C2 Motor Mounts

[Barry Mills]

I need to lift the front of my big block just a tad to re-install the balancer on the crank. I have removed the bolts the hold the motor mounts to the frame. When I jack up the front of the engine the mounts will not separate. Any ideas or help would be much appreciated.

Barry

[Craig S.]

Re: C2 Motor Mounts

Barry - I have never done this by jacking underneath, only by lifting topside with an engine hoist. Remember, as the engine lifts, for quite a while, all you are doing is allowing the suspension springs to uncompress to it takes a long while and a fair amount of travel. I don't like jacking on pans at all...but you can fabricate a wooden saddle to straddle the pan and lift on the rails. I see no reason proceeeding like this it won't loosen up. If you already have the car on jackstands, then the suspension pressure should be off and it should lift up easily. I don't recall how close the BB distributor is to the firewall, but make sure you are not forcing the distributor into the firewall which could also be an issue. If it is on jackstands, be very careful as you could be taking the pressure off the stands and cause a dangerous accident, definitely proceed with secondary safety supports. This is on reason I do this topside or via an autolift with undercar hydraulic lifts to lift the engine...you my be able to tell if one side or the other is hanging up too....Craig