Budget LS Swap : Adapt Motor Mounts Free DIY

how to adapt some gen-1/2 chev gm clam-shell motor mounts onto the gen-3 5.3 LS engine for FREE! no adapter plates req'd.
i had to use the taller truck mounts to clear the truck oil pan, which was shortened in another video, see my other budget LS swap videos also.
#BuiltNotBought #DoItYourself #HomeMade
mrjohn613
/ mrjohn613

[@Good-Enuff-Garage]

luv your work young man, and your innovative ideas

[@613Builds]

thanks ! mostly just working with what junk i have ;)

[@deankay4434]

Two thumbs up for using what you have and making it work. The anchor brand mounts are the clam-shell side for rubber trapped in the middle, making these safety mounts. I think they started in 1972 so they are wrapped in metal to hold the engine Incase the rubber tore. To oblong a drilled hole, in case it is off a little, chuck a “Rat Tail” rile in a drill. Place a 4-6 long conduit or gas pipe on the back to hold with a gloved hand. Welders gloves are good. When in your vise, you can go in reverse or forward to steer & control the direction of the cutting. It’s fast, safe and quick even on thick metal. LS engine & other brands, use cast iron exhaust manifolds and the 2:1 expansion difference causes the bolts/studs to break. To eliminate this, even w/ thick flanged headers (A bit more forgiving) but oblong the end holes out about 3/16th” to have room. If you gently grind a flat on top, use a flat washer to reduce this thermal tension as well. I did at the dealer for hundreds and never had one break. Nice video, clear to hear as well. Job well done! ASE Master Tech Retired

[@613Builds]

Thanks Dean

[@alchampion340]

Keep up the good work, I always enjoy modifying things.

[@613Builds]

Agreed, thanks 🙏🏽

[@stoneyswolf]

Good idea. I'd feel more comfortable with a third or fourth bolt myself. I'd get some 1/4' steel and bolt it to the block toward the back then drop the engine in with the clamshell bolted to the frame mount. When it's position is where I want I'd tac weld the clamshell to the steel bolted to the block then remove it and finish the weld and drill the other holes towards the front and bolt it securely to the block.

[@613Builds]

i considered making my own adapter plates, similar to the ones you can buy for adapting mounts, but i figured this would do the same job with less parts. all the 302 and 351 ford small block engines used 2 bolts, and some guys push those little 5.0 mustangs pretty hard.

[@fet4784]

Congratulations on the 10k views, man! Keep up the great work!

[@613Builds]

Thank you !

[@613Builds]

ford used the 2-bolt setup on the fox box mustang from 1979 all the way up to 1993. almost 15 years, and many other cars also. its a common setup even from factory. UPDATE report: i've done a few long drives and load tests and burnouts recently & the mounts seem to be holding up great. thanks for watching

[@craigstreetzel7743]

just like the 55-57 chevy it's only 2 and both of them are in the front of the block 👍

[@613Builds]

@@craigstreetzel7743 oh that is a good comparison. thanks

[@samspahlman4859]

DIY motor mounts ftw bro!!

[@613Builds]

thanks! something i wanted to try and it fit the budget build , along with the Keep-It-Simple mind-set.

[@MRRANDOM1]

Great video john

[@JohnSmith-qj4cf]

Thks

[@iamgoat3035]

when an LS engine revs which way does the surge in Torque wanna pull or rotate the engine? does it wanna twist away from the passenger side mount or twist away from the drivers side engine mount? Cuz i bought a set of these same/similar Ls swap motor mount adapter plates off amazon, , they were 5 star rated but did NOT SEEM to fit all that well. Some of the bolts were too long and bottomed out in the block BUT THE REAL KICK IN THE BALLS is that after spending 3 hrs trying to finaggle a tight engine into the Gbody i have, i find out my passenger side oil pan sits about 3/8 inch lower and is rubbing on the crossmember and thats without the mounting bolt in place cuz the holes are about 2/3 of a hole out of wack. So anyways i managed to get the part off the motoromount off the crossmember. if i stick a 1/4 " thick plate under the entire clamshell is it? then it levels out enough i can at least get a piece of tin between the oilpan and crossmember. So i need to know which way the engine twists under torque so i know how extensively i need to weld or bolt this passenger side mount? if its gonna twist into the passenger side mount im ok with a sketchy weld job but if its gonna twist away i may be forced to pull the motor and start all over.

[@613Builds]

yes if you dont have thick adapter plates you may require spacers or plates somewhere. i think i had to use a spacer on my passenger side also because i use the truck oil pan. it depends on which mounts and oil pan you have. i have the tallest clamshells from a 2wd suburban so that helps also but if you go too high in an f-body you can hit the hood.

