Motor mount question

[Grit dog]

my engine/trans/transfer case are mounted too far forward and my z bar is bent from it.

I'm still having a hard time figuring out how this is even possible? I've had enough drivetrains out to say this is virtually impossible unless the motor mount holes on the frame were actually re-located.

 

[bucket]

@HotRodPC you knew a lot about motor mounts, yes?
my engine/trans/transfer case are mounted too far forward and my z bar is bent from it. I think if I unbolt the z bar, support engine, put new engine mounts in, move my crossmember to the right spot, it should all line up(maybe replace z bar..?)

I just had a thought. Where is your pivot ball mounted? To the engine block or to the bellhousing?

 

[HotRodPC]

@HotRodPC you knew a lot about motor mounts, yes?
my engine/trans/transfer case are mounted too far forward and my z bar is bent from it. I think if I unbolt the z bar, support engine, put new engine mounts in, move my crossmember to the right spot, it should all line up(maybe replace z bar..?)

It might not be the wrong motor mounts. It might be that someone used the wrong set of holes in the frame for the mount pad that the clamshell sets on. I'm not much of the expert here. To the best of my knowledge there's small block mounts and big block mounts. Big Block mounts are just shorter in height so the engine doesn't set to high.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I just had a thought. Where is your pivot ball mounted? To the engine block or to the bellhousing?

I would assume the block, let me find a pic
The twist in z bar corresponds to the broken np208 mount and the broken motor mounts, where the engine on passenger side is forward and a slight kick downward. And the driver side is just broke and it sits low and dipped down

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[HotRodPC]

Them pics seem to close up for me to make sense at what I'm looking at. What's it look like standing at the driver side fender looking back toward the Z bar linkage? It appears these pics are from underneath. Need to see the Z bar alignment from the frame to the block/bellhousing or whereever it goes. And you say it's off so you think the engine is to far forward?

 

[bucket]

I can never really tell what's out of alignment either. Hard angles to judge in pictures I guess.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Them pics seem to close up for me to make sense at what I'm looking at. What's it look like standing at the driver side fender looking back toward the Z bar linkage? It appears these pics are from underneath. Need to see the Z bar alignment from the frame to the block/bellhousing or whereever it goes. And you say it's off so you think the engine is to far forward?

And twisted! Here are some better pics my PC had

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[AuroraGirl]

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@HotRodPC @bucket hoepfully clearer for ya?

 

[AuroraGirl]

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[bucket]

I just can't figure out in the pics why the z-bar appears to be so far out of alignment. Even if they are completely shot, the engine mounts shouldn't be able to cause that.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I just can't figure out in the pics why the z-bar appears to be so far out of alignment. Even if they are completely shot, the engine mounts shouldn't be able to cause that.

it looks like they were all worn and the drivetrain just kept twisting and probably didnt help the clutch dumping i and gpa have definitely done and its a lot of mass with a lot of play

strut rod for np208 + sm465?

 

[HotRodPC]

OK, so now I see the pivot ball is on the bellhousing. It almost looks like if you were to raise the transmission a bit, it might push that pivot ball a bit more forward and straighten out the actual Z bar.

 

[AuroraGirl]

OK, so now I see the pivot ball is on the bellhousing. It almost looks like if you were to raise the transmission a bit, it might push that pivot ball a bit more forward and straighten out the actual Z bar.

I do have a new bellhousing cover(unecessary to change i would think), a good boot(could buy a new one), fork, z bar, and its hardware (well, used, but not bent or broken), do you think that would be a worthwhile change after i fix my mounts or should i see how well it works before i do that? Im thinking if my crossmember and mounts are proper it would sit better

 

[Grit dog]

Im thinking if my crossmember and mounts are proper it would sit better

I’m thinking you’re correct. After multiple threads about this, it’s evident that your entire drivetrain is about 1 piece of broken baling wire from just falling out of the truck all on its own.
There’s literally 3 things that hold the drivetrain in place. 2 motor mounts and a cross member and all 3 of those are fubarred.
Stop hypothesizing and fix the root cause of the problem instead of “supposing” what “may be” the issue.
This is evident and either you fix it or procrastinate about it.
Whether it’s worth fixing right, or not, is an emotional decision on your part.

 

[HotRodPC]

I do have a new bellhousing cover(unecessary to change i would think), a good boot(could buy a new one), fork, z bar, and its hardware (well, used, but not bent or broken), do you think that would be a worthwhile change after i fix my mounts or should i see how well it works before i do that? Im thinking if my crossmember and mounts are proper it would sit better

I don't know that your linkage is bent. I'd just make sure you get your mounts and crossmember in proper positions, meaning get back to ground zero where it's supposed to be and then evaluate the Z bar and linkage. IF it's not bent, then it should all fall back into place where it belongs. If it's bent, then replace it.