Installing new 350 engine on Motor Mounts

[brown7373]

I am having great difficulty getting the new 350 engine to line up properly on the motor mount to install the bolts. The bolt hole is close, but still not allowing the bolt to be inserted. I have been lifting and rocking the engine for 2 days now, but still not getting things lined up. Not to mention getting my hand in the support to start the bolt. Any tricks I may be missing?

I have installed Fords and Pontiacs with little difficulty, but this Chevy is proving to be a real pain!

[Domingo]

I just went threw the same thing. What I did was to loosen up the engine frame brackets, there is 3 bolts. I removed them, bolt up the mount to bracket then bracket to frame

[geezer#99]

Any bolt can be modified to be self aligning.
Thread a nut onto the bolt, grind the end at a 45 degree angle, dress the threads with a small file, remove the nut to clean the threads and the bolt should go in easily.

[FRCvette]

Glad to see this. I am starting my engine swap this weekend.

[CaptRMW]

If your engine stands have the small holes that are barely large enough for the bolt to go through they can be a pain in the arse. I always drill the holes to 5/8" and problem solved. Having the engine sitting almost in place means this is not an option without lifting it out of the way. A little persuasion with a helper and a 3' long 2X4 will likely get you hooked up. Good luck.

[truckster]

Did you replace the mounts? I've discovered that the aftermarket mounts aren't produced with the same exacting standards as the OEM mounts were. Your mileage may vary. CaptainRMW's suggestion is a good one to deal with less-than-perfect manufacturing tolerances.

[brown7373]

I also though about this a little and may have another avenue to explore. I have the truck on jack stands to allow better access under the truck. But one side is slightly higher, which doesn't help dropping it evenly on the mounts. I am going to level it, then also trying some of the other suggestions. That still doesn't solve getting my big hands into the mounts, but it's a start. Thanks

[GASoline71]

Only time I had trouble getting the bolts to line up with the holes was when I had the engine stands already cinched down. Once I loosened them up a bit to allow for some play, the holes lined right up.

Gary

[brown7373]

I replaced the mounts and visually, they looked identical. If leveling the truck doesn't get the holes to line up, I will loosen the stands to get a little play.

[brown7373]

I am still struggling with this damn install. I ground the bolts to a point and was able to get the passenger side in, but no luck with the driver's side. My wife asked, "can we use the truck with only one side attached?" That might prove to be a real adventure! The stand bolts are also difficult to get to, but I will try that today. If that doesn't work with the engine in the truck, I may re-pull the engine so I can better access the stands.

[Artofdeath]

Wish I was there so I could hold a beer and give you advice! Loosen all the mounting bolts, ones for the trans cross member too.

[Jim Boy]

Originally Posted by brown7373

I am still struggling with this damn install. I ground the bolts to a point and was able to get the passenger side in, but no luck with the driver's side. My wife asked, "can we use the truck with only one side attached?" That might prove to be a real adventure! The stand bolts are also difficult to get to, but I will try that today. If that doesn't work with the engine in the truck, I may re-pull the engine so I can better access the stands.

How do they think up those questions? You can't write the stuff eh! Have a good one and good luck.

[brown7373]

I have tried it with all bolts tight and also with all bolts loose on the transmission to engine and transmission mount. With everything tight, the hole lines up close, but just enough off to prevent the bolt from threading into the motor mount.

[demian5]

Originally Posted by brown7373

I have tried it with all bolts tight and also with all bolts loose on the transmission to engine and transmission mount. With everything tight, the hole lines up close, but just enough off to prevent the bolt from threading into the motor mount.

Maybe your truck has been hit in the past and you have a bent frame.

[HO455]

I fought this battle last month too. New motor with the old mounts which looked good. After an hour of cursing and shoving I pulled the mount off the passenger side and found that the last time someone installed the bolt they had cross threaded it into the mount and now the mount was junk. A trip to NAPA got me two new mounts and new bolts. An hour later it was all bolted down. Although it did take removing the bolts on the tranny mount and pulling the tailshaft to the driver's side slightly, as well as leaving all bolts on the block loose until the bottom two were snugged up. After all the front mounts were tight I reinstalling the tranny mount bolts. I could have avoided that step if I hadn't bolted the tranny up while the new mounts were being picked up. So much for trying to be productive. I don't understand why Chevy stuck with these mounts for so long. The Pontiac style is so much quicker to install.

