Cue-Ball
04-04-2005, 03:37 PM
I finally had a chance to install the aftermarket engine mounts I got from John over at Autofab (www.autofab.com).
These motor mounts use a poly bushing that will last much longer than the OEM rubber bushings, AND the poly bushings are replaceable with out having to get an entire new mount. :supz: .
I won't bore you with all the details about replacing the mounts, pretty much one side at a time, support the engine, unbolt old mount, install new mount, bolt it all together, them move on to other side.
On the drivers side you HAVE to disconnect the steering shaft and pivot it out of the way, REMEMBER to make sure the shaft is back in the right place BEFORE wrencing in the bolts for the new mount, mine fell down and was UNDER the mount and engine when I started to tighten down the mount. The mount had to come back out for the shaft to get aligned again.
You will need and 18mm & 15mm sockets/wrenches to get the mounts out/in. I used a combination of air tools and ratchets depending on space limits.
I have to say the mounts fit PERFECTLY, and I love how they looked since I sent them out to get powder coated (powder coating just looks AWESOME!!!). The new mounts just bolted right up, no fuss no muss. I think it took about an hour or so to get them all installed.
Here are a few pix, my wife had the camera yesterday so I have no "during" install pix sorry.
Right out of the box
http://www.fototime.com/{658767C5-19A0-415F-BD77-9C13828E31E5}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{ED9A9B8D-028A-4CD8-9B45-DD2DFFC782B6}/picture.JPG
Back from powder coating
http://www.fototime.com/{9AE1C47E-D4CD-4249-9AAD-DE1FBD85EB67}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{9028E34E-810E-4C28-B639-B58FA733E2BC}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{B3DBAB8C-FA55-4210-B89D-3DCDA84A6C50}/picture.JPG
Passanger side installed
http://www.fototime.com/{81B86AFA-92A2-428F-AEAF-450477AA2F75}/picture.JPG
Driver side installed
http://www.fototime.com/{87B0281C-FBC3-4DA8-8168-A54A8A2E7995}/picture.JPG
Stock mounts
http://www.fototime.com/{83CEEBBF-61A6-4DE0-AF8D-23C88EFDAEFF}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{D026BD1F-D777-45D7-A033-CCCD75BA6C6D}/picture.JPG
So how does it drive? It drives really nice although you can feel a bit more vibration coming from the engine through the frame, this is due to the poly bushings, not really sure if I like that yet or not. What might be better is if John can make up some rubber bushings to make the ride more like OEM, but still give you the ability to replace just bushings not the entire mount.
Not sure if while I was chenging them I caused more of an exahust leak or if I am just noticing it more now. I know I have some exahsut issues but am hoping to not spend alot on exhaust right now until I do my long arms as the exhaust will need to be dealt with at that time anyway.
Over all I am very happy with the mounts and the customer service of John at Autofab, and since the mounts were basically the same price as ones from the stealership it was an easy choice.
These motor mounts use a poly bushing that will last much longer than the OEM rubber bushings, AND the poly bushings are replaceable with out having to get an entire new mount. :supz: .
I won't bore you with all the details about replacing the mounts, pretty much one side at a time, support the engine, unbolt old mount, install new mount, bolt it all together, them move on to other side.
On the drivers side you HAVE to disconnect the steering shaft and pivot it out of the way, REMEMBER to make sure the shaft is back in the right place BEFORE wrencing in the bolts for the new mount, mine fell down and was UNDER the mount and engine when I started to tighten down the mount. The mount had to come back out for the shaft to get aligned again.
You will need and 18mm & 15mm sockets/wrenches to get the mounts out/in. I used a combination of air tools and ratchets depending on space limits.
I have to say the mounts fit PERFECTLY, and I love how they looked since I sent them out to get powder coated (powder coating just looks AWESOME!!!). The new mounts just bolted right up, no fuss no muss. I think it took about an hour or so to get them all installed.
Here are a few pix, my wife had the camera yesterday so I have no "during" install pix sorry.
Right out of the box
http://www.fototime.com/{658767C5-19A0-415F-BD77-9C13828E31E5}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{ED9A9B8D-028A-4CD8-9B45-DD2DFFC782B6}/picture.JPG
Back from powder coating
http://www.fototime.com/{9AE1C47E-D4CD-4249-9AAD-DE1FBD85EB67}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{9028E34E-810E-4C28-B639-B58FA733E2BC}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{B3DBAB8C-FA55-4210-B89D-3DCDA84A6C50}/picture.JPG
Passanger side installed
http://www.fototime.com/{81B86AFA-92A2-428F-AEAF-450477AA2F75}/picture.JPG
Driver side installed
http://www.fototime.com/{87B0281C-FBC3-4DA8-8168-A54A8A2E7995}/picture.JPG
Stock mounts
http://www.fototime.com/{83CEEBBF-61A6-4DE0-AF8D-23C88EFDAEFF}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{D026BD1F-D777-45D7-A033-CCCD75BA6C6D}/picture.JPG
So how does it drive? It drives really nice although you can feel a bit more vibration coming from the engine through the frame, this is due to the poly bushings, not really sure if I like that yet or not. What might be better is if John can make up some rubber bushings to make the ride more like OEM, but still give you the ability to replace just bushings not the entire mount.
Not sure if while I was chenging them I caused more of an exahust leak or if I am just noticing it more now. I know I have some exahsut issues but am hoping to not spend alot on exhaust right now until I do my long arms as the exhaust will need to be dealt with at that time anyway.
Over all I am very happy with the mounts and the customer service of John at Autofab, and since the mounts were basically the same price as ones from the stealership it was an easy choice.