[@talalalhoyani4765]

Thanks man, keep up the good work 👍

[@ThatGuy-ps7ui]

I enjoy your videos, but I dont know about this one. I know Ford did 2 hole mounts, but I'm still skeptical. Hoping you are right! Good luck!

[@613Builds]

Understandable. I'll let you know if my engine falls out 😜🛠 so far Ive done a couple small burnouts and load tests, no issues yet. If I had grip or slicks I might want more but should be fine on street tires. I always say I'd rather break traction rather than break transmission. 😜 Glad to hear you enjoy my videos thanks .

[@613Builds]

update report: i've done a few long drives and load tests and burnout recently and the mounts seem to be holding up fine

[@ThatGuy-ps7ui]

@@613Builds Nice!

[@SpecialFXKing]

I thought I was the only one who smoked before working

[@613Builds]

😅🤪

[@SpecialFXKing]

😂😂😂 gotcha

[@Swaps-n-Stuff77]

This is how I did a set once..👍👍

[@613Builds]

Swaps 👍🏽💯🤷🏽‍♂️

[@workingmansrestorations7071]

Looks good

[@613Builds]

thanks buddy. i just got the new transmission mount and crossmember in yesterday. it turned out pretty good. hoping for tire smoke this spring. my goal is spinning tires before June / summer . the enigne is in and running but i just need to finish up the transmission lines and stuff. still alot of small things. might work on the shifter or traction bar today

[@ricardosanchez-op3ke]

If I go looking for the clamshell motor mounts what cars had them? Im going to plan a trip to my local junkyards and find a pair. I already bought the rubber mounts at advance just missing the mounts that go on the engine

[@613Builds]

im using 3 inch tall clamshells from a 2wd 86 suburban, and i think have the truck lower half as well, this raises the engine up same level as to compensate for not having adapter plates. this may or may not be an issue depending on your oilpan subframe clearance and hood clearance to intake manifold . any v8 gm had clamshells from 1973-1998 but there are different height size clamshells. if your working on an fbody with stock subframe and no adapter plates you might want the tallest 2wd truck clamshells

[@itstherightone5179]

Damn your eyes Carl! I need you to kill all the goalfers!!! Correct if I'm wrong but if we kill all the golfers they'll lock us up and throw away the key!

[@doctordifferentialspeedsho9506]

How’s this build going now. Been watching your channel the last couple days and was just curious. I would have a bit of concern with just 2 bolts in a much stronger engine. I know the Fox body used to but they didn’t make the power this one is going to make. Especially if your going to go turbo. Although i did enjoy how you bypassed the vats without HP Tuners. Very smart for sure. Can’t wait to see this car get down the road. I’d like to know how it all works. Good job.

[@613Builds]

its got a cover over it for the majority of the col sub-zero canadian winter. i've owned about half a dozen of these over the years and i always hibernate the flock for winter. currently this is a naturally aspirated budget build. all of my builds are mostly done with no help and with no garage so i can only do so much in the winter. i'm looking forward to working on this one more, its my first EFI LS swap. last time i uncovered it was in one of the stromtrooper trailblazer videos just for battery check and battery maintenance. last time i worked on it, i had installed the 700r4 transmission behind the 5.3 truck engine. thanks for your curiousity and comment, i wish i had more firebird LS content right now but i've sorta been focusing on the trailblazer project since the cars usually get hibernated for winter. i anticipate more LS firebird videos in the very near future and resume the project. i have zero concerns about my build quality or strenght. i'm to build it strong and push it hard and if it breaks, i will learn and build it stronger. and i'll let ya know if it breaks, i do anticipate to break traction, break records, and possibly break a weak 10 bolt rear axle. if its strong enough to break an axle i will take that as an achievement

[@doctordifferentialspeedsho9506]

Route against destruction and work to make it better. My turbo ram gets the hell beat out of it. It’s got 48000 miles on it and I’ve put a transmission in it. Sucks but it is what it is when dealing with power. It makes 646 HP and 721 lb ft at the wheels on e 85. Push it to its limits without breaking stuff. And you can do a budget turbo build for cheep. Hell a vs racing turbo is only $400 and the gate and bov are 150 together. Throw a set of good injectors in and run 9s

[@613Builds]

@@doctordifferentialspeedsho9506 is that a Cummins?

