Engine Mounting...

[retrocarclub]

This is really just a message to those that have fitted different engines into their Vivas, V8's, XE's etc. but I just wanted to know how you mounted the engines? Did you just adapt the standard Viva cross member mounting points or has anyone tried anything else? Pictures would be a great help too.

I'm currently fitting a 16v Vauxhall engine into mine (was originally fitting an 8v, but changed my mind) and I've decided to try and mount it much further back than I had with the 8v, but i'm not sure how to do it. I had thought about perhaps mounting it to the Viva chassis rails, like many Escort owners do, but it seems that the rails are too high.

Any help & suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

[Firenzaboy]

Never done one,but would suggest just re-fabricating the mounting brackets to fit the XE,rather than overcomplicating matters.Just sling it/jack it into position where you want it,and take it from there in situe Knock something up rough that works for starters,you can always remake them better once you've mocked it up and have all the dimensions you need.
Well that's what i'd do,anyways
Dave

[retrocarclub]

Never done one,but would suggest just re-fabricating the mounting brackets to fit the XE,rather than overcomplicating matters.Just sling it/jack it into position where you want it,and take it from there in situe Knock something up rough that works for starters,you can always remake them better once you've mocked it up and have all the dimensions you need.
Well that's what i'd do,anyways
Dave

That's what I did originally, welded extensions onto the existing mounts:



But because the sump bowl was at the front of the engine it meant it had to be mounted forward of the cross member and I wasn't happy with it.

Now I have a different engine going in with a much more suitable sump, but I just wondered how other people had mounted their engines as I was never very happy with the industrial look of these mounts.

[lambaj]

The Engine mounts for my V6 in the HA were designed and built at home. I used a transit leaf spring bush mounted in a piece of tube as the rubber bit, then welded the tube to a piece of 2x1 inch steel box, welded to angle iron plates that sit on the chassis rails and bolt through with the original front cross member bolts, so locking it all in. The engine side is a lump of 10mm plate with two other plates at 90' welded on so the rubber bush centre sleeve just fits up between them. Two 12mm bolts later and the engine is in..... This means I can drop the front clip and leave the engine in place, but also if I need to get the engine out, the front suspension has to come off 1st (but its only 4 bolts) as the engine only comes out the bottom.
Of course the actual hard bit was jigging it all up in the 1st place. Having a bare block/gearbox to mock up helps immensely.
Just be sure about your abilities as a welder. Remember all the engine torque is reacted against through the engine mounts..... and God forbid you have an accident, the engine mounts keep the engine in the bay rather than in your lap......
Good luck.
Tony (HA21)