Engine mounts. HELP!!!!!!!

[Lt.Del]

thanks for clarifying.  I never take Autozone's word for nothing anymore...I always take my old parts to match up.  Those parts from India (Autozone) still were different from my original old parts.  The second set I received from Napa were made in Mexico and actually worked.   
Quality assurance apparently doesn't exist anymore.  The NAPA parts that actually worked were much cheaper too, go figure.  I go to NAPA now to get what I need.  I think I paid under $11.00 each.

[Grim 82]

I've made it a habit to save the part number portion of every part box and write on the back of it where I got it, what it's for, etc. I keep a log of all part numbers for my pickup since switching out a 10 bolt rear diff for a 12 bolt. After going to most of the parts stores in town looking for the crossover u-joint (it's a 348 by the way IIRC) and having them tell me that I couldn't have switched them because that just won't work, etc., I lost faith in the parts stores. Also, if I'm in the middle of a project and need something and have to send my wife to get it, she can just tell them the part number and then they can't screw it up (hopefully).

I always remove the mounts from the frame, because I'm used to dealing with manual transmissions where the motor needs to go so far forward to clear the trans. With an auto it's usually easy to go up and out, but if the mounts aren't in good shape then those thru-bolts can fight you tooth and nail going back in. Glad you got it squared away.

[77gmc]

there is indeed a left hand and right hand engine mount...makes a difference. Also, ensure your engine mounts match the old ones.  I went to two places to get engine mounts in August before I went to NAPA to get the right ones....it was for my '91 sub but by the time NAPA looked at my old ones and matched them up with what they had, it ended up being like '86 engine mounts.  $11 each.  Autozone tried to give me some that were a tad too big.  These mounts all look similar, but look at them closely...different years the three holes don't match perfectly.  You must use your old mounts to match them up.  

I put my mounts in with the engine still in the truck.  It helps using a long metal bar to pry up and down and back and sideways and whatever until the long bolt goes in attaching the two halves.   Then lining up the three holes to go into the block takes some prying around.  Coat the mounts with oil too to help them slide inside the metal block part too. Using a bottle jack under the oil pan (with blocks of wood to protect the pan) helps a lot too to relieve the pressure/weight on the mounts.  

SgtDel

I am restoring a 77 gmc stepside.  when I took the upper brackets off the v8 block, I briefly compared them, they looked the same before I refinished them.   I am now putting the engine back in the frame and it wont fit between the frame brackets with the new prothane mounts between the clamshells.  IT looks like the mounts are 1" wider than before, I have rearranged the bushings more than once

After taking another look one of the upper brackets is about 1/2 in taller than the other..   what side is which?  is the engine supposed to be closer to the driverside or the other?  I dont think it will make a difference in fit so that is another issue.

help?

[1979C20]

I fought with my engine mounts for 2 days. We ended up having to pry the engine and the rubber mount until the front or the back hole would line up and shove a bolt in it then use an impact gun to drive the bolt to the other end until it hit the inside of the clam shell. Then we had to pry and raise and lower the engine to get the back side to line up. Took me 2 days, a day per side. Biggest pain during the whole rebuild!

[Russ130]

SgtDel you right about one thing - Autozone parts are junk and the people that work there tend to be dumb as a rock. Though like everything there are exceptions. The only thing I'll buy at AZ is oil, rags and stuff like that and that is only if my regular parts supplier has stopped delivering. A big clue is when you ask for a bulb for your brake light and they ask if you have AC. lol

[Grim 82]

"I'm looking for a set of Warn manual locking hubs for an 82 Chevy pickup"
"Is that for a 2 wheel drive or a 4 wheel drive. Does it have power windows & locks? 5.7 or 5.0?"
Gotta love it

[77gmc]

  I ended up buying 3" long bolts.  with the center pin in the clam shells I lifted the engine up an inch or two so off the mounts put the longer bolts in and walked the bolts home, took about 2 hours   was not easy ...when it was tight, I replaced the soft bolts with the originals