here lies the problem. It had a 305HO, and the frame mounts are there. Since the blocks are the same, that's not going to be the problem.

Are the engine mount pieces [and just what ARE they called] that mount on the block generic to most all SBC's, or are there specific ones for Camaros? Like I said, the original mounts on the frame are still there, with the rubber liners, but none for the engine itself.

If I were to get a set of aftermarket engine mounts, ie the nice poly ones, do those replace the rubber inserts in the frame, and do they incude the engine block pieces.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's amazing how the little things that I hadn't considered make me scratch my head. The project is coming like most, time keeps shrinking, and tasks to do keep increasing. The goal was to have it all detailed out by the end of the summer, now I'll be happy to get it running, with the 'pretty' to come later.

Thanks Much,

 

When I bought my energy suspension poly motor mounts, they came as just that, the part that bolts to the K-member. I'm trying to remember since it's been so long ago, I think you have to take the mounts from the k-member, drill out the corner spot welds so you can pull it apart to remove the old rubber insert. Then reinstall the new poly mount into the clamshell and I cant remember if I tack welded it back together or bolted it But then they just bolt back up onto the k-member.
The mounts off the block came off my 305 so I'll assume that all the mounts are pretty standard, but I may be wrong.

 

Some people call them clam shells and depending on the person, could be the entire assembly or not. There is the motor mount and frame mount part. What I'd do is just get a whole new assemly. If it is street driven mainly, stick to the stockers or go to the polygraphite (and that would be pushing it). The poly stuff is noisy and you will feel some of the deflection and vibration of the motor. IMNSHO.

 

The way that I see it there are 3 individual pieces that make up the engine mount set-up "excluding the bolts".

First you have the bracket that mounts to the engine itself.

Secondly, you have the "clam shells" (thats how most relate to them" and they are bolted to the K member.

Lastly, you have the bushing part of the mount. it is the rubber or Poly pc. which has the steel sleeve that runs thru the middle of it. OEM bushings are rubber while poly are aftermarket "such as energy suspension". These bushing pc's are sandwiched between the clam shells.
Origional clam shells are spotwelded or riveted & have rubber bushings in between. If you want to swap to poly you have to drill the rivets/ spotwelds out, then "the ones that I got from energy suspension" came with tie-wraps that held the clam shells together until they were bolted to the K member, then you cut them loose & discarded them.

Also, if you go with a solid mount you purchase a set of them, discard the clam shells & rubber bushings. The solid mount bolts to the k member & they themselves are bolted directly to the brackets that are on the block.

Hope this Helps, Bruce

 

There are NOT 3 pieces, there are only 2.

There's the piece that goes on the frame, that has the rubber in it; and there's the piece that goes on the block which is nothing but a metal bracket.

The piece that goes on the frame is the same in all the different car lines. There may be differences in teh piece that goes on the motor from one kind of car to another.

Just go to the dealer and get the ones that go on the block.

 

70GTO said what I was thinking and trying to explain. RB is right, looking at the mounts in general there are only 2 peices. But the mounts to the k-member are essentially a 3 peice deal when you upgrade to the poly mounts. Drill out the clamshell so you can gain access to and change out the old rubber peice, then bolt/tack weld back the clamshell together to form the now 1 peice that bolts to the k-member.

 

RB83L69,

I'm really not sure of what you are trying to say, but either my car is different than that of yours or we are using a different system of counting !!!

The "clam shell assembly" is comprised of two individual pieces that are riveted or stamped together. This assembly forms the outer housing that is bolted directly to the k member & also sandwiches the rubber or poly bushing.
If you order a poly engine mount you will have to drill the rivet's and reuse
the calm shell pc's. A set of tie-wraps come with a set of poly mounts to keep the clam shells together until the assembly is bolted to the K member.



IHI,

You are absolutely 100% Correct !!!!

Bruce

 

The brackets that bolt to the block were originally specific to 82-92 F bodies. So if searching the bone yard look on these cars only. GM now supplies a "fits all" bracket that fits most all rear drive V8 cars. This is what you will get when you order one new.

 

I'm pretty sure the 3rd gen camaros ccame with different clamshells to allow the engine to setr slightly lower....so I have read....but you know how that can go....I just asked for a set of gm v-8 chevy mounts...I got the clamshelss at a bone yard..daeler wanted 50.00 a piece just for the clamshell...

 

Take care that you get both the left and right side brackets that bolt to the engine. Dont get them mixed up or you will have clearance issues with headers and steering column etc.

 

clamshell

 

Riley's35089rs+,

I usually refer to the piece in the photo that you attached as the " engine Brackets"


Here's a picture that Powermite posted on another thread and the "clam shells" are the bracket that are bolted to the K member.

Bruce

 

I do submit for whoever finds it useful that the engine mount cradles (this is what I call them) are the same for a caprice and an f-body... Also they are the same from left to right...

 

Just another you say tomatoe..I say tomaaatooo.. anyway I did get mine off a 70's Caprice...
Imay have got things turned around some..wouldn't be the first time ..the mounts that bolt on to the K-member run around $15 apiece new..the "engine mounts (dealer only item) around $50
Hit the bone yard

 

Yeah, mine came off of a '89 Caprice police interceptor.. I should have said that...

 

I fitted a 350 from a 1977 chevy pick up and the brackets that bolt to the block are the same as the ones in my 86 camaro. Good job too, since I assumed they were (didn't check), and had them chrome plated!!

Andy.