308 Engine mount disected

I am not sure if anyone else here has pulled a 308 Engine mount apart. Sorry if you have already seen it all ............. here is how I pulled it apart and what is inside it.

The first step is sandblast the surfaces near the engine mounting holes. This is done so that you can clearly see the rivets.

There are 4 aluminum rivets holding 2 halves together.
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Centre punch the 4 aluminium rivets so that they can be drilled out. These rivets are quite soft , do not be tempted to try to just punch them out ........ there is a very good reason for this coming up.
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Carefull there is a spring inside !!! Mine were spot welded together !!

 

Here is what NOT TO DO !!

I placed my engine mount in a small drill press with pieces of packing under each side to keep it level and easy to drill out.
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LOL ............ I was getting to that bit.

 

Don't worry I learnt the hard way to !!! Hope you are ok .

 

When I was drilling the last rivet ( or in some cases grinding off the welds ) the top of the mount suddenly sprang upwards. I was lucky not to break the drill and or my fingers.

Holding it in a vice is much safer.

Inside is a spring , an inner base made of rubber and steel insert, a funny looking steel mesh thing probably for sound damping, and a thing in the top which I have not pulled apart yet.
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I'm ok , , frightened the hell out of me though.

What do you make of the bit which looks like a kitchen scourer mounded into a heavy walled tube ??

I'd say it's a sound damper.

 

Also wondered what it was for . You may be right with the sound damper theory . I tigged mine back together never thought of riveting them , not a bad plan !

 

I found the same steel wool type material in the springs that mount the muffler. I presumed it was acting as a kind of dampening material so the spring doesn't bounce and flail about.
Same principle as the shock absorber that sits inside the springs for the wheels.

 

What was the reason for taking it apart, outside of the standard "guy" reason?

 

LOL ......... reason ?

I need to understand what does or could differentiate a "good" one from a "bad" one.

Going by watching the gearstick movement under brakes and hard turns I am assuming the mounts, which are all tightened down securely, are not doing what they should be doing.

............... since they are easy to disassemble and assemble I can snadblast the internal surface rust , paint it , reassemble and be certain I have a good mount.

.... Option 2 is to modify it a little and stiffen up the mount a bit.

 

Good work so far, Paul. If you will be restoring this one, please continue with the pics.

 

When you removed the mount did you jack the motor up to remove the old mount from the bracket or somehow get to the top two bolts on each mount? I see no real suitable way to get to the top bolts.
Joe