Help! Engine installing problem!

[laneychief]

Thank you for the gearbox help all, that's sorted.

I've come to put the engine back in today, I've got the gearbox lined up and the gearbox crossmember in place, the RH engine mount and the engine steady bar at the top all in place, I left the LH mount off as instructed in the Haynes to put in after the engine is in, only to find that it is miles and miles and miles away from the holes it needs to sit in, I'm at a loss for what to do here, I had to leave the garage and come home because I just don't know what to do,

Here's a picture, please say someone can help. You're my only hope!

[The vast minority]

No picture evident

[laneychief]

[frame][/frame]

[diggerjones]

Av u got the engine mounts the wrong way round.
Think there handed

[aupickup]

can only be
front engine plate or chassis rails welded in the wrong place
it does look like the engine mounting holes in the front engine plate have the outer metal missing around the hole , not that would be the answer
is the plate from a 1098 moggie engine

[laneychief]

I was really hoping not to hear that. Alas, I think that's what it must be, I was so so so careful with measuring everything and lining up old weld lines and everything, how could I of done it!

[laneychief]

yes 1098

[martin418]

hi i see the mounting towers are new , i am guessing they are wrong , i have just checked my car and the longest side of the mount is 6 inches , i also suspect the mounts are wrong as the front pulley bolt should be in line with the centre of the cut out in the chassis cross member , are the mounts the same although they are handed mine are the same size

[laneychief]

Ah you see, that could also be my welding, the front cross member, both chassis legs and the RH tie plate are all new.

[laneychief]

I don't suppose anyone could measure the distance from the inner chassis bolts on the RH engine mount to the inner chassis bolts on the LH mount for me please?

[janstolp]

From the centre of the bolts right to left is about 38,7 cm.

It can differ a bit because I measured it with the bolts fitted.

Regards
Jan

[laneychief]

Thank you.

Any more opinions on problem keep it coming.

This is meant to be my wedding car one month today but if I've stuffed this up I have not enough time or money to remedy it in time which completely breaks my heart. I've spent hundreds of hours over the last 6 months trying to achieve this goal and I've messed it up by being careless and thinking my skills were better than they are.

[panky]

You could always make an adapter plate up.

[laneychief]

How would that work?

[panky]

A piece of steel plate, 1/4" would probably be OK, big enough to cover the base of the mounting tower and the mounting holes in the chassis. drill four holes in the plate to match the chassis mounting holes and bolt it in, then mark the plate through the holes in the tower. Drill the holes and countersink them on the reverse side and bolt it to the tower from underneath the plate with countersunk nuts and bolts. Bolt it down to the chassis and job done. This should get you through the wedding and if your not happy it can be sorted properly later.

[martin418]

thinking about it logically if the n/s chassi rail lines up with the original n/s tie plate and if the new front cross member is the correct length the o/s chassi rail should be in the right place , have you tried offering up the front panel which should give some indication of general front end alignment , have you still got an original engine mount just to rule out a problem , also given that the chassis rails are straight and therefore parallel along the car it should be very obvious if one rail was badly wrong and was the front crossmember a straight in fit or did it need trimming ,

[bmcecosse]

Are the towers right way round? Also - just loosen everything up and square the mounts to the engine - it's always going to be 'snug' with new engine mounts. I doubt there is anything wrong with the chassis leg welding! Have faith!!

[laneychief]

I'll try yeh front cross did need a trim though

[laneychief]

When an engine tower says RH I'm right in thinking RH as in steering wheel side?

[bmcecosse]

I would think so ! Just slacken everything and shuffle it all into place..