Fox Help With Engine Install

Hoefle123 · Oct 7, 2015

Finally, starting the install the engine! I am having a problem with how the engine sits when it's on the mounts. The driver side sits a little bit higher than the passenger side and the shifter arm doesn't exactly line up in the hole inside the car. Any help would be much appreciated!

We have added new motor mounts so I know that is not the problem below are the ones we're using.
Prothane Mustang Urethane Motor Mounts (83-95) 5.0 5.8 6501BL

We have added new K member / coil over kit
UPR Mustang K-Member & Coil Over Kit w/ 12" 200lb Springs (79-93)

We did however have the transmission attached when we put the motor in, could this be a problem? I have attached a few pictures of the project! I hope someone could lend me some insight here, I'm baffled...

Thanks!

84Ttop · Oct 7, 2015

The slots in the k member allow for you to move the engine slightly to make this adjustment. With the trans cross member still hooked up you can loosen both motormount bolts and twist the engine so that it sits plumb in the engine bay

Hoefle123 · Oct 7, 2015

Ok, I'll try that. One other question to add, is it recommended to have the mounts bolted to the motor or to the car during engine drop? Or does it make a difference? We mounted them to the engine because it simply would be easier to guide the bolt into the hole rather than try to jimmy the engine around to line up the mounts to the engine.

84Ttop · Oct 7, 2015

I always have the engine mounts bolted up to the motor prior to installing the motor. It sounds like you are right on target with the way you are doing the install. FWIW, I always slide the motor and trans in together as well.

Hoefle123 · Oct 7, 2015

Thanks, ya it was a bit of a pain to get it all in together. But with a little patience, I think it will be worth it rather than putting the trans in from underneath! The headers were a B**** tho thats for sure

84Ttop · Oct 7, 2015

Hoefle123 said:
Thanks, ya it was a bit of a pain to get it all in together. But with a little patience, I think it will be worth it rather than putting the trans in from underneath! The headers were a B**** tho thats for sure

If the header install goes easy then something else is wrong hahaha, there is always going to be some part of this that isn't easy!

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 7, 2015

Pretty much what @84Ttop said. With engine+trans I got it in the car and the hangers on the T5 in their mounts with the cross member loosely installed. I lowered the engine till the mounts were just about inside the Kmember holes and then installed my full length headers. Doing so makes it easy for the passenger side to be installed because you need to push the motor toward the drivers side an inch or two. After headers were installed you line the mounts up to the Kmember holes and drop it down. Line up the engine correctly and tighten up the engine mounts and the trans mounts and you should be square. If not then something is off, maybe your Kmember isn't square with the car?

Good luck and one more thing, good looking engine and car!!

Hoefle123 · Oct 7, 2015

84Ttop said:
The slots in the k member allow for you to move the engine slightly to make this adjustment. With the trans cross member still hooked up you can loosen both motormount bolts and twist the engine so that it sits plumb in the engine bay

BTW, the trans crossmember isn't hooked up yet - something is holding us back from getting it to fit in the two center bolts, and still reach the outside. I'm wondering if that's part of the issue. That's why I wonder if we remove the trans from the engine, if we could get everything to come together in two pieces rather than one.

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 7, 2015

Hoefle123 said:
BTW, the trans crossmember isn't hooked up yet - something is holding us back from getting it to fit in the two center bolts, and still reach the outside. I'm wondering if that's part of the issue. That's why I wonder if we remove the trans from the engine, if we could get everything to come together in two pieces rather than one.

If it doesn't fit like it is now then how is it going to fit by removing it, installing engine, and then installing the trans? If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit and something is off.

Is this an aftermarket trans? Stock t5?

Once you get that engine with trans in the bay and the trans in the trans tunnel you want to level the engine+trans with your load leveler. Then get under the car and slide the trans hangers into the rubber mounts and loosely install your cross brace. Then you can work on the engine mounts or headers first if their long tubes.

Hoefle123 · Oct 7, 2015

FoxMustangLvr said:
If it doesn't fit like it is now then how is it going to fit by removing it, installing engine, and then installing the trans? If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit and something is off.

Is this an aftermarket trans? Stock t5?

Once you get that engine with trans in the bay and the trans in the trans tunnel you want to level the engine+trans with your load leveler. Then get under the car and slide the trans hangers into the rubber mounts and loosely install your cross brace. Then you can work on the engine mounts or headers first if their long tubes.[/

It's the same Trans that was in it before. Like I mentioned above, the motor isn't sitting level. So, there is something holding it up somewhere. Just wondering if the trans could be the problem. I'd rather not take it apart and do it that way, but I can't see anything that would be keeping it back. The K member is square, that was the first thing I checked. Perfectly level... I'll try what you said about hooking the trans cross member first, before lowering it completely.

84Ttop · Oct 7, 2015

FoxMustangLvr said:
If it doesn't fit like it is now then how is it going to fit by removing it, installing engine, and then installing the trans? If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit and something is off.

Is this an aftermarket trans? Stock t5?

Once you get that engine with trans in the bay and the trans in the trans tunnel you want to level the engine+trans with your load leveler. Then get under the car and slide the trans hangers into the rubber mounts and loosely install your cross brace. Then you can work on the engine mounts or headers first if their long tubes.

^^^ This exactly

If the trans doesn't fit into the mount then it may be possible that you have the engine mounts installed on the wrong side? I've seen this quite a bit and still to this day manage to do that every once in a while

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 7, 2015

The polyurethane engine mounts only sit about an inch taller than the stock rubber pieces. I have the poly mounts too.

Honestly the exact way I did it was I got the two trans hooks into the mount, then installed my passenger LT header, then my driver side header, lowered engine down and bolted the engine into place on the Kmember, then I bolted up the trans. I have a stock K member but if your UPR Kmember is good that shouldn't matter.

Another thing, are you sure you have your engine mounts on correctly? There is a left mount and a right mount. Sometimes we over look simple things.

Hoefle123 · Oct 7, 2015

FoxMustangLvr said:
The polyurethane engine mounts only sit about an inch taller than the stock rubber pieces. I have the poly mounts too.

Honestly the exact way I did it was I got the two trans hooks into the mount, then installed my passenger LT header, then my driver side header, lowered engine down and bolted the engine into place on the Kmember, then I bolted up the trans. I have a stock K member but if your UPR Kmember is good that shouldn't matter.

Another thing, are you sure you have your engine mounts on correctly? There is a left mount and a right mount. Sometimes we over look simple things.

I've considered that as well, I'm guessing that is the issue. Is there a way to know for sure which is right and which is left? To me, they look identical...

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 7, 2015

84Ttop said:
possible that you have the engine mounts installed on the wrong side?

Bro you beat me to this by a few seconds, ha!

84Ttop · Oct 7, 2015

FoxMustangLvr said:
Bro you beat me to this by a few seconds, ha!

Hoefle123 · Oct 8, 2015

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Motor mounts were correct, however, we did just loosen the tranny as much as possible, and everything slid right where it needed to be and is level! Shouldn't be long now, we'll have it back on the road!

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 8, 2015

That's great news! Thanks for the update.

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