[randy500]

This can be a real problem.
Try this...

Make sure the engine mount hole threads will accept your bolt, it could be full of rubber from casting the mount. I honestly think a new mount I had recently was metric threads, I tapped to the 7/16 like it’s supposed to be....

I know it’s hard to get to the lower frAme stand bolts but it is a must when it won’t line up, to get to it I jack the truck way up, use a long extension on an impact with an impact universal joint socket, they are cheap at harbor freight.

I actually will only install an engine with the stands attached to the engine...it is the most fool proof method, when done this way, install the lower engine stand bolt through the hole, then use a punch to pry the top holes into position to insert the bolts.

[brown7373]

Thanks for the additional comments. I wish I had heard all these before I started, but after previously doing Pontiac before, as HO455 said, the Pontiac was simple, easy and quick. I assumed (I know, ass out of u and me) the Chevy would also be easy. If I ever do this again, I will at the very least drill the stand hole slightly larger, and/or loosen or remove the stands and bolt them to the mounts and then drop in. I think I will lift the engine and confirm that the new mounts are clear of rubber and properly threaded. Then get the stand loose and try it that way. I have tried withe no bolts in the tranny, loose bolts in the tranny, loose tranny mount bolts and no tranny mount bolts, all to no success.

To add insult to injury, at 68 and two previous major lower back surgeries, this is a MAJOR PAIN! Sure was easier when I was 40.

[brown7373]

Okay, I found the main problem. I never inspected the new engine mounts. I lifted the engine yesterday and removed the mounts and this is what I found. When trying to install the bolts, I saw the excess rubber, but assumed (that word again) it was just light flashing of rubber. An X-actor knife and a tap cleaned the mount up and I drilled the stand hole slightly larger and I expect to be able to finish this nightmare today.

Picture shows the mount before I trimmed the rubber...and it was thick around the hole! In hindsight, it is pretty obvious. Don't repeat my mistake.

[Steeveedee]

Man, that's a bummer! Good you got it fixed, though.

[brown7373]

Finally, I got the bolts in. Now, if I can get a torque wrench on them, or at least a ratchet to get them tight. Very tight quarters!

[SavageC20]

I just went through this exact issue when I dropped my 454 back into my c20. I was able to get my passenger side mount bolt in fairly easily but the drivers side would not line up. What we did to get it to line up was lifted the engine from the PASSENGER side head. One bolt in the front of the head and one in the rear near the firewall. We then lifted the engine with the hoist and it allowed the engine to tilt downward on the drivers side exposing the hole in the motor mount, bolt slid right in. As others have said it helps to angle the ends of the motor mount bolts with a grinder.

[garyd1961]

Just saw this thread. As you found out you need to remove the excess rubber from the bolt hole in the mounts. I cut a punch down to use as a line up tool. I started one bolt then removed the trans mount bolts and moved the tail end of the trans until I could line up the other hole with the cut down punch. Once the motor mount bolts were started I just slid the trans over until the trans mount bolts lined up.
I told this to my cousin who worked at a Chevy dealership when these trucks were new and he said we use to just drill out the holes in the frame mounts, duh. Anyway I don't like modifying anything on my truck if I don't have to.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by brown7373

I am still struggling with this damn install. I ground the bolts to a point and was able to get the passenger side in, but no luck with the driver's side. My wife asked, "can we use the truck with only one side attached?" That might prove to be a real adventure! The stand bolts are also difficult to get to, but I will try that today. If that doesn't work with the engine in the truck, I may re-pull the engine so I can better access the stands.

Maybe that explains why when I bought my truck it only had the passenger bolt in place. I didn’t realize it till I tore the truck down. I always figured it was just wore out mounts causing the shifters move side to side so much in the cab under load. Dang lucky I didn’t break the transfer case adaptor.