Simple swap question - Need answers ASAP!!

[kingdutka]

I got my engine imported from Japan and of course, the motor mounts are setup for Japanese cars.

Do I need to swap just the rubber parts of the mounts from Left to Right and Right to Left, or do I swap the whole metal bracket that bolts onto the engine block?

I only swapped the rubber, dropped the engine, and it looks a little crooked. Also... my transmission mount doesn't line up! It looks like the ENTIRE engine/transmission assembly needs to move an inch closer to the firewall, but the motor mounts are lined up and in place...

[the converted]

Are you trying to use an automatic cross memeber? That's the only possible way I could see you having any issue.

[kingdutka]

First things first: Did I swap the mounts correctly? From what I could see, it's not possible to swap the brackets, only the mounts.

I've put an SR20DET into my car 3 times and this is the first I have seen my transmission mount not line up with the transmission crossmember.

The car was an automatic and converted to a manual... I did not do the ORIGINAL swap and am unsure if the crossmember was replaced....

So you saying I need to replace my crossmember? Why would it line up the first 2 times I had an SR20DET in there, but suddenly not line up this time? The only thing I can think of is that the first 2 times, I was using NISMO mounts and this time... well... I accidentally lost my mounts, so I am using STOCK SR20DET mounts from Japan. That's why I swapped them left/right.

[the converted]

I didn't think that there was any difference in the mounts that required them to be swapped up front. If the old manual transmission lined up then you have a manual cross member already. How much room is there between the firewall and the back of the engine? On mine I can kind of get my hand in there to work on the hoses but it's a pain in the a**.

[kingdutka]

EVERYTHING looks lined up PERFECTLY... except the transmission mount....

The engine itself does look a little bit crooked, but the forward position seems right on. I have the same thing, just barely enough room between the engine and the firewall to get my hand in there, but not really enough to work on it.

Also, the shifter is sitting perfectly where it should be... It can't really go back any farther... so it would seem the transmission is definitely in the right spot.

But that black transmission crossmember does NOT line up with the transmission mount... If I remove the transmission mount from the transmission, and attach it to the transmission crossmember, then bolt on the crossmember, I can get it to go on and hold up the transmission, but the 2 bolts that prevent it from shifting side to side are not in...

I am sure the car would run like that, but that seems REALLY sloppy to me and I am not ok with it...

I am quite frankly.... BAFFLED! I don't understand what could make this happen... it's like magic!

[kingdutka]

Thinking about this logically:

If I had done everything exactly the same as the other 2 times, this would not be happening, so there MUST have been a change.

I flipped the motor mounts around... Left/Right mounts are now on the opposite sides... The thing is, that shouldn't have anything to do with an offset...

I can't think of ANYTHING else different... I am using an SR20DET motor with SR20DET transmission, both came off the same car from Japan...

I have an S13 Convertible. It was automatic, swapped to manual. I had the car working for a while as a manual before the engine got waterlocked which is what prompted the current engine replacement. (So yes, I had an SR20DET working in here before...)

The ONLY thing I can think of now is that I need a different transmission, but I though I was supposed to be using the SR20 transmission...

[kingdutka]

Is it ok to be using SR20DET engine mounts? What about the mount brackets?

Does anything need to be flipped left/right or maybe upside down? When I did an engine swap on my Ford Festiva with a Mazda 323 GTX engine, I had to take one of the engine mounts and twist it around backwards, then flip it upside down and bolt it on.... Worked ok until I just got some custom made mounts

[kingdutka]

Forgot to mention, I had a magnaflow exhaust custom fitted in there and the damn thing would not come out when i removed the waterlocked engine, so I cut it...

Anyway, THAT lines up perfectly as well.. right where I cut it...

Engine mounts are lined up and in place, not bolted down... my intercooler and intake pipes are all lining up as well...

But that transmission mount crossbar does not line up with the transmission mount....

I did just replace the clutch too, but the transmission slide on perfectly and has a nice tight seal all the way around.... The shifter is sitting in exactly the right spot on the inside of the car, and from topside looking down through the engine bay, I can see the bleeder screw for the slave cylinder in exactly the spot it was last time...

I don't understand what's happening here... I feel like I am losing my mind!

