Engine mount condition

[David H.]

I'm cleaning up the front upper engine mount and the area around where the water pump bolts up is pretty rough. (Pictured) Can this be smoothed out any way or will it be ok as is with a new gasket. Coming apart it had a LOT of blue gasket sealer on it. More than I would want to use.
Can anyone confirm for sure that the part number on this motor mount is 3703873. AIM shows it but it is right in the spine of the book so the picture and some of the wording is missing. This is on a 1962 327/340hp motor.

thanks

[John H.]

Re: Engine mount condition

Can this be smoothed out any way or will it be ok as is with a new gasket.

Dave -

I've seen worse, but I'd work on the metal-finish some more to smooth it out before using it. Don't forget to use thread sealer on the bolts - several go into the water jackets.

[Jerry W.]

Re: Engine mount condition

David...mine was the same but also had a crack running out from one of the bolt holes...rather than having it welded i opted for a new one....Pricey.... $85 from CC but is same as original new.....i keep telling myself...." It's only money "

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine mount condition

I'm cleaning up the front upper engine mount and the area around where the water pump bolts up is pretty rough. (Pictured) Can this be smoothed out any way or will it be ok as is with a new gasket. Coming apart it had a LOT of blue gasket sealer on it. More than I would want to use.
Can anyone confirm for sure that the part number on this motor mount is 3703873. AIM shows it but it is right in the spine of the book so the picture and some of the wording is missing. This is on a 1962 327/340hp motor.

thanks

David-----


GM #3703873 is the correct part number for the mount. However, it's long-since GM-discontinued. Reproductions are available as Jerry mentioned, though.

I think the damage to yours could be corrected. One way would be to braze or weld up the damaged area and then have a machine shop surface it FLAT. You might end-up spending as much as a reproduction mount, though. However, you would still have the original piece if that's important to you.

The main problem here is that C1 Corvettes are very "touchy" as far as water leaks in this area. So, you want everything to be "101% right" from the "get-go".

[David H.]

Re: Engine mount condition

I wondered if this might be a trouble spot on these. I would like to keep as much original as possible but not at the expense of a "muligan". There are some NOS ones on ebay but they are part number 3786779. Listed as for a 1962 Corvette small block. What do those fit?
I have a local guy that may be able to smooth this one out. What about using Liquid Steel and smoothing it out with a good file? Sounds kinda shade tree, but have done similar repairs that way before.

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine mount condition

I wondered if this might be a trouble spot on these. I would like to keep as much original as possible but not at the expense of a "muligan". There are some NOS ones on ebay but they are part number 3786779. Listed as for a 1962 Corvette small block. What do those fit?
I have a local guy that may be able to smooth this one out. What about using Liquid Steel and smoothing it out with a good file? Sounds kinda shade tree, but have done similar repairs that way before.

David------

I erred with the information I provided previously. GM #3703873 are the RUBBER CUSHIONS used with the front mount and not the "ox-bow" bracket, itself. These cushions are applicable to all 53-62 Corvettes

As far as the "ox-bow" brackets, there were actually 4 of them used over the 55-62 period. 1955 used GM #3711636 and it was uniquely applicable to that year. It was never superceded by any other brackets.

1956-E58 used bracket GM #3728516. L58-59 used bracket GM #3754586. This bracket also superceded the 3728516 in August, 1958.

1960-62 used bracket GM #3786779. That part number seems too late for first use in 1960, but that's what GM says was used. In fact, the earlier bracket, GM #3754586, was discontinued from SERVICE in November, 1960 and replaced by the 3786779 for all 56-59 SERVICE.

So, the short of it is your 1961 should have originally used the GM #3786779.

By the way, I think that using a good epoxy like JB Weld or Liquid Steel might very well be a good way to repair this damage. The epoxy should hold up very well. In fact, it will not be subject to any corrosion damage in the future as will the native steel material. So, the filled areas should be pretty much "immortal". The problem would be making sure that you dress it down so that it's completely "flat" and "non-tapered".

[David H.]

Re: Engine mount condition

Thank you Joe, very helpful, as usual. The 3786779 is what I found on ebay. So that is the correct part for my '62. Let's see what it goes for but I may try to repair the original too. It would be nice to be able to use it.

[Mark P.]

Re: Engine mount condition

I bought a repro from Paragon and it had some deep tooling scratches that I spent several hours correcting.

[Roy B.]

Re: Engine mount condition

It cant be seen when installed but original's do have a logo

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine mount condition

I bought a repro from Paragon and it had some deep tooling scratches that I spent several hours correcting.

Mark------


I would not be surprised if the later GM SERVICE pieces had the scratches, too. Usually, this indicates tooling that is wearing out.

The current reproduction is a "GM Restoration Parts" licensed piece. So, it may very well use the original tooling. In this case, the tooling may be used in the same condition it was in when the last piece for GM was made from it. So, things only get worse from there. It may not have been "economically viable" to refurbish the tooling given the rather low demand for this piece.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Engine mount condition

David,
Go for the new motor mount, either GM or reproduction.
There is nothing worse then getting the car together,starting it and then having to go through the process of replacing the mount, cleaning up the mess and so on.
Worth much more then $100.00 to avoid this situation. As John H. said use thread sealer and I like Permatex #2 on all 4 the gaskets surfaces.
Bruce B.