BB Engine mount problem

[Larry S.]

I have a '66 427-425 HP. car and have noticed (I've had the car about 6 months) that the upper bolt/nut that holds the idler arm (pass side of car) to the frame bracket is within an 1/8th in. from the rightside exhaust manifold. The front sparkplug half-round metal heat shield is touching the upper-control arm rear bolt/washer/bushing. Also, if you check the clearance at the bottom of the front crank pulley to the cross-frame there is only about 3/8" clearance which would be tight to change a belt.
It seems to me that the right side of the engine is low (maybe about 1/2 in.too low). I lifted the car and checked both motor mounts and they look new or reasonably new. They dont seem to be twisted or distorted out of shape. The right one does have some minor cracks but nothing serious. The car was frameoff about 7 years ago and engine was out, etc., and they look like they were replaced then. The frame mounts for the motor mounts look good - no twisting or distortion with original weld. Is there anything else I am missing??

[Michael H.]

Re: BB Engine mount problem

I have a '66 427-425 HP. car and have noticed (I've had the car about 6 months) that the upper bolt/nut that holds the idler arm (pass side of car) to the frame bracket is within an 1/8th in. from the rightside exhaust manifold. The front sparkplug half-round metal heat shield is touching the upper-control arm rear bolt/washer/bushing. Also, if you check the clearance at the bottom of the front crank pulley to the cross-frame there is only about 3/8" clearance which would be tight to change a belt.
It seems to me that the right side of the engine is low (maybe about 1/2 in.too low). I lifted the car and checked both motor mounts and they look new or reasonably new. They dont seem to be twisted or distorted out of shape. The right one does have some minor cracks but nothing serious. The car was frameoff about 7 years ago and engine was out, etc., and they look like they were replaced then. The frame mounts for the motor mounts look good - no twisting or distortion with original weld. Is there anything else I am missing??

There's just about an inch nearly vertical gap between the control arm washer and the spark plug heat shield on my 66.
Sounds like the right side is pretty low.

Are both motor mounts the same design/height?

[Larry S.]

Re: BB Engine mount problem

Thanks for your reply. Yes, both seem to be the same style but the right side of the engine is, I think, at least a 1/2 " low. The frame brackets both look fine. with the car sitting perfectly on the level from right to left, if I put a small level on to of the air breather chrome cover, the pass. side is lower than the drivers side. Strange.

[Joe L.]

Re: BB Engine mount problem

Thanks for your reply. Yes, both seem to be the same style but the right side of the engine is, I think, at least a 1/2 " low. The frame brackets both look fine. with the car sitting perfectly on the level from right to left, if I put a small level on to of the air breather chrome cover, the pass. side is lower than the drivers side. Strange.

Larry-----


I don't see how it could be in the motor mounts UNLESS only one motor mount was replaced with an off-spec mount. If both mounts were replaced, presumably they would have been replaced with the same mounts, both off-spec or both not. I do not see a mount being singularly defective with respect to dimensions.

First, I would check the mounts to see if they look the same.

Otherwise, and unfortunately, I would suspect some sort of previous frame damage "corrected" by a frame shop. LOTS of Corvettes experienced serious front end damage during their lives.

[Larry S.]

Re: BB Engine mount problem

Thanks Joe,
Yes, I am wondering if there is some front end frame damage - perhaps a slight twist that has made the right MM bracket on the frame sit lower at the inner end where the motor mount is connected. I wll have to check further. Thanks for your comments.