Projects Mounting a boring engine in a '31 Chevy

Has any one used the tubular weld in/ bolt in motor and trans mounts from Speedway. I've been looking at these for a while just can't decide if I want to pull the trigger on it. Or would the Collar style be better?

 

Tubular works fine. Mount the front eng. mnt up toward the top of the rail on your '31. If boxing, which you should, just use a hole saw in boxing plates and slide mnt into one side, then the other and center it. Weld and you're done

 

When i was a kid selling newspapers on the corner, The soda jerk across the street had a '32 Chevy coupe with a GMC in it. I'm 72 now and never will stop loving that car. Please just think about it.

 

Hey, thanks fellas! I'll give it a try. I will probably be boxing the rails.

 

I used a tubular in mine. I centered it in the frame and I think the motor could have been mounted higher up in the frame. Oil pan is very low. I did not box the frame as I have a very boring 350 in it and the chevy frame is pretty beefy. One drawback from the tube is you can't drop the pan without cutting the tube.
Now that I have learned this I would opt for mounting brackets that are separate and probably make my own . Using the tube with the engine low like I have it meant I did not have to cut the floor or make a auto******* tunnel. Luck, Bob.

 

Also keep in mind that the engine does not have to be centered- offset to pass side makes it much easier to fit exhaust and steering in the same area. Look at any Mopar v-8 from the 60's or 70's- they were all offset
from the factory.

 

what body style?

 

Actually, it's just the chassis right now but I have a line on a 2 door sedan.

 

We've used the Speedway crossmembers quite a few times, both the one for the engine and for the transmission. They work great. We usually punch holes in both sides of the frame and slide the crossmember tube into the holes and weld them solid, but they can also be bolted in with the triangular plates they give you with them.

The downside to welding them in is that you can't remove the pan easily, but I like the strength they give the entire frame by welding them in.

Don

 

I used bolt in tube mount for my '30 project, with a 250 inline 6. I got it from Chassis Eng. It is pretty low in the chassis, but went in easily. I've got a '30 sport coupe body I'd let go cheap if the sedan body doesn't work out. (Needs some lower panel rust repair.)

 

Looks just like the cross member in the Ravens AD truck, he bought his used so I don't know if it is a speedway or not but it works well.

Hey @Don's Hot Rods the spring on that suicide mount are actually on the back side of that tube axle? I'd like to get a closer look at that one.

 

Benno, yeah, the perches are welded on. I don't have any great pictures close up, but this will show you a little of it.

Don



This one shows a little more of it.

 

I'm old and have built lots of cars in my life. From that I have learned a few things that will bite you. Always build the transmission cross member so it is removable, welding it in doesn't necessarily make it stronger. Don't buy a pre bent cross member with the trans mount bracket welded to it. You will be limited to how high you can adjust the transmission. Without the bracket you can move it forward or back and rotate it to find the perfect trans height then weld the bracket in place.

 

I've used Speedway's, and also made my own- not that big of a deal. Buy the pad and put it on the******* and work from there. I wouldn't weld it in though; makes it a lot more labor intensive if you want the******* out ( and I'm always in a hurry!)

 

I guess it is a matter of personal choice. I prefer to pull the motor and trans if I need to do any work, and I just pulled the motor out of my 27 for a clutch replacement and some other freshening up. Took me all of a couple of hours and I was able to remove the trans on the floor instead of laying on my back.

Don

 

My brother had a '49 Ford with a Merc engine. Blew transmissions every other week. I on the other hand, have only blown one transmission in my life. So I would say it depends on which one of us you are more like. PS Jeff cut out the floor boards on his Ford to make getting the trans out easier.

 

This is all great info, fellas. Thanks for the pictures. I was worried mostly about bolting one in. But I guess it's been done for years.

 

I chose to use these but the tubular mounts work fine.