I love manual transmissions - just can't see a hotrod without one. I'm putting a 392 in my 34 coupe - the engine is set back about 4" - due to the 3" blower pulley in the front. This makes everything that much harder when it comes to brakes/clutch, steering, exhaust, etc.. I bought a 'weld on' brake/clutch setup from Pete and Jakes. It was a good place to start, but I had lots of work to do to fit it to my frame, make sure I could clear the block and heads, etc.. I ended up making a plate to weld to the boxing plate and the P&J mount is welded to it. Tje mounting position is about 1" further back than P&J specify - but it is the best it can be - given the engine location. I also put a cross-piece of 1" x 2" tubing to tie the top of the mount to - it goes from the frame side to the X-member and the brake/clutch bracket is welded to it also. I struggled with coming up with a way to tie the center X-members back to the frame (in front) - especially since the engine was way far back and the clutch/brake pedals needed room to travel. I ending up using a 1" x 2" piece of rectangular tubing - that picks up the frame boxing plate and goes underneath the brake/clutch pedals. Here are the results - hope it helps somebody:
All the cross-member stuff is .128 -- same with the tubing (all mild steel). The main reinforcement plate that covers the holes in the boxing plates and that the P&J brake bracket welds to on the frame rail side is 3/16. The top of the P&J bracket is welded to the 2" x 1" square tubing (with the holes in it) that goes from the boxing plate to the X-member. If you need anything, let me know . . . always willing to help the next guy!
Thanks, I will be following your build with great interest, I dig your style. Maybe if I could make one little suggestion, could you link your posts, I do not want to miss anything and posts have a way of disappearing very quickly on the hamb... Your motor mounts look real stout and capable of the weight and torque of that Hemi, did you consider a motor plate/s?
Thanks - just an amateur trying his best! I don't know how to link threads - other than by URL, is there another way? The motor mounts are out of 3/16 - hopefully they are strong enough. There is not a huge amount of material, but there are quite a few inches of weld and the top pieces obviously pick up the frame rails (top and sides). Guess we'll see how strong they are! Motor Plate: Front or rear? Some guys like front motor plates (some guys say that you should really consider them for a blown application). I'd prefer to not run them in the front (reminds me of boats!) - but left 'ears' on my custom bell-housing adapter in case I want to add some support at the back of the motor.
Posting is an interesting challenge, you could have one go forever which people can subscribe to, but multiple post like yours are neat and tidy and deal with one subject. Maybe if you update your part one, whenever you start a new post with the url....just a thought.... Whatever i'm still diggi'n the work, now get out in the shop...lol
The Jalopy Journal