[positron1]

Are you're talking about that bracket that bolts to the downpipe bracket? Pics?

[kingdutka]

The black bracket that holds up the transmission!

The transmission has a "transmission mount" attached to it, which then attaches to this black bracket the holds the transmission up. The black bracket is over an inch off now...

I am sending the car to RS Motors in Burnsville... Hopefully they can shed some light on this mystery....

[duffman1278]

But you said you swapped the motor mounts from R to L. WHY?!?! Keep the Right side on the right of the engine and the left on the left. No difference from the jap cars to ours.

Thats probably why its off.

And yes pictures would be very helpful.

[kingdutka]

I switched them because someone had told me it needed to be done. I switched them back and my offset got WORSE! It's now nearly 2 inches off. I don't have any pics...

I am gonna save up some money and send it to RS Motors in Burnsville, MN. It's a little far for me, but those guys really know their stuff.

[duffman1278]

Who ever told you to switch them is retarded.

Go back and put the rubber, and brackets to the correct spots. Put the left bracket with the rubber that come on the LEFT. Even if they're the same.

I don't understand how you can claim to have swapped an SR 3 times yet you changed the mounts because "someone" told you.

I'd put my money on those mounts.

Stock or aftermarket, its going to sit the same.

btw the engine SHOULD look very slightly slanted. going down from left to right I believe, on the valve cover.

[dc1984]

when i did my swap, i ended up using one of my stock mounts, and one from the sr20, worked fine. although i wish i would have gotten some nismo mounts, ill get around to it some day

[goalguy02]

My SR came with some great solid mounts, which I used, and had no issues. Why not try unbolting the transmission mount from the transmission. Bolt the mount to the cross member and bolt the cross member in place. Then use a long pry bar to move the transmission until it lines up.

Good luck.

[kingdutka]

Duffman, you are either crazy or have problems not reading... I said at least 2 times that I already switched the mounts back and my problem got WORSE. Left IS on left and right IS on right...

Why would I switch the mounts because someone told me to? Do you read ANYTHING I write, or just whatever you want to read? I am NOT a mechanic... I SUCK at it! I can follow a Haynes manual or other guide, but I cannot diagnose/troubleshoot problems, I have VERY limited actual experience, and I am REALLY WHITE AND NERDY!! LOL!!

I am an excellent driver, but I don't know very much about the mechanical side of cars. I am trying to learn and that's why I ask these seemingly retarded questions. You have to remember that not everyone shares your obviously extensive knowledge in cars... I happen to be a computer programmer, not a mechanic...

BTW: zerothread?id=366318

Duffman, you had already posted there... If you had READ the posts, you would've seen this:"If you used your original KA mounts, you probably already know that you have to swap them left to right when you install them on an SR. "

That is what I was thinking about... and NO I don't have KA mounts... I was just thinking back to old posts and obviously I remembered the details wrong because if I had known that dude was talking about KA mounts, I never would've tried swapping mine left to right...

[slidestyle69]

I have done several sr swaps s13's and s14's and i have used the ka mounts on everyone and NEVER SWITCHED ANYTHING i dont think thats your problem, take a little cofindence in that sentence and look at another point of the car like the transmission.....instead of trying to bolt your cross member to the mount take the mount and bolt it to the crossmember and the jack ur transmission to the point where it is up high enuff to put a bolt in(when its lined up) but not flush with the car....the reason why is so u can take sometype of tool to pry it over with....and please dont say this will not work b/c i have done it over and over and wouldnt type this if it wouldnt work....i have even bolted up a AT crossmember doing this procedure and reading ur post it sounds like u may have a At crossmember but another thing if u have been doing this by urself then get an extra set of hands to help..while u pry the other puts the bolts in..

REMEMBER UR MOTOR MOUNTS ARE RUBBER THEY WILL FLEX AND SAYING THIS EQUALS SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT

Its not irregular to have to pry the mounts inplace even the motor mounts consist of sum working in it there and the same with the trans....
Modified by slidestyle69 at 9:55 AM 4/6/2009

[dc1984]

i dont know where that came from but i am pretty sure that there is NO difference between the left and right/KA and SR motor mounts.