Motor mount install question

[infernosg]

So I just installed the competition motor mounts in my RX-7 and I have a quick question. Is there a "right" and "wrong" way to install these? I couldn't keep track of how the stock ones were installed because they fell out when I lifted the engine.

I know the mounts have these little "nubs" on them and the engine brackets have slotted holes so both the threaded stud and "nub" fit in. My question is, what is the proper orientation of the "nubs"? Right now I have the driver's side "nub" on the outside while the passenger's side "nub" is on the inside. Any other way and the mounts didn't really sit flush with the brackets. Normally this wouldn't bother me but now it looks like the shfiter is offset more toward the passenger side...

[vex]

So I just installed the competition motor mounts in my RX-7 and I have a quick question. Is there a "right" and "wrong" way to install these? I couldn't keep track of how the stock ones were installed because they fell out when I lifted the engine.

I know the mounts have these little "nubs" on them and the engine brackets have slotted holes so both the threaded stud and "nub" fit in. My question is, what is the proper orientation of the "nubs"? Right now I have the driver's side "nub" on the outside while the passenger's side "nub" is on the inside. Any other way and the mounts didn't really sit flush with the brackets. Normally this wouldn't bother me but now it looks like the shfiter is offset more toward the passenger side...

That's all the slots are there for. You can adjust the engine a few degrees one way or another and the engine should sit better. Don't fully take the mounts out but loosen the nuts enough to allow easy enough sliding. Adjust the engine orientation until both mounts are seated correctly and the shifter is oriented in the proper location.

If you were closer I could help you out easy peezy, but it's slightly harder to explain over the forums. It's not difficult to adjust, but as for your particular question there really isn't a "right or wrong" way to do it, just a "better way" than plopping them in and tightening them up.

Hope that helps.

[infernosg]

^^^ That's what I was saying. The only way the mounts/brackets line up straight are how I explained them above. I went out and tired again late last night and that's the only way I can get everything to sit flush. I mean, everything drives fine, it just feels like the shifter is like .5-1" over to the right, but not enough to interfere with anything.

I guess you could slide the engine around a bit, but I really don't have the means to do that and it doesn't seem like there's a significant amount of adjustability. I guess just live with it for now?

EDIT: Oh yeah, as far as I can tell the engine is centered in the bay judging by the fan's position relative to the shroud. It just seems odd the shifter is offset to the right.

[vex]

It could be that your worn motor mounts were shifted to the left and what you actually have now is the correct location of the shifter...

[infernosg]

It could be that your worn motor mounts were shifted to the left and what you actually have now is the correct location of the shifter...
Well the old passenger's side mount was torn about 75% of the way through...

That's what I'm curious about and was hoping some other people could chime in. However, the more I look at it, the more I think it's tilted. Do you know if the top of the stock IM is supposed to be parallel with the ground? I'm just trying to think how I can rotate the engine without a hoise or anything like that.

[TitaniumTT]

Those nubs should be facing inward. The mounts are "offset" in a way meaning that if they are rotated then the engine will be tilted. This won't be noticeable by looking at the shround because of the way the engine rotates, but a shifter which should be vertical, when rotated, will not line up properly. Basically, think about the engine sliding down the mounts.... where would you want them to hit... a nub, or a bolt? The bolts should be high up on the mount, with the nubs farther down.... making sense or should I snap a pic of the stock 13b I just pulled?

[RETed]

When new, the mounts have concentric studs on both ends - they are centered.
Once used, due to age and load, they "offset".

The raised dimples are to keep the mounts from rotating.
They should be located upwards, and rotated to the 12 o'clock position, straight up.

I wonder if you have one or both "cups"?
If you don't have these cups (and I've seen a lot of them missing), you get weird angles on the engines...


-Ted

[infernosg]

Great, this is the input I was seeking.

I bought the mounts second hand so the studs are offset a little (maybe 1/4" at most). I still have both cups. From what I can tell the only thing missing is the large flat washer for the lower stud on the driver's side.

Well from what I can tell I've got one of the sides upside down, but it looks like TTT and Ted are suggestion opposite orientations, if I'm understanding this correctly. According to TTT the nubs should be pointing inward (downward) so the studs are the supporting structure, from what I understand Ted is saying the nubs should be upward.

[RETed]

I've forgotten how the driver's side looks like, but I remember how the passenger side looks like...

The passenger side engine mount uses that aluminum bracket which is bolted onto the bottom of the engine.
The aluminum bracket has a straight slot in it.
This is the side the raised dimple is supposed to be.
I believe the slot in the engine cradle on that side is a "J"?
It's very hard to shove the raised dimple in the "J" slot.
So, the raised dimple is supposed to face upward into the aluminum bracket.


-Ted

[infernosg]

^^^ Gotcha, you guys are talking about different things.

Yeah, the passenger's side mount has a straight slot in the aluminum bracket (the one that bolts to the oil pan) and the slot in the subframe is "j" shapped. The driver's side is similar in that the bracket bolted to the engine is slotted but the subframe piece is just a single hole. I'm guessing Mazda's intent was for the driver's side to be lowered into place first.

I suppose TTT is correct regarding the orientation of the nub with the stud? That is, the studs are on the "outside" and the nubs are on the "inside" and both are located within the slot of the bracket.

[TitaniumTT]

I think Ted and I are saying the same thing, just differently. The nubs should be upward, facing the engine, not against the subframe. The nubs should also be lower than the stud, facing towards the engine if you will.

[infernosg]

Yep.

Been working on getting everything in for the past hour. For the life of me I can't get the driver's side lined up. It's times like this I wish I had a hoist because trying to get everything lined up with a floor jack isn't working...

[Akagis_White_Comet]

If I can get my 20b finished up ASAP, I'd give you a hand by toting my hoist down to cincinnati. Not sure how you're doing it without one, but you get an A for effort already!

In regards to the mounting manner, it sure looks like Mazda wanted the driver's side in loosely first, then the passenger side put in. That's how the 20b went in.

[infernosg]

If I can get my 20b finished up ASAP, I'd give you a hand by toting my hoist down to cincinnati. Not sure how you're doing it without one, but you get an A for effort already!

In regards to the mounting manner, it sure looks like Mazda wanted the driver's side in loosely first, then the passenger side put in. That's how the 20b went in.
Thanks for the offer, but I was finally able to get everything in. I ended up having to loosen the mount from the engine bracket a bit more and then I just whacked everything into place with the engine down. Everything's installed as outlined in this thread and I've since installed a new transmission crossmember, y-bracket and Mazda Competition mounts. The shift lever is about 1.5" higher now (you should have seem the stock mounts/bushing) but still canted to the passenger's side. Oh well...

As for moving things around - careful placement of a floor jack and a block of wood.