Welded motor mounts, alignment off (why?) [Archive]

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ACR-Mark

01-08-2011, 07:09 AM

My 68 Firebird has a 383 stroker. I noticed that the motor mounts are welded to the subframe, and they are not aligned with the original mounting holes in the subframe cross member. The driver side is positioned about 2 inches back, so it's hanging off the cross member. The passenger side is about 1 inch back. The engine sits so that the distributor is just about up against the firewall. It's a running and driving car, with a 4 speed Muncie and Ford 9 inch, and the only reason I'm questioning the setup is because I have plans on replacing the subframe. The car has previously been in an accident, and the subframe has been "repaired" but there are still some things about it that just don't seem right, so I'm not opposed to replacing it and starting new. My opinion is that things should bolt up, like new motor mounts, but what's in the car right now clearly doesn't line up. Could it be that the motor mounts are still Pontiac? Are the mounts on a Chevy block further back on the engine, and maybe the motor mounts are longer to account for this?
Here are some pics.

ArtosDracon

01-09-2011, 12:33 AM

I have a feeling that the subframe is pretty badly tweaked from the previous accident. The position of the mounts being further rearward is due to them being the wrong mounts for the vehicle. They look like early C4 mounts or vortec truck mounts that have been modified. The fact that one is so much further rearward than the other, is why I think that the subframe is tweaked.

ACR-Mark

01-13-2011, 06:37 AM

I got underneath the vehicle, and found the subframe to be a lot worse than I expected, so I will definitely be replacing it. My biggest concern was putting the correct mounts in and not having to weld. I saw some pics of Kusi's Camaro subframe yesterday, with just the mounts installed, and it was clearly obvious that my car doesn't have the correct mounts. The F-body mounts should bolt right up when I replace the subframe. PIctures really are worth a 1000 words, and this case, 1 less thing to worry about.....