Hard Motor Mounts

[Slick Willie]

I know Desert Beast has hard mounts for his big block, but I can't seem to find pictures other than what's in my head. I know Brutus has bolts and shock bushings through his stock mounts. I know I want to hard mount my motor because I know how hard I've hit and will still hit rocks to jump up them.

Now for what I don't know. Will a 401 bolt right in where a 360 sat (motor mounts)? If I do this motor mount mod now, and later get a 401, will I have to redo the engine side mount of the motor mounts? I could leave the frame side the same and fab a new engine side mount, but if I'm going to fab one now, I'd like to make one that'll fit later.

Oh, and any pics of hard mounted motors would be nice too. I already know what I want to do, I just have to do it. But pics are nice.

[Dmntxn77]

I have never done it, but I am pretty positive that they have the same mounts. If not we could just look at the mount to tell what motor is was instead of having to crawl under to check the block..


What kind of hardmounts are you planning? I like the way Brutus modded his. That seems like an easy and strong design. Plus it should still help to keep engine vibes down. I am not sure if I would want to actually "hard mount" a motor.

[BRUTUS]

I guess I should update my image. I don't remember who I got the motor mount mod from but it included a shock bushing... anyways, to make a long story short... my motor hit hard enough that the washer (very oversized) was pulled through the shock bushing and cut the shock bushing completely off. After that the motor was allowed to bounce around like before the new mount. Luckily with the couple of washers that were on there to seperate the shock bushing spaced the nut up far enough that I was able to clamp the bolt/nut down to within an 1/8" total gap. I just tightened it down last night and can't wait to wheel it this weekend with total confidence.

My roomate had me model (he fabricated) some clamshell chevy motormounts for his '69 Chevelle 327. He loves them. I am still not sure I want to go with a 100% solid motor mount.

Now that I have a machine shop in my garage I might consider doing some solid motor mounts for AMC 401/360.

[Hammer]

Motor mounts are the same for the 360 and 401. No worries there.

I have a set of solid motor mounts. I ran them in my CJ5 before because I kept destroying all other motor mounts.

Don't forget to put a solid mount for your tranny as well. You need to complete the package, or you will tear up anything that isn't solid.

[FSJ Guy]

Now that I have a machine shop in my garage I might consider doing some solid motor mounts for AMC 401/360.

Show-off!! :D

[BRUTUS]

Show-off!! :D

I don't have a Chevy Dually flatbed with a tommygate! :p

[Hammer]

http://www.performanceamstyle.com/Cart/description.php?II=9&sessid=04c515d545dabe8107e2c721210c0a7a&divi=amc

These are the ones I have.
http://www.performanceamstyle.com/Cart/images/9.jpg

[BRUTUS]

http://www.performanceamstyle.com/Cart/description.php?II=9&sessid=04c515d545dabe8107e2c721210c0a7a&divi=amc

These are the ones I have.
http://www.performanceamstyle.com/Cart/images/9.jpg

That looks insanely easy to make! What did you do for a solid tranny mount? I am not sure about socket head cap screws for assembly... they would be fine from the bottom but yikes getting them tight from the top... or are they threaded studs?

[Hammer]

I have the older version of these. Just normal nuts on the bolts.

I made my own tranny mount.

And you are correct, they are EASY to make.

[Slick Willie]

I already hard mounted my tranny...
http://longhornoffroad.com/garage/gallery212/d/3752-3/Crossmember+6.jpg

I'm thinking about using the same exact concept with the motor. DOM, bushings, thick bolts, and 1/4" plate. I'm more concerned about the 401 bolting up where the 360 was. So far I have one confirmation.

