74 304 Engine Install Problem

Hi,

I am trying to put my 74 back together. It has a 304 with 3 speed. The engine is bolted to the trans and I have the driver's side motor mount bolted down. My problem is that the passenger side mount is about 3/4 of an inch off. When standing in front of the engine, it looks like the engine is slightly off parallel with the frame rails. The only thing I can think of is the unbolt the tranny cross member to be able to make up the difference, then see I I can get the cross member bolted back.

Here is a pic of the situation.


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q137/Brad79CJ/IMG_4725.jpg

Any advice is appreciated, let me know I you need more info.

Thanks

Brad

 

Usually you bolt the brackets to the engine before you set the engine in. Then the stud on the rubber part of the motor mount goes through the hole in the frame tower. It should be easier to line it up that way. If I had the trans and transfer case attached to the engine, I would set that end on blocks (or just resting on the cross-member) until I had the engine on the mounts, then install the cross-member.

 

If I had the trans and transfer case attached to the engine, I would set that end on blocks (or just resting on the cross-member) until I had the engine on the mounts, then install the cross-member.[/QUOTE]

Thats how I have always done it, At any rate don't tighten any of the bolts until everything has bolts in place finger tight. Once all the engine, transmission and cross member bolts are loosely installed then tighten them up.

 

Just loosing the transmission bolts might allow you to move the engine enough to get the bolts started.

 

Thanks for the advice, I got her bolted in.


I was first going to unbolt the transmission mount on the crossmember, but opted to just unbolt the entire cross member. Then I moved the rear end of the drive train enough to get the motor mount bolts in, then bolted the c member back up.


Lesson learned. Thanks for the advice

Brad

 

Could u post some pics of the crossmember set up? I'm having problems getting my engine to sit on the crossmember right. It is about 3 inches higher than the crossmember for some reason. Thanks