Technical 1955 Thunderbird SBC Side Motor Mounts (Need Ideas)

I know many people have done it, but I am struggling to figure out the right idea as to how to get it done. Does anybody have pictures of a Small Block Chevy in a 1955 Thunderbird that uses side motor mounts? I found something close, but the guy building his never followed up with an after photo.



Can somebody fill in the blanks?

 

Not a t-bird but….
Built a temporary mount when ya get the engine lined up where ya want it

then connect the dots

built these side block mounts that use a flathead biscuit.
Then built the frame mount.

 

I like your design. It's better than anything you can buy. I keep finding the cheap Chinese flathead biscuits. Does anybody sell good ones?

 

Might be easier to use the front mount from a 55-56 Chevy, then rig a couple steady rest rods like the bird’s used. The FPA headers take those off the header flange. They’ve worked for years on Vic’s bird, and he pulls a front wheel on nitrous.

 

I thought about the 55-56 Chevy mount. I was looking for what they look like with an 8 inch harmonic balancer, but I can't find any pictures. I've heard of a bunch of people doing it though.

 

While the bird balancer is different, the bird and truck front mount are very close (and possibly the same, stories vary). But as deep as the y block is, I’d be looking at that. Last I saw a sbc front mount we were pulling a 265 and dropping a 350 in with side mounts. I don’t remember any details, but there’s got to be some out there cheap, from all the ones pulled. And the Ford truck mount (even if identical) is way cheaper than anything that says “bird” on it.

 

Go to NAPA and get the motor mounts for an early Ford pickup (?-51 maybe later) with a flathead 8

 

Have you looked into the Hurst mount? or copies of it?

you could build towers to support the pads, coming up from the round crossmember that's just in front of the engine.

as for good quality biscuits...I don't have a good answer, but someone might, if you ask specifically about them

 

Way ahead of you. The only thing I don't like about the Speedway or Hurst mounts is that I lose my fuel pump.

 

Here's the frame bracket that hot rod guys use:
https://www.peteandjakes.com/parts/part-6005-1942-48-motor-mounts-small-block-chevy/

See instructions in link above.

Use with Pete and Jakes 82142 engine mounts.

 

I really like what Anthony Myrick did. The passenger side isn't as hard to design for as the driver side.

Anthony's design gives me an idea like moving the driver side forward, but leaving the passenger side in the same place.

 

The steering box is the hardest part to work around.

 

Yes, the box and steering linkage is a problem, and the exhaust is worse with a side motor mount. Fenderwell header time. Or out and down outside the frame and inside the rocker like Doane Spencer did his.

 

use the front mount on the driver side, and the side mount on the pass side, you solve both problems

 

Van Pelt

 

You have to trim the inside edge of the mount, so that the balancer clears. I may have taken a picture installed, but the previous owner had cobbled up the mounts, badly, so a lot of bad information could be construed from that image(if I post it).

 

I like the way you think.

 

This might be perfect. They look real high quality.

 

Just got some flathead style motor mount biscuits from roadster supply and they are much nicer than the brand new ones I pulled off to replace.

 

Anthony , has the style mount I would fab and use . I did the same to mount engine in my 32 rails . Nice work my friend

 

With the crossmember being a tube, you could fab something like this for the lower mount

 

Thanks.
Welded by a high school student that is currently making good $$$ for the pipe fitters union

 

chassis engineering/heidts biscuits also bob drake biscuits

 

The steering on my ride is similar to yours A little further back. But we tucked the block mount in against the block to clear the 55/56 manifolds.
This would also clear your set up

 

On my shoebox, I used these offset circle track "Howe" style mounts - they come in centered as well as 1-3" offsets - the stands on mine are old c-t mounts for a caddy installation I bought off another Hamb'r

 

I think the biscuits are the biggest hang up for me. The Speedway biscuits aren't cutting it. Their Hurst style mount is quiet nice...

 

I have seen the hurst mounts modified or possibly even spaced forwards to use a stock mechanical fuel pump. Might be worth a google search

 

The Hurst mounts came with spacers for that very reason..

 

Flatheads ain’t the only engine with round mounts.
Lots of British and German rides had em
Google round engine mount

expensive race ones

 

I have the Hurst motor mount. I even made the spacers.

You're right. The spacers make the mount clear the fuel pump. The biscuits still run right smack into the fuel pump...

Took about two weeks to find that out. I'm still mad about it...