Changing Motor and Tranny Mounts

**kool-aide** · 07-08-2007, 04:01 PM

After a short search on this idea i thought i would forge ahead for more information.

I have your run of the mill Haynes car DIY manual. I haven't checked it out for replacing motor and tranny mounts, so i'm asking for help ignorant.

I also saw the advice if you have to ask you can't do it. Well so I'm gunna ask.

My neighbor has a hoist that i'm sure I could borrow. Here's the catch all the work i do is solo, and my friends are monkeys with butter fingers, so not much help there. I want the pride an joy of saying DIY, plus saving the labor cost. I would rather spend every penny building a tool box and personal bloody memories of DIY than hours of labor costs at the shop.

Everything i have tried i have done with no epx and been successful. So how hard is it to change the eng and tranny mounts? Take the given you have to disconnect the things that will break if you don't what are the hidden should have done that first gotchas when doing this. The best tools I will have are a floor jack, jack stands, and I may be able to borrow a hoist. I need to do this in a weekend, so being prepared is key before i turn my first wrench.

Thanks

Kool-Aide

**Mr. Luos** · 07-08-2007, 04:09 PM

Tranny mount = easy.
Motor mounts = not so easy.

**02z28ls1** · 07-08-2007, 06:27 PM

Might be able to jack the car up and put it on jack stands- put the hoist on the motor and hold it up-and drop the crossmember some to make the motor mounts easier. Just an idea- I have to warn you I haven't tried this myself. Jack up the car and stare at it awhile and see if you can figure it out ahead of time. Busted knuckles and a lot of cursing can accomplish the impossible sometimes-good luck!

**9t8z28** · 07-08-2007, 07:11 PM

Motor mounts really aren't that bad on an LS1. Try doing it on an LT1 F-body!

**Y2KPewterSS** · 07-09-2007, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Tranny mount = easy.
Motor mounts = not so easy.

I agree with Mr. Luos

Tranny mount is cake. I can't imagine it being worse than an hour job in the worst case scenario.

Motor mounts can be a HUGE PIA. I wouldn't attempt them without a reliable buddy to help out honestly.

**Silver Streak** · 07-09-2007, 08:41 PM

Yeah.. the DR motor mount is the ONLY thing in my way of pulling my engine and tranny out of my 87... GRR!! Twisted off an extension!

**bigrondownhiller** · 07-10-2007, 11:34 AM

its extra work but if you remove the exhaust manifolds it will be much easier to get to the motor mounts.

**greatwhiteZ28** · 07-10-2007, 05:55 PM

when should the tranny mount and engine mount be replaced?

about what miles ??

how serouis

**kool-aide** · 07-11-2007, 01:00 PM

well i have been looking into borrowing the hoist or possibly buying a fold up hoist from northern tools. I read on the LS1 tech how to site about replacing the tranny mount. It was way more descriptive than the Haynes manual, those guys were great.

I'll take the jack it up and stare advice. My biggest concern is the reapir manual didn't say any thing about disconnecting the motor form the tranny. Do you guys think there is enough play to be hoisting and jacking things up with out separating the tranny and engine? I'm just afraid I would hoist it and hear a bad noise because something snapped or a bind of some kind where I should have disconnected something first.

**bigrondownhiller** · 07-11-2007, 01:26 PM

no you shouldnt have to remove the tranny from the engine. you will only be able to lift it so high before you hit the transmision tunnel anyway.

**kool-aide** · 07-11-2007, 02:26 PM

cool thanks. i'm the kind of goof ball that would read haynes and try to fill in the blanks on my own. That has a lot of room for mistakes and broken parts.

**02z28ls1** · 07-12-2007, 03:06 PM

I was thinking more along the lines of using the hoist to hold the motor in place, not jack it up that high. Then possible lowering the crossmember to give some room to work.

**kool-aide** · 07-13-2007, 01:23 PM

yeah i think that's what i'm supposed to do. Hoist it just enough to give that slim room to wiggle things out of the way. It always helps to ask if someone else has done it before. I generally don't screw things up, but there is always room for oops that's gunna cost me.

Thanks