Engine Mounting

[Antelope]

I'm installing a rebuilt engine and I have the engine setting where the old engine was (in the slotted holes closer to the radiator) I haven't bolted up the Tranny yet but there is about 1/2" gap between the tranny and the engine was wondering if I should use the rear holes, or will this 1/2" go away with out any problems after I bolt it up?

[Marvin Gates]

I put new motor mounts in mine a while back and for some reason it wouldn't line up in the front holes so I moved to the back holes and everything was fine.It seamed a little weird to me but it works just fine. I can't say for sure about yours but this happened with mine. Maybe someone else has some idea's about it.
M.G.

[Antelope]

Anyone have any definitive answers? Thanks.

[Antelope]

I now someone can tell me. Can I count on making up this 1/2" when I bolt the tranny to the engine or do I need to reposition the engine right now?

[Bob Barry]

NEVER bring the engine and tranny together by bolting them up! Something, either engine position or (more likely) the torque-converter drive-tangs are not positioned right, and drawing the two together when you bolt it up will only break things badly (front tranny pump, bellhousing casting, etc).

First off, can you freely spin your torque-converter, and slide it forward and back? If not, then either the tangs on the torque-converter snout are not engaging the matching slots on the front pump, or you are putting an earlier 360/401 on your TF727-equipped truck without removing the spacer sleeve inside the pilot hole that was used for the pre-'80 TH400 transmissions.

Use the hoist to take the weight off the engine or pull it out again, ensure your torque-converter is fully seated and there is no sleeve in the crank (it could also be there if you bought a rebuilt 360; it's hard to spot that sleeve).

Good luck!

[Tubro]

Hey this spacer sleeve on the crank you are talking about. What if it is not there on a TH400 vehichle? Since the day I bought my 79 Wag the starter and flywheel do not engage. The starter pinion just grinds and makes alot of noise. I replaced the flywheel right after I bought it, and it started about ten times, now its back the way I got it. Grinding and screeching. The PO had the engine rebuilt and told me he had starter problems. If its gone I assume when I want to put my 700r4 on it, I will have problems? I think I may finaly have it now.

[Antelope]

Bob,
I'm confused. I've got an '89 GW that I purchased a rebuilt engine for, the torque converter spins freely. What is this "sleeve in the crank" your talking about? If I recall correctly I just bolted the flywheel on to the crank, and I thought I was good to go. Is there something I need to remove????? So I guess it more then just moving the engine back to the rear slots??

[Bob Barry]

The sleeve reduces the diameter of the pilot hole in the end of the crank (where a pilot-bearing would be pressed on a manual-tranny application). If you can slide the converter forward enough for its mounting pads to squarely contact the flexplate, then you don't have the sleeve (the diameter of the front stub on the TF727 converter is larger, and wouldn't fit in that hole if the sleeve was installed).

Well, if the converter can spin and slide forward and back, you probably have it installed right (there should be at least as much clearance between it and the flexplate as there is between the engine and transmission, plus another half-inch or so).

When installing an engine,I usually jack the front of the tranny up, and slide the engine back to mate to it, snug a few bolts down, then drop it down onto the mounting pads.

If it really is an alignment problem, you can loosen up the tranny mount, bolt the engine to the tranny, then position where it belongs.

[oldyellowwagoneer]

Put the mount in the back hole.the only reason theres two rows is because there's only one bracket stamping for both the left and right side combined into one.the foreward hole puts the fan too close to the radiator.Tubro'do you have the spacer plate installed between the block and trans? That could be your starter problem.It must be there to space the starter back away from the flywheel about 1/16" .DENNIS

[Tubro]

AHHHH I don't think there is a spacer plate! Maybe thats the problem all this time. I bought it the way it is, and when I pulled the tranny, I don't remember any type of spacer between the crank and Tranny. About 1/16 of an inch you say? Could I put washers on all the bolts to space it and see if that works? Then if it does, find this elusive plate? Well what about just spacing the starter out 1/16th of an inch?

[Bob Barry]

The spacer actually has the outline of the bellhousing, and sits between the back of the block and the front of the flexplate. I honestly don't know what its purpose is.

[jeepbob]

Some mfg's like AMC and Ford used them to help seal outside dirt from getting into the flywheel area. GM uses a splash shield instead. If the plate is gone the starter will go in too deep.