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engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:36 pm
by 72 notch back
ok I need help here. I have never done a h body build be for. what would be the best way to mount a small block gm motor in a 1972 vega notch back? I am about 500lbs at the crank. I am not to sure how I want to do this, or what is the best way to do this. any and all in put would be great!

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:34 pm
by Smiley
The big tube 2129 Hooker headers use the front mounting system like Transdapt and Hooker offer.

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Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:52 pm
by Fastmax32168
I think that depends on what your intended purpose for the car is. Solid mounting can get pretty irritating on the street. At least to me it does.
Roy

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:35 pm
by Monza Harry
I am sure that the front engine mount is available in a "rubber" mounted configuration. I think it was Fred's car if I remember correctly (73astregt). It seems that the best size tubes (for my intended configuration anyways) are mainly in these style mounts as the factory mounts are in the way of all the bigger tube Headers and any of the early style. I'll pm a link to this topic and I am sure he will chime in. Harry

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 11:26 pm
by Smiley
The 4 blocks in the front mount kits are rubber insulators.

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:40 am
by 73astregt
if i was doing this again (and i might) i would go with the factory style side mounts and the hooker 2135 headers for the street unless you are trying to make more top end power on the track, the 2129 headers require the front style mount and both the headers and the front mount are a pain in the ass to fit and also do not allow power steering and making up an alternator mount to clear them is more fun. changing plugs is a bit of fun too with the 2129 headers especially the#5 cylinder, i had to make a special wrench for that one from a box end wrench and a spark plug socket welded to it and that barely gets the job done with much contortion and knuckle banging. the rest of the plugs require a combination of spark plug socket with using a wrench on the end , ratchet with short extension and no extension grrrr... you get the idea! p.s. the front mounts do have rubber isolator that go between the frame and motor mount side so its not solid but its damn close when i rev the motor the car moves with it. also whatever way you do it get a mini starter, makes things a bit easier
also the 2129 headers have the rear pipes on both sides going out thru the wheelwell wich requires the brake lines to be moved and may lessen turning radius depending on what you run for tires on the front only reason i have the front mount setup is because i ordered the wrong headers, couldent return them cause i painted them so i had to make em work. this was b4 i found this site and got good tips from the great members here. there you go harry merry christmas ! :th:

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:21 am
by Smiley
what year and size motor ?
street,race or touring ?

I would agree on the front mount issues, but they do tie the front frame rails together and control the engine twist better than stock Monza mounts or Don Hardy mounts. If you want the large tube Hooker super comps then you will need to use some type of front mounts.
You can get a used set of Don Hardy headers http://forums.h-body.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=40708&p=238577#p238577 that will work with their side mounts but have large long tubes.

There is another option for side mounts, available from Powered By Ace
they use the later chevy type mounts with the bolt paralell to the crankshaft
http://www.powerbyace.com/Catalog%20page/Engine%20swap%20components.htm
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Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:08 am
by cosvega76
Smiley wrote:There is another option for side mounts, available from Powered By Ace
they use the later chevy type mounts with the bolt paralell to the crankshaft
http://www.powerbyace.com/Catalog%20page/Engine%20swap%20components.htm
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Thanks for the link, Smiley! I've been toying with the idea of swapping in a V6 for some fuel economy, and I see they have frame mounts. That'd save me engineering and fabrication time.

Chuck

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:10 am
by 73astregt
i had posted that link for powered by ace a while ago, slipped my mind last nite when i posted. they look like they would give a good mount for us and at a decent price. they also have mounts to put the newer ls chev motors in our cars and as far as i know they are the only supplier to offer this!

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:19 pm
by 72 notch back
thanks so much for the input. are all these long headers 1-3/4 primary tubes? I have a tilton super starter on my motor now so im good there.oh ya sorry. my car is a VIRGIN 1972vega notch back that's all factory un touched. the motor I have is a dart shp block 385 with dart pro1 heads 6" rods 375 stroke 10-3-1 comp, xr276hr cam. td shaft mount rockers 1.5 ratio. 750 vac 76 up front 84 rear jets. duell plane intake. its all in my truck now, 373 rear 350 turbo dynamic converter. 275-60-15 tire. all stock chassis 3940lbs with me in it . I shift it at 5600. it goes high 1230s with a 170 60foot at 105mph or so. its on you tube if you would like to see it run. its under brown 79 c10, but that's the drive train I want to put in this car. not sure how quick it will be,but im sure as hell gonna have fun finding out.

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:01 pm
by 72 notch back
Smiley wrote:The big tube 2129 Hooker headers use the front mounting system like Transdapt and Hooker offer.

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this mount in the photo, what the name of the kit? and or a part if you could. thanks robert

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 2:15 am
by Smiley
Transdapt 4686 Swap Mount Motor Mount Chevrolet Small Block V8
http://bit.ly/1bhjdPW
V8 Monza mounts require the frame adapter plates from a V8 Hbody and some mods to fit 2129's

Header tube sizes,there may be some others or exceptions:
Hooker 2129 -1 3/4" super comp V8 Vega conversion headers
Hooker 2135 -1 1/2" V8 Monza factory mounts also fits Vega
Hedman 1 5/8" V8 Vega conversion headers
Don Hardy 1 5/8" V8 Vega conversion headers
Sanderson 1 1/2" shorty Vega headers

Do you have the one or two piece rear main seal SHP version ?
V8 Vega oil pans are easier to come by for the two piece.

You will need to upgrade a few things for the V8:

radiator- (you will need a bigger one so look at Griffin aluminum units)
rear end- (swaping in a GM 8.5,Ford 8.8 or 9 inch will also allow larger brakes in the rear)
rear control arm mounting points- they are spot welded to the sheet metal floor (unibody)
rear control arms- the 40+ year old rubber bushings should be replaced or use aftermarket tubular control arms
brakes- (S10 spindle swap up front gives you 5 lug rotors and larger brakes)
front springs- (you may get by with stock springs if you relocate the battery to the trunk and use aluminum heads, short aluminum waterpump,aluminum intake and aluminum radiator)
Heater- if you are retaining the heater you need to flip the core to relocate the inlet and outlet tubes on non-AC cars

Re: engine plate or stock mounts

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:28 am
by Fasterthansome
I am using factory mounts welded and driver side frame mount has 1 additional bolt to strengthen it. I modified passenger side mount to clear the larger Hookers. Seems to be ok for 900+ at the wheels.