59intheworks

Are the engine mounts compatible in a 59 frame to put in a 1957 283? I

John McGraw

Yes, 53-62 frames were all the same and all 283 engines were the same.
:seeya

59intheworks

I thought that was the case, but the reason I asked was because the Chevy V-8 Engine Casting Guide Numbers 1955-93 book states the following "In 1958, Chevrolet went to a new motor mount system featuring mounts near the freeze plugs on each side of the block, as opposed to the mounts of 1955-57, which were located on the front lower portion of the block on either side of the timing cover. Therefore, all 1958 and newer Chevy V-8 blocks have threaded bosses on the sides of the block for motor mounts, while 1957 and older blocks do not."

So does it fit or not?
:rolleyes:

Plastic Pig

Yes it will work in a 59. Will not fit 63 up because no mounts on side off block. :cheers:

62fuelie

C1 Corvettes don't use the same motor mount system as the passenger cars. All SB Chevys will bolt in the C1's as they use the water pump bolts to hold the motor mount.

K2

The differences you describe relate to passenger car motor mounts. The Corvette front mount is entirely different as it utilizes a cross truss which sandwiches between the water pump and the block. Rubber biscuits on each end support the truss (motor) on the frame mounts. If you are putting the 283 in a C-1 V-8 application then the side mount drillings are irrelevant. In other words - Yes it will fit if you use the correct front truss mounting hardware. :cheers: :smash:

58Mike

I HATE the front motor mount setup. For me, it's caused fan belt alignment issues and I don't like the weight distribution with a support being so far forward. With the side motor mounts (like everybody else gets to have), there's not so much weight at the transmission end of things, especially with a 700R4. On my car, there's a ton of weight at the transmission mount, which gave me yet another headache with making a transmission crossmember.

If I had it to do over, I think I'd consider welding side mounts onto the frame. Of course, that's probably a whole new can of worms! :rolleyes:

- Mike

59intheworks

Guys, Thanks for all the help. Like I said above I thought it would but that reference throw me off. I guess as a good Corvette owner I forget that some of the reference materials cover cars other then just Corvetts. (what a waist of type :D ).

I was hoping it would since I have already bought the motor.

Thanks agian, Ray

JohnZ

Front or side motormounts makes no difference in overall car weight distribution if the engine is in the same position in the frame - the weight is still in the same place, regardless where the mounts are attached to the frame.

Many C1 belt alignment problems are caused by engine rebuilders not installing the C1 Corvette-only 1/8"-thick spacer ring between the front of the crank timing gear and the balancer (which moves the balancer forward 1/8" to make up for the thickness of the motormount bracket between the water pump and the block so the crank pulley aligns with the water pump pulley). Rebuilders that aren't familiar with C1 Corvettes never heard of this part, as passenger cars and trucks didn't use it.

58Mike

You're correct, but I wasn't thinking weight distribution of the car. I just want less weight on the transmission crossmember. Having the motor mounts (fulcrum) farther back (on the sides) puts more weight on the motor mounts and less on the trans mount. No effect on the overall car's weight distribution, but it sure would have made my transmission mods easier! :yesnod:

You're right about the spacer, too, but I know I'm not the first to put in a new engine without that knowledge! :)

- Mike Greene