Fan touching shroud after Poly engine mount install?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Lincoln CA
Fan touching shroud after Poly engine mount install?
Ok, so I had stock(ish) rubber motor mounts on my '72 BB and had the tranny and clutch out for a new clutch. I had to remove the drivers side motor mount to get the two lower/DS bellhousing bolts out (they were spaced out with washers for a bracket to attach the Z-bar pivot point because the engine is a GMPP crate motor without that provision.)
So, I installed Energy Suspension Poly motor mounts, Hooker Headers and a McLeod clutch setup. Installed the tranny, put a new Hurst shifter on and got everything tightened down and bolted in place. Now the fan is touching/grinding on the shroud if you spin it by hand. I don't know if the fan will self clearance itself or what?
We played with adjusting the transmission mount up and down and raising the tail of the tranny didn't help any, actualy made it worse. Then when we lower the tranny it gets a TINY bit better, but at that point the Hurst shifter bits touch the frame surrounding the exhaust.
So, I wonder if the new motor mounts are just a TAD thinner and taking away what little clearance I had between the fan and fan shroud...
Any tips or suggestions?
So, I installed Energy Suspension Poly motor mounts, Hooker Headers and a McLeod clutch setup. Installed the tranny, put a new Hurst shifter on and got everything tightened down and bolted in place. Now the fan is touching/grinding on the shroud if you spin it by hand. I don't know if the fan will self clearance itself or what?
We played with adjusting the transmission mount up and down and raising the tail of the tranny didn't help any, actualy made it worse. Then when we lower the tranny it gets a TINY bit better, but at that point the Hurst shifter bits touch the frame surrounding the exhaust.
So, I wonder if the new motor mounts are just a TAD thinner and taking away what little clearance I had between the fan and fan shroud...
Any tips or suggestions?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Check the fan shroud mounting for adjustment potential. There should be some. These are cars, not watches. If you cannot adjust the shroud mounting, shim the motor mounts to raise the engine since your diagnosis is that the poly mounts are thinner.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Originally Posted by ZO SIC
Ok, so I had stock(ish) rubber motor mounts on my '72 BB and had the tranny and clutch out for a new clutch. I had to remove the drivers side motor mount to get the two lower/DS bellhousing bolts out (they were spaced out with washers for a bracket to attach the Z-bar pivot point because the engine is a GMPP crate motor without that provision.)
So, I installed Energy Suspension Poly motor mounts, Hooker Headers and a McLeod clutch setup. Installed the tranny, put a new Hurst shifter on and got everything tightened down and bolted in place. Now the fan is touching/grinding on the shroud if you spin it by hand. I don't know if the fan will self clearance itself or what?
We played with adjusting the transmission mount up and down and raising the tail of the tranny didn't help any, actualy made it worse. Then when we lower the tranny it gets a TINY bit better, but at that point the Hurst shifter bits touch the frame surrounding the exhaust.
So, I wonder if the new motor mounts are just a TAD thinner and taking away what little clearance I had between the fan and fan shroud...
Any tips or suggestions?
So, I installed Energy Suspension Poly motor mounts, Hooker Headers and a McLeod clutch setup. Installed the tranny, put a new Hurst shifter on and got everything tightened down and bolted in place. Now the fan is touching/grinding on the shroud if you spin it by hand. I don't know if the fan will self clearance itself or what?
We played with adjusting the transmission mount up and down and raising the tail of the tranny didn't help any, actualy made it worse. Then when we lower the tranny it gets a TINY bit better, but at that point the Hurst shifter bits touch the frame surrounding the exhaust.
So, I wonder if the new motor mounts are just a TAD thinner and taking away what little clearance I had between the fan and fan shroud...
Any tips or suggestions?
I'm in the process of cussing at the same motor mounts as well, and the instructions I got with my kit state that "the plate MUST be installed, and is NOT a spacer."
I think 71rdster has it pegged that maybe the shroud is out of adjustment on this one...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Lincoln CA
Originally Posted by Sprzout
Dumb question, but did you add the pre-load plate behind the motor mount? The Energy Suspension mounts come with a T-shaped pre-load plate with a dimple, and the dimple should be facing towards the engine block, per the instructions included with the motor mounts.
I'm in the process of cussing at the same motor mounts as well, and the instructions I got with my kit state that "the plate MUST be installed, and is NOT a spacer."
I think 71rdster has it pegged that maybe the shroud is out of adjustment on this one...
I'm in the process of cussing at the same motor mounts as well, and the instructions I got with my kit state that "the plate MUST be installed, and is NOT a spacer."
I think 71rdster has it pegged that maybe the shroud is out of adjustment on this one...
Yes, those pre-load plates are in place and positioned appropriately. I read the instructions too...
I guess I'll see what adjustment is left in the fan shroud and if that doesn't work, shave/grind the shroud to clearance the fan blades...
The blades can turn, but make an awful noise.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Bonney Lake WA
I had this problem too. My fan sat high in the shroud (but wasn't rubbing). I noticed a problem when installing a 5 speed. The clutch fork was contacting the foot well on the drivers side. I called the Energy Suspension tech department yesterday and they said it was exceptable to run the mounts without the pre load plate. The only warning was that the motor mount needs to contact all three pads on the block equally prior to bolting it on.
I pulled the plate last night and the mounts actually lined up better. The fan sits better as well.
Scott..
I pulled the plate last night and the mounts actually lined up better. The fan sits better as well.
Scott..
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
When I bought my 69 BB it had a small (16" ?) flex fan on it, and I assumed someone just thought it was better. When I rebuilt the engine and installed it with new oem style mounts, I noticed why the smaller fan was installed. It was off center towards the top like yours. I messed around with the tranny mount to no avail. Went back to the parts house and got another mount that sat the engine about 1/2" lower in the engine bay, and now everything is lined up real good. The origional part was the corect part #--I check at 2 supply shops and they both offered the origional part #. Why the correct part # didn't fit, who knows. Check with ES for a lower mount. Mine was easier because I could take it in to the shop to compare side by side. Compare new to old if you still have them. Good luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
you know i doubt this is the problem but look really carefully at the fan clutch bearing and make sure its centered and not rotating in an oblong fashion because the bearing is crapping out on you
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Lincoln CA
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
you know i doubt this is the problem but look really carefully at the fan clutch bearing and make sure its centered and not rotating in an oblong fashion because the bearing is crapping out on you
Hmm, Energy Suspension said you can run their motor mounts withOUT the preload plates?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Lincoln CA
Well there was a tiny bit of adjustment in the shroud and after letting the fan self clearance the shroud and "adjusting" it myself it no longer touches...
But now I recieved my Paragon Catalog and was looking through and saw their motor mount section. I noticed a V flange/spacer thing and remembered that part from my car. I had removed these parts 5 or 6 months prior to putting them back together and forgot. So on the Drivers side there is this V flange/spacer between the motor mount and the block.
Should I run that with the Energy Suspension mount and preload plate?
But now I recieved my Paragon Catalog and was looking through and saw their motor mount section. I noticed a V flange/spacer thing and remembered that part from my car. I had removed these parts 5 or 6 months prior to putting them back together and forgot. So on the Drivers side there is this V flange/spacer between the motor mount and the block.
Should I run that with the Energy Suspension mount and preload plate?
