Engine Offset
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 264
Likes: 42
From: Edwards AFB, Palmdale CA
Engine Offset
Ok, I think this topic has been discussed before, but at the risk of sounding dumb here goes.
Has anyone noticed that thier engine sits slightly offset to the right hand side of the frame when mounted to the motor mounts? It's been bothering me for the last 16 years of my build, but I was never sure what I was dealing with. Now that I'm a little closer to finished, body is on and sitting straight. I went to set my engine hood on and noticed that the center of the engine is about 1"-1.5" offset to the right, maybe as much as 2". My frame is straight and shows no signs of any damage.
Anybody have a similar experience?
Ken
Has anyone noticed that thier engine sits slightly offset to the right hand side of the frame when mounted to the motor mounts? It's been bothering me for the last 16 years of my build, but I was never sure what I was dealing with. Now that I'm a little closer to finished, body is on and sitting straight. I went to set my engine hood on and noticed that the center of the engine is about 1"-1.5" offset to the right, maybe as much as 2". My frame is straight and shows no signs of any damage.
Anybody have a similar experience?
Ken
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 989
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From: Gloucester Point VA
Hope I'm right!
If I remember correctly, the engine is offset from the rear end to ensure the bearings in the U joint rotate. If the engine and rear end are lined up the needle bearing would stay in one place and wear out sooner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Syracuse, NY and Clearwater, FL
This makes common sense......
However, I have heard this explanation before......
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Syracuse, NY and Clearwater, FL
John, thank you for your response 
I just did some research.
A third reason is, by lining up the crankshaft with the pinion gear, it allowed the drive shaft tunnel to be narrower.
I just did some research.
A third reason is, by lining up the crankshaft with the pinion gear, it allowed the drive shaft tunnel to be narrower.
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Team Owner
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From: Greenville, Indiana
Normal. First generation Chevy II's, Second generation Chevy II's, first generation Camaro were all like this. Maybe others besides C-2, C-3 Corvette?
Last edited by MikeM; Dec 18, 2012 at 07:24 PM.
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Le Mans Master
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the halfshafts had to be the same length from side to side so the geometry of spring rate suspension travel and im' sure other physical issues would be uniform from side to side...to do that the carrier had to be centered in the frame and pinion offset had to be ignored but compensated for with crank center alignment to the pinion by fudging the engine over the same distance. why the frame was not widened is a mystery to me but wdik??.......
Team Owner
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From: Greenville, Indiana
The pinion offset to the right,tunnel clearnce for the driveshaft, increased driver foot room for the gas pedal, increased tunnel clearance for shift linkage and brake booster clearance (BB) all would dictate offsetting the engine to the right a little.
Like I said above, it was not just Corvette that did this. Also included Chevy II, Nova, Camaro and I think Chevelle. It wasn't a Corvette specific thing.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
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From: california
How do you figure that one?
The pinion offset to the right,tunnel clearnce for the driveshaft, increased driver foot room for the gas pedal, increased tunnel clearance for shift linkage and brake booster clearance (BB) all would dictate offsetting the engine to the right a little.
Like I said above, it was not just Corvette that did this. Also included Chevy II, Nova, Camaro and I think Chevelle. It wasn't a Corvette specific thing.
The pinion offset to the right,tunnel clearnce for the driveshaft, increased driver foot room for the gas pedal, increased tunnel clearance for shift linkage and brake booster clearance (BB) all would dictate offsetting the engine to the right a little.
Like I said above, it was not just Corvette that did this. Also included Chevy II, Nova, Camaro and I think Chevelle. It wasn't a Corvette specific thing.
A 66 396 4 speed super sport, the engine and trans was definatly centered, as i remember on the 12 bolt rears one axel was shorter than the other (9 bolt fords and C1s and 55 to whatever into the 80s chevys all had different lenght axels.)
The chevyII had no room to offset the engine.
I did several v8 vega conversions back in the 70s, I always centered the engine because the pinion on the rear axle was centered.
Sorry, but the engine mounts and mount plates to the frame are mirror images on both sides on almost all cars.
Only with the C2 C3 vettes is this is untrue, look at the engine mounts that are welded to the frame, the DS frame mount is longer and the PS frame mount is shorter. My buddy Dokk did not know this. I had fun with him. I told him his car had been hit and totaled sometime in it's past because the engine was offset so much. I then smiled and Dokk learned...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Greenville, Indiana
In the case of the early Chevy II, you'd for sure have chassis clearance problems on the left side with V-8 exhaust, maybe clutch linkage, oil filter clearance and shift linkage clearance whether it be for a column three speed or floor mounted four speed unless you wanted to crowd the drivers feet by moving the tunnel to the left instead of moving the engine to the right.
If you try to mount a BB engine in a Nova or Camaro using the small block frame mounts (which are centered), you'll find the engine sit's too high and fights the steering box and brake booster for the same real estate. That's why those frame mounts drop the engine and shift it to the right. The transmission crossmember mounting holes for these respective engines also display the offset.
I'm pretty sure the early Mustang and Falcons also had engine offset to the right.
Last edited by MikeM; Dec 21, 2012 at 10:58 AM.