LTX and LSX Putting LT1s, LS1s, and their variants into Third Gens is becoming more popular. This board is for those who are doing and have done the swaps so they can discuss all of their technical aspects including repairs, swap info, and performance upgrades.

engine sitting crooked after swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-17-2011, 05:30 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
1badLS88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
engine sitting crooked after swap

my engine is sitting about 1 1/2 in lower in the passenger side compared to the drivers. i think it is due to my spohn third member is bent. if anyone has had this problem or can help anyway. it will be greatly appreciated

thanks brendan
Attached Thumbnails engine sitting crooked after swap-brendan.jpg  
Old 10-17-2011, 06:03 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
travis401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Arlington, Tx
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: empty bay (for now)
Transmission: Built T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 stock posi disc
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

it could be that the xmember is bent, or maybe the motor mount on that side just sits lower. is there any adjustment in the motor mounts?
Old 10-17-2011, 07:17 PM
  #3  
COTM Editor
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (22)
 
QwkTrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,069
Likes: 0
Received 1,939 Likes on 1,324 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Why do you think the K member could be bent? Do you know of something bad that happened to it?

It's not unusual for Spohn to make things poorly. It doesn't have to be "damaged" to be that way. You need to determine if it was made that way from the beginning or damaged at a later time. Big difference on your options out.
Old 10-17-2011, 07:24 PM
  #4  
Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
 
mwfrels's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Humid Houston on the Texas coast
Posts: 251
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Car: '86 Z28
Engine: SDPC TPI 350
Transmission: WC T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Originally Posted by 1badLS88
my engine is sitting about 1 1/2 in lower in the passenger side compared to the drivers. i think it is due to my spohn third member is bent. if anyone has had this problem or can help anyway. it will be greatly appreciated

thanks brendan
What are you basing this "sitting lower in the passenger side" statement on? In the pic the engine oil pan looks level with the lower tube of the crossmember. If you're saying this because the passenger side header downtubes and collector are lower than the driver side and they are of the Hawks variety from SSW then that is just the way they are made.

M
Old 10-17-2011, 07:40 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
travis401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Arlington, Tx
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: empty bay (for now)
Transmission: Built T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 stock posi disc
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

you cant see that? the engine is obviously lower on the passenger side. its even rotated slightly in a clockwise direction
Old 10-17-2011, 07:44 PM
  #6  
Junior Member
 
1quickirocz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ashland Va
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 IROCZ
Engine: 5.3 Gen IV
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: Moser 12 bolt 4.10
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Deffinately sitting lower on one side.....I would get in contact with Spohn. From what i have seen they have had ALOT of issues with this and they are aware of it. Last one i saw i think they sent them a new one....
Old 10-17-2011, 07:47 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (9)
 
88 350 tpi formula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: WI,USA
Posts: 3,532
Received 18 Likes on 17 Posts
Car: 89 FORMULA 350, 91 Z28 Convertible
Engine: ls1, LB9
Transmission: t56, Auto
Axle/Gears: S60/ 3.73
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

agree it looks pretty crooked.
Old 10-17-2011, 11:57 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member

 
cam-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the Garage
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: Camaro
Engine: 6.2L
Transmission: T56
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Old cars are seldom "true" so dont be so quick to blame Spohn. I'd just shim under the mount plate to taste and go.
Old 10-18-2011, 04:23 AM
  #9  
Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
RockJay81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 266
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 84 Z28......99 TA
Engine: Lq9 6.0... Ls1
Transmission: 4L60E X's 2
Axle/Gears: 3.73 on both
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Check your frame. Could be twisted. Was it ever in an accident?
Old 10-18-2011, 06:56 AM
  #10  
Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
 
mwfrels's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Humid Houston on the Texas coast
Posts: 251
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Car: '86 Z28
Engine: SDPC TPI 350
Transmission: WC T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Originally Posted by travis401
you cant see that? the engine is obviously lower on the passenger side. its even rotated slightly in a clockwise direction
Yeah...now that I see it on my monitor here at work the bottom of the engine does seem a little skewed. Interesting though when looking at the pic the top bellhousing bolt seems to be centered in relation to the bracket in the tunnel and the tunnel. The bottom seems to be shifted to the driver's side. Definitely something needs adjusting.

M
Old 10-18-2011, 12:50 PM
  #11  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (35)
 
6SIX6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Mississauga,Ont,Canada
Posts: 1,470
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 89 IROC
Engine: LSX 6.0 370, TU2 Cam, Fast intake
Transmission: T56 w/ lots of goodies
Axle/Gears: 8.8, Posi, 4.10, 31 Spline
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Is the K Member new or used?? The last motor in the car was it in that K Member at all? Ive never seen a motor that off before and this is another reason I kept the stock k member in the car with my swap.
Old 10-18-2011, 01:40 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
HP52TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 536
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: 89 WS6 TransAm
Engine: LQ408
Transmission: T56 Magnum
Axle/Gears: Strange S60, 4.10s
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

What motor mounts are you using? Not sure if the stock mounts can be installed upside down on the block, but I know my solid mounts could have been and the mount hole is not symmetrical.
Old 10-18-2011, 04:18 PM
  #13  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Pocket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NC
Posts: 7,945
Received 160 Likes on 87 Posts
Car: 91 Trans Am
Engine: LSA
Transmission: T56 AWD
Axle/Gears: 8.8 4.10
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Either contact Spohn or build your own mounts to account for the difference

Second option may be the only one after reading his response to my K-member issues. Jeez
Old 10-19-2011, 04:37 PM
  #14  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (30)
 
Jaysz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 1,516
Received 17 Likes on 10 Posts
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 6.0
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

I had the same issue with my car

I shimmed the mount from the block and it sat level

fast forward 2 or 3 yrs, and I swapped to a tubular k-member and new motor mounts

Had to remove the spacers to get the mounts lined up....

so perhaps your motor mounts are just shot.....
Old 10-20-2011, 04:49 AM
  #15  
Supreme Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
jbenge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Danville, IN
Posts: 1,484
Received 42 Likes on 28 Posts
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: Strange 12 Bolt, 3.42
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

I had the same problem with my Spohn K-Member only mine was off by only about .3inches. Try loosening the bolts on the engine side of the mount and the