Engine transmission install!!!

[nomad]

Well, I've read the archives and Buckland and never expected installing the engine to be this much of a pain! Don't have the patience to wait for advice and condolences so will go back at it but knowing what I now know I would install the trans and engine separately! May have to yet!!

[Car came disassembled]

Kurt
26/3754

[Panda]

Hi Kurt,
You have my sympathy! Even with my 2 post hoist and mobile engine lifting crane, I still find it less of a hassle to install separately. Hang in there though, it can be done either way. You will have a big smile on your face when you finish!
cheers Alan P.

[nomad]

Thank's Alan....unit is in! Took major shoehorning but its in. I believe the next time I would prefer to fit trans and engine separately.

Now I'm facing the next conundrum.....motor mounts come no where near the frame mounts. I'm quite sure that I kept track of the proper dimension between the frame mounts while doing repairs. A rough measurement of the engine mounts plus 2 1/8' spacers on the port side that came with the engine show their measurement to be about 3/4" too wide to match up to Lotus specs. Should I deform the mounts that far?? Is this common??

Kurt

[Certified Lotus]

That doesn't sound right. Are you sure you have the motor and Trans installed properly? Is the drive shaft in place correctly? Is the Trans mounted bolted in? It might be off by less than 1/2 inch but not more.

[nomad]

Glen, the only dimension that is off is the width between the engine mount's. I reinforced the frame as on the 26R's and held that dimension while I was welding but don't remember if the mounts sprung inward when released. I guess that the welding would tend to pull the frame together and I may be to blame for some of the problem. Should have pushed the mounts apart as I welded to account for the spring back. However a rough measurement between the mounting holes on the new motor mounts on the engine came up with about 51 1/2 while the dimensions in my Lotus shop manual show the frame dimension at 14 3/4.

Anyway, I've had enough for tonight. I'll make up some jigs tomorrow to determine exactly where the problem lies. Don't feel like cutting and rewelding any thing for sure but I'll see!

Kurt.

[Certified Lotus]

Kurt, I just went out to my garage and measured my spare chassis from my 64 Elan S1. The distance between the motor mounts is 13 11/16 " measured from the top of the mount edge to edge.

[nomad]

Glen, is that measurement from hole to hole?? If it is the frame rails are pulled in a bit since Lotus calls that measurement 14 3/4. If its the distance between the ears that sounds about right. I'll see on mine tomorrow.

Kurt.

[Certified Lotus]

Kurt, it is the distance from ear to ear at the very top of the bracket where the metal turns.

[CBUEB1771]

Now I'm facing the next conundrum.....motor mounts come no where near the frame mounts. I'm quite sure that I kept track of the proper dimension between the frame mounts while doing repairs.

Keep in mind that 711 and other 1600 blocks are about 1/2" (or more) wider across the two motor mount planes than is the 701 block. I don't know the extent of the work you are doing but if you have built up an engine based on something other than the 701 block then the port side engine mount spacers will need to be changed. Your dimension of 2 1/8" sounds too long to me for the standard spacers, I think they are closer to 1 1/4" Unfortunately I am at work now and can't check my spacers for the standard dimension.

[nomad]

Russ the engine came in the car but only because the PO had to have a place for it. I had two of what looked to be factory spacers and two stacks of washers. I made two spacers up to match the others. The engine is stock S1 with the numbers matching the car.

If the spacers were wrong that sure would be great and an easy fix!

Kurt

[CBUEB1771]

Kurt,
I just reread one of my own posts about the new Ford Racing blocks. The spacers with the standard block should be 1 1/8" or 1 1/4" long. with the 1600-height blocks the spacers are about 5/8" long.
Russ

[nomad]

Thanks, Russ, I'l check that out. I'm thinking about the 1/8 and hope I have the measurement right in my head. I'll figure something out that will work! Cars down in my shop right now and its -7 F outside so I'm in no hurry!

Kurt.

[billwill]

Gary Anderson posted a picture of the spacers, with a ruler, in my topic some time ago:

lotus-elan-f19/getting-ogu-roadworthy-again-t26101-60.html#p175550



There's a topic about the bolts here:
lotus-twincam-f39/block-engine-mount-bolts-t25895.html

[tvacc]

Hi,

Before you go any further on the motor mounts.....

In the past year I have ordered motor mounts from 2 of the 3 major vendors out there. They were the heavy duty motor mounts. None of them fit. I don't know what is going on here, whether they are getting them from the same source and someone had a bad batch? Or someone's jig is off.....

I can certainly say with a degree of substance that I know I am right as I pulled an old set of OEM ones I had on the shelf, many years old. that fit perfect. So it has to be the mounts.

[nomad]

Hi,

Before you go any further on the motor mounts.....

In the past year I have ordered motor mounts from 2 of the 3 major vendors out there. They were the heavy duty motor mounts. None of them fit. I don't know what is going on here, whether they are getting them from the same source and someone had a bad batch? Or someone's jig is off.....

I can certainly say with a degree of substance that I know I am right as I pulled an old set of OEM ones I had on the shelf, many years old. that fit perfect. So it has to be the mounts.

You're right, Tony.
Did some more measuring and the problem is in the mounts. Memory is shot so the spacer's are 1 1/8 inch.

I imagine I can deform them 3/8" to a side and just hope they hold up.

Kurt.