Bent engine mounting brackets....why? It`s a 1977 2+2 auto

[Mickl]

I was just down the road and had to stop very quickly yesterday with wheel lockup and tyre smoke etc. I got home only to discover the engine had slipped forward and the clutch fan has mashed the radiator up. Looks like the momentum of the engine has bent the side engine mount brackets. The rear one also looks like it is damaged too but its a bit harder to see from a rough inspection. The brackets don`t look rusty.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

I guess I now have to get hold of new brackets and mounts from somewhere....any suggestions anyone?

Will the engine need to come out? Is it possible that there is damage to the rails? I am not that mechanically minded so would appreciate any help in pointing me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance

Mickl

[C.A.R.]

WTF?

Take some photos & post them here, so we can better diagnose the issue...

[Linton]

I would bet the rear mount was already broken before the incident, glad you are ok.

Linton

[peter mc]

check all mounts one or more will have broken , make shore you check the gearbox mount , and diff mounts and all the diff mounting points

[nat0_240_chevZ]

mmm, yes very interesting.....

gearbox mount it well gone, and front brackets are weak as piss, with no gusseting. you can probably easily straighten the front L-brackets,

replace the g/box mount and radiator, but im certain if this happened in an emergency stop,

as advised by pete above get the whole thing checked over.

another case in point woild be TC rod bushes, are there any left?

nat0

[dat2kman]

The rubber mounts to engine, due to age, oil, grease and 30 years of flexing, will have just torn off their plates, the brackets to crossmember can be eadily pushed back into correct verticals.

The gearbox mount also will have finally torn, the box jumped up, and the whole lot moved forward.

 

Disconnect radiator hoses, use a coupla of jacks, ( not on the sump ) and lift engine up sufficiently to clear the engine rubber mounts.

Remove, and replace with new.

Jack up at trans, drop box x-member, replace box rubber mount.

 

It's scary to think that an engine is just held in like that, imagine a violent roll over, unless held in by enscapulted bush mounts, the lot will come flying out!

 

I am looking at getting a job lot of engine and box mounts re-rubbered in a firmer rubber , same spec as Nismo mounts, but stiffer than stock ones.

But i will need lots of torn ripped sagged broken ones, in advance!

[Mickl]

I had a better look this morning and the rubbers seem intact! Front 2 mounts are bent and I guess they will either need straightening and reinforcing or new ones found. Pictures show the bends each side.

The rear mount has rotated from horizontal a bit bit looks intact otherwise. The diff mounts look Ok but all will need checking once on a hoist

I have noticed that the suspension cross member has kinked a little on both sides from the engine moving....fortunately I have a spare one of these in the shed.

I can`t tell if there is any damage to the rails just yet.

[dat2kman]

You sure there was'nt a drop bear on the ground that you mighta hit?

It would take a fair amount of sudden stop g-force to do that, as you said tyres skidded brakes locked.try easing up the engine on each side, with a block of hardwood on the jack, not much mind, llok for a separation of the rubber to the mount plates.

They certainly look nice and cleanish, ie not oil/grease encrusted!

[Scoota G]

Yes, engine mounts can look ok but be split right through on the top or the bottom. Your motor can move about but usually settles back in the correct place. You'll find out once you jack up the engine. It's surprising how much they can move around.

[luvemfast]

I can't really say that I've seen this before.

And can garauntee that you haven't miraculously out broken anyone else here!

So dare say that the others may be right about your mounts. But not engine mounts, given the brackets have bent is a reaction, not a cause. I'd be looking from the rear moving forwards.

[pauly_adams]

I would say you snapped the gbox mount first then the engine mounts, my car was putting out too much power it caused the gbox to shear the bolt that hold the mount to the box, as a result it snapped my engine mount also. fair chance that the gbox mount is the culprit

[Mickl]

Thanks all for your help so far. I will be doing the jacking etc later this week but am thinking that the front rubbers could be alright , if they were already torn the motor might have slipped forward but the brackets would have not bent.

It does seem to point to the rear mounting rubber but all will be revealed soon.

I can`t remember how close the fan was to the radiator before this but it is well into the core now. More at the top than the bottom. Not sure if that difference bears any significance to the faiulre of the mounts