I’m currently mocking up my 331 Cad into my 1935 frame. I’m using what I believe are Hurst style mounts on the motor. The first problem I see is the oil pan is hitting the crossmember before I can get even close to the biscuit on the crossmember and yes I’m attempting to use the original Ford engine mounts. I know I can move the Hurst mounts closer to the front of the motor by using some spacers or washers but I’m not sure that’d be the smartest thing to do. Anybody have any ideas or photos of their setup? Thanks
Back in the old days you bought the engine mounts from Hurst then you bought frame to engine mounts for the application. I believe they are U shaped brackets that basically raised the mounts. Think of the U on it's side.
Start by installing the radiator in its original location and work back from there. Fab where necessary. Great project!
That's why I moved my Caddy engine back 2 inches and reworked firewall on my 37 Ford. Brackets are easy to make for the frame to engine mounts . In the photo you can see how much I set back the firewall.
I used the same mounts you're using. Just a spacer to raise it up. No firewall mods. Mechanical fan with a 38 radiator pushed fwd in the grille. Been in there since 2008.
The 'Hurst-style' mount that I make is a couple inches longer which would, of course, move the engine back. Dunno how much room you have at the firewall but it might help with the pan.
The latest trend seems to be to save the firewall at all cost. This is a fool's errand in my opinion. You can bet that if a Caddy-size motor was in the car originally the firewall would be a different shape and the rest of the stuff would be the same. Compromising the radiator location, mechanical fan, steering, etc. just doesn't make sense if a little trim on the firewall will do the job.
Thank you guys. sproadster30 any idea how big those spacers are? They look like about 1 1/2 or 2 inches. I’m inclined to use the spacers rather than move the engine back. My firewall has already been modified however when I put my “yard art” 35 Cowl onto the ch***is I took some measurements and compared them to my modified firewall I don’t think I have any more room to go back. I have an early Cad with a Lasalle bolted up to the extended bell. I’m gonna bolt up the radiator this week and see what that looks like. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Original Hurst spacer's are 1-3/4" tall... I didn't need to use them when I put the 390 in my '40, but did have to ding the front of the oil pan to clear the front spring u-bolts.
I should mention that I started a build thread under “projects” that more thoroughly describes what I’m trying to accomplish with this car, just not sure how or if I can add this to that thread? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Part way down in this tread, there is a picture showing the sideways U spacer set up. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/motor-mounting-madness-hurst-catalog-1960.954986/
That’s great! I just found these spacers in my Speedway catalog. Awesome, Thanks much fellas! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'm pretty sure I tried those spacers and they weren't tall enough to clear with the Caddy. Might have been fine putting a later flatty in there though. The ones I used are 2". They're not elegant, but they work just fine, and simple. If I were to do it again, I would certainly relieve the firewall with the 35 truck unit. The intent at the time was to preserve the cherry 3w body, but as you can probably tell, I couldn't resist in the end. Don't forget to put your steering box in there, and if you're using manifolds (like I did) they're going to still fight for space. I used a 37 box, but dropped it down on the frame about an inch.
Well I’ll find out soon enough if they work, I have a 40 box that the previous owner used so I gotta get that in there too. The exhaust is gonna go out through the inner fender wells, fingers crossed. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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