OK so I did the rod bearings

I now have the cross member and motor mounts off the car and the engine supported from above.

For the life of me I cannot line up the motor mounts to the motor support arms.

I have tried putting the mounts in the cross member first. I tried bolting the mounts to the engine supports first. I tried leaving all the bolts loose. I lowered and lifted the engine, jacked the cross member up and down. Pry-barred everything I can see and I just cant get them to fit.

I know clarks garage and the pelican tech forunm etc etc. But "installation is the reversal of removal" and I am stumped. If somebody could talk me through the steps between having the cross member off to having it and the mounts bolted up I would really appreciate it.

Thanks Guys

 

So eventually I solved it. Kind of. Did the drivers side first. Used a pry bar to push the mount toward the engine support while simultaneously using another bar to push the engine support toward the mount. I was then (with a helper) able to lower the engine and have the top of the mount engage in the engine support bracket. I then had to use the pry bar again to get the top holes of the mount to line up one side at a time.

I doubt very much if this is the preferred solution and I couldn't say I recommend it, but it was the only way I found of making it work.

 

Well done! That deserved at least two beers.

 

Thanks. I really enjoyed them too.

 

Man, I just fought with that exact same issue last night while swapping out the passenger mount on my 84. Between that and realizing that I didn't have a proper 17mm wrench (just a 6" adjustable ), the whole job took me a good 2 hours longer than it should have.

I'm going by a Sears anyhow this evening, so a 17mm is on the list to pick up so I can never repeat that crap again.

 

Glad it wasn't just me! In 18 months of 951 ownership I have come to really appreciate my local Sears and have spent many $$$ on interesting shaped wrenches just to reach the elusive bolt de jour. Good job getting through it in 2hrs. Took me 2 days