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View Full Version : Aftermarket engine mounts for the 4.0



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.

chadjans
04-05-2005, 01:37 AM
You are going to hate the poly with your unibody. Most XJ's guys who run the old style MORE poly mounts end up changing back to rubber.

Chad

LouisianaZJ
04-05-2005, 02:22 AM
i have the MORE rubber bushing ones in my XJ (uses a LCA bushing)

they vibe a fair amount, poly would be unbearable i think

u guys should try to get enough interest for them to produce ZJ mounts

LouisianaZJ
04-05-2005, 02:23 AM
http://img92.exs.cx/img92/9012/motor_1728.jpg :rock:

Frogger
04-05-2005, 07:12 AM
Hey Cue-Ball,

Good deal! I worked with John at Autofab to get those mounts manufactured. I've had those mounts on my ZJ for a couple of mounts and although they do transfer some vibration I still like them. I've heard the whole vibration story also from XJ people but I don't think the vibrations are that bad. My brothers drive my ZJ more then I do, since they have it in the states and I'm stationed in Germany (USAF), and they haven't complained about the vibrations at all.

One word of advise though, when was the last time you changed your Transmission mount? If has been a while then I would suggest changing it also. I replaced the factory transmission mount, my old one was toast, with a new factory mount and that seems to have helped in calming down the vibrations.

Lindley

Cue-Ball
04-05-2005, 09:13 AM
Lindley,

Never changed the tranny mount (atleast not since I have owned the Jeep) Anyway you replaced yours with just a factory mount?

Cue-Ball
04-05-2005, 11:50 AM
I have spoken to John and although he does not have a rubber bushing he does have a softer compound poly that I am going to try and see if that makes it better.

It is not UNBEARABLE just a bit annoying, mostly at a stoplight and slow driving. It reminds me alot of being in a diseal pick up truck actually, part of that might be my exhaust leak which I am going to investigate this weekend.

Frogger
04-05-2005, 01:33 PM
Cue-ball,

The vibrations you described are the same that I experienced. I believe changing the transmission mount helped things a bit. I never changed my transmission mount until after I put on the custom engine mounts. The reason I used the same old factory mount for the transmission is because there isn't anything aftermarket just yet and it is the first time I replaced it. I'll give the factory transmission mount another chance.

Lindley

Cue-Ball
04-05-2005, 06:15 PM
Thanks I will order up one of the tranny mounts and see what happens.