Anyone done this or have any experience with it? I think mine are shot and new one's are about $1000 for four so I was thinking of just making some. Thanks, Sean
I used to rebuild them with this stuff. http://www.devcon.com/devconfamilyproduct.cfm?familyid=151 Usually I can find it on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110117710684
What do you mean 'rigid'? Solid steel engine mounts? Metal to metal engine mounts? Can be done.......if you want to feel the engine vibrate through your entire car! Engine mounts made of rubber, are there to absorb the engine vibration so it wont vibrate/shake/rattle your car to pieces. Also makes the drive much more pleasant I reckon. So I would reconsider doing that and buy some new engine mounts. But if you only think they are "shot", then it would be best to make sure that they are ACTUALLY worn/broken. Or take it to a mechanic that can have a look for you before you go and buy 4 new mounts that are not needed. Having all 4 mounts worn/broken at the same time is rare, unless they are original mounts from 30yrs ago and never been replaced. You may only have 1 mount worn/broken my friend. Get them inspected 1st, then go from there mate.
I'm pretty sure they're the original mounts. When I rebuilt my motor I thought one was broken but it turned out it had come loose off the g'box . . . this meant the motor was swinging on the other three for I don't know how long. The rubber wasn't visually broken up inside any of the mounts. I screwed a bolt into the mounts at the time to compare rigidity . . . proud to say I'm not an expert in rating rigidity of mounts! . .. but they did feel the same. Anyway my header broke and the motor moves side to side about 1/4" (1/2" total) when you grab the a/c compressor or the plenum and rock it . . . just fixed the header and got her back on the road . . . I guess if i need to become an expert in rigidity so I don't have to take it to be looked at, so be it. How can I check if just one is bad . . . or should I just replace them? I've had the car 12 years and I really doubt they were done before that. Thanks, Sean Sean
I dont understand that sorry mate. If you were to have an ALL metal engine mounts (no rubber anywhere in mount) bolted to metal chassis/engine cradle, then the car would vibrate and rattle like buggery. Not good!! If you were going to make some new metal engine mounts that used rubber to mount to chassis/engine cradle, then there is nothing wrong with that. The rubber mounts dampen the engine/driveline vibration from going throughout the entire car which can get really annoying when engine mounts are worn. I may have misunderstood your 1st post sorry Sean. It is easy to check engine mounts. Get a torch or w/shop lead light and visually check them for cracks or check to see if they are broken. If they do not look cracked or broken, then place a jack with block of wood under the engine sump and jack engine up as much as possible, without damaging/breaking anything in engine bay. You will probably not get much height out of this, so becareful. Recheck engine mounts to see if they are broken. Before trying the jack method, you could also try to bar or lever engine side to side with a long pry bar or pipe to see if there is any excess movement in the engine mounts. Hope this helped you out Sean.
Give me an idea of what excess movement is. When I have it up on a lift, I can grab each motor mount and pull down and see the mounts move/compress a little bit. They all feel and seem to move about the same (maybe .05" pulling down by hand). Maybe with some leverage I'll see one moving more than the others or based on this description just replace them? Not sure it's worth going to the trouble of making new ones unless someone knows of a rubber isolator that's used for mounting engines/extreme duty and all I'll have to do is make adapter plates . . . might be worth saving some cash plus I'm pretty hard on the car so stiffer mounts wouldn't be a bad thing. I thought the completely rigid/solid mounts would be a little harsh with my 308 since it is more of a street car than track car . . . I have an old P track car that's got rigid mounts and it's not too bad, but the thing is sprung so hard engine vibration is maybe the last thing you notice. Might just need to get with another local 308 owner and compare. Thanks, Sean
Id try that 1st Sean. See if any mounts are moving more than others. If so, then replace. If they all seem to move around the same and are not cracked or broken, then I would be inclined to leave them in there. Or.......just spend $1K and replace them all and be done with it for another 12 years.