[@doctordifferentialspeedsho9506]

Absolutely not, it’s a 5.7 Hemi

[@iamgoat3035]

whatever u do dont buy pody adjustable mounts. mine dont fit and u cant tell until you spend the 3-4 hrs wedging the motor into the car only to find one hole is out 2/3 of the bolt hole and lets the engine sit right on the crossmember

[@craigstreetzel7743]

drill 3 holes in so that u can move it but it will not be able to slide in the slot

[@613Builds]

yeah that works. that's pretty much what i did, pretty sure i didn't slot the bottom or top much at all. i imagined the holes might run into each-other a bit but i din't do much slot work

[@craigstreetzel7743]

just wanted to let you know that jeep rear trailing arms are the same width of the clamshell and it will be a little bit of a a bushing and it is still in the middle of a solid steel and we put a lot of them are not even close to worn out because they have had a lift to the Jeep and the stock parts are in piles at all 4x4shops and they will probably just let you have one and it is enough to make a set of stand mounts just to pass on the way we have done it before and im sure that it was not tearing out the 4bt's or 500+ hp sbc s so I believe that u have to go strong enough to for how fast you are and on the normal not rock bouncers it is 👍

[@613Builds]

@@craigstreetzel7743 thats a great tip ad a good idea. thanks for sharing, budget build info and interchange knowledge are priceless. knowledge is power.

[@craigstreetzel7743]

@@613Builds and I was just referring to the tubular ones for the rest of everyone else that would say that it's not even round 😂

[@613Builds]

@@craigstreetzel7743 yes tubular lower mounts are common on swaps and custom builds. the weld-in type. i didn't want to weld anything to the subframe and this is also reversible, can be unbolted if someone wanted to return to original or SBC

[@ramseyspencer1243]

good job bro

[@613Builds]

thanks. sometimes i just like to get creative with what i have laying around to save a dollar on swap mounts or adapter plates

[@alleyoop4465]

You'll accelerate hard and decelerate two or three times and find out why you don't want only two bolts in the motor supports in a vertical line.

[@613Builds]

ford used the 2-bolt setup on the fox box mustang from 1979 all the way up to 1993. almost 15 years, and many other cars also. its a common setup even from factory. thanks for watching

[@Johaynainksa]

wow its so great how are you

[@markgoon7622]

Did you use this motor mount and y did you get rid of the v6 motor mounts and if you did use this how or they holding up

[@613Builds]

hi! yes im still using these. see my latest burnout video :) the v6 mounts are too far back and too small they must be in the v8 location on the car frame for v8 swap. basically v6 mounts wont work for several reasons so that is why i used these. these are common and the v8 cars came with these, and they are easily adapted to the newer gm v8s

[@markgoon7622]

I’m working on a super tight budget so you don’t think I can use the v6 ones if I move them up some cause that’s what I have in my truck. It’s a 1992 Chevy Silverado v6 4 speed trying to drop in a 6.0 with a 4l60e

[@613Builds]

@@markgoon7622 ok ya maybe you can, 4.3 to SCB in a truck, that might be a different story. in my 80's car, the v6 mounts are farther back. im not sure about the trucks the mount location might be the same. 4.3 and SB are basically the same block, just 2 cylinders shorter. i'd have to research that topic. those trucks came with 4.3 or SBC which both are very similar, but i'd have to look into that subject as im mostly familliar with the camaros and firebirds, which never came with a 4.3.

[@craigstreetzel7743]

👍

[@613Builds]

thank you

[@tigeroftheeye7121]

Just get the Dirty Dingo slider mounts for $135 Super easy & like 2” of adjustment front to rear. Worked like a champ in my LS1 C4 Vette Quality is remembered long after time has forgotten.

[@613Builds]

GM used these OEM quality clamshells in big blocks and almost every gm v8 for about 50 years these are great and free thanks for watching

[@seando87]

Sounded disgusted when said rust. Lol

[@613Builds]

i H8 rust. here in canada it grows like wildfire with the salt and humidity :P

[@seando87]

@@613Builds i know what you mean about the rust. Im from mb. Im lucky to have a completely rust free 87 iroc z though, cant say the same about the silverado i just got rid of lol.

[@613Builds]

@@seando87 i used to have an 87 painted it myself with bedliner RaptorLiner , here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-zoqGkf8l6kKs sold it about a year ago. i had put an LT1 into in it, but im more excited for this LS swap in this current 83 project. silverados make great LS swap parts also. im using mostly silverado / suburban / truck parts

[@jaydeee5961]

It was a 350 huh

[@613Builds]

the car was originally a 2.8 v6. now its a 5.3 327 LSX. i had to change the transmission as well to get the v8 bellhousing,

[@louisward3654]

Some people shouldn't work on cars

[@613Builds]

🤣✅😎👍🏽 I agree 💯

[@JP-xg8cd]

I understand a budget build but home made motor mounts??? No thanks

[@613Builds]

lol they are GM clamshells from the 80's. its homemade adaptation. "adapters" to mount these usually cost over $50 in canada. thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@swampjoe1985]

I obviously don't know your capabilities but nothing at all wrong with customizing or even fabbing his own all together. Folks do it all the time lol