Front engine mounts

[dalgrae]

Advice please Whilst I am changing the timing chain on my car so I have the front panel off and the radiator I can see the front engine mounts are splitting on the rubber to the back plates in a few locations , I have located some NOS mounts , my plan is to place a suitable sized piece of MDF under the whole of the sump and gently raise the engine/gear box enough to remove the mounts/towers they fix to. My questions are

Is this a good way to remove the mounts
Will the sump support the weight
I intend to raise the assembly the minimum possible is there enough flex to do this in the gearbox mounts

If the sump will not support the weight I can make a truncated capital H section with wood to rest on the sump bottom and also up the sides of the sump and rest on the sump to engine bolt flange

[kennatt]

should be fine its the standard way,you only need to lift it a short way to do the job. just a length of timber would do it,but if you have a sheet of wood to go all the way over the sump then that would be more than adequet. No need to touch the gear box, or engine steady bar.No need to remove the towers, unless you want to clean everything up ,probably a good thing to do sometimes there,s rust under the towers,the mounts can be fiddled in with the towers in situe.

[bmcecosse]

You WILL need to remove one tower - otherwise you need to lift it far too high. If renewing the chain - best fit a new bottom sprocket too - it will be worn 'sharp'. The larger sprocket should still be usable, although inspect and consider when you get the chain off - but of course new rubber rings (for all the good they do..) should be fitted. Use the starter to loosen the starting handle dog......

[dalgrae]

Thanks for the advice re the engine mounts. Tahnks Roy ref the advice regarding the timing chain and yes I did replace both pulleys as well I also I know it is completely OTT but I machined the large pulley recesses in case there was any out of balance (sad i know) I also took the oportunity to install a Mini tensioner so I did not bother with the rubber rings ,the bottom pulley came undone by using a big hammer on an old spanner and to my surprise the large cam sprocket was tight but not locked over at all it is now

[bmcecosse]

Ahhh - well done - I had forgotten you were doing the excellent Mini tensioner conversion - you won't regret it.

[dalgrae]

Thanks again Roy