[Desert Beast]

mine arnt 100% solid. i run a bushing on the frame end. i had some plates cut to bolt to the block, and went from there. i love it. no engine movement, and i dont notice any more vibes that when i had my stock motor mounts in there.
i also have the trans/tcase mounted in the same fashion. (solid with bushings on the frame side)

do you have an engine cage also? my only concern would be frame flex if the rig is not fully caged up. it would put lots of stress on the trans bellhousing.

http://www.southbaycustoms.com/fullsizejeeps/buildup/rockwells/03-18/DSC01957%20(Medium).JPG

http://www.southbaycustoms.com/fullsizejeeps/buildup/rockwells/03-18/DSC01962%20(Medium).JPG

[Dmntxn77]

DB, I like those mounts... :thumbsup:

SW, I am sure that something similar would compliment your tranny mount well.. And for the record, neither of those mounts are what I was thinking of when I read "hard mount"....

[Hammer]

Will, all 290 through 401 share the exact same motor mounts for all V8s.
I have swapped around a number of 304, 360s and 401 blocks.

DB, Those look like really nice mounts. I like the idea of those being completely captive mounts. Figured I would make a set like those if I ever needed to move the motor around from the stock location.

Btw, I had solid motor and tranny mounts in my CJ. A LOT of power, and a LOT of abuse, I mean fun....
Never ripped the frame up. Destroyed a lot of gears, axles, drive shafts, etc.

[FSJ Guy]

That looks insanely easy to make!

I see a trip out to your garage to start up the machine shop...

[Justin Kerns]

Btw, I had solid motor and tranny mounts in my CJ. A LOT of power, and a LOT of abuse, I mean fun....
Never ripped the frame up. Destroyed a lot of gears, axles, drive shafts, etc.
I also ran solid mounts on my CJ and loved them! Well, actually they were M.O.R.E. 2 piece with a bushing. Anyway I would recommend checking these out:
http://www.mountainoffroad.com/catalog/BombProof%20MM/bombproof.htm

They have lots of options and even make a 1/2 mount to bolt to AMC V8 for those of you who want to fab the rest. I haven't asked them for a straight up FSJ-->AMC V8 mount, but maybe it wouldn't be a big deal for them to make.

[Hammer]

Those MORE mounts always get good reviews.
But $215 for the AMC V8 mounts is a chunk of change.

Besides, the ones DB made are pretty much the same thing. Only real difference is that he put the bushing towards the frame instead of towards the motor like the MORE mounts are.

DB, what kind of power is your engine putting out, and how long have you been running those mounts?

[Slick Willie]

Thanks, DB. Those were the pics I was looking for (I looked all over that website of pics, no luck. Found a crazy 14 bolt shave though :thumbsup: )

By hard mount, I didn't mean 100% hard mount. I meant with the poly bushings (they're pretty hard). I call my crossmember hard mounted, and I'll call the engine hard mounted. Those bushings won't let much move at all.

Thanks Hammer, now I have to get to work on some mounts!

[Poley]

look very easy to make. prolly only take me a month to make.. lol I'm slow

[wickedwagon767]

http://www.southbaycustoms.com/fullsizejeeps/buildup/rockwells/03-18/DSC01957%20%28Medium%29.JPG

http://www.southbaycustoms.com/fullsizejeeps/buildup/rockwells/03-18/DSC01962%20%28Medium%29.JPG

Nice work

[Hammer]

Ok, so no one is running TRUE hard mounts like I posted?

Honestly, I would rather run ones like the MORE or what DB made.
I will end up making a new cross member whenever I decide on what tranny to run, and I will make it with the bushings on the ends.

What bushings are you guys running?
And how are they holding up?

[Desert Beast]

DB, what kind of power is your engine putting out, and how long have you been running those mounts?

stock 454. ive been running them for about 1 year now w/ no problems. and they've been in quite a few rolls, one end over end.

What bushings are you guys running?
And how are they holding up?

im running just some standard bushings for 2" .120wall tube. on my mounts, the tube on the mount is .250 wall but the bushing is tube .120. thats why i put the extra bracing on it, i was worried that it might rip the .120 wall. theres so little movement that i dont think the bushings will wear out.

[Justin Kerns]

Those MORE mounts always get good reviews.
But $215 for the AMC V8 mounts is a chunk of change.


Ya they aren't the cheapest, but they are very well built. I abused my CJ mounts for many years and never had a problem with them. Probably the best option for people like me who can't weld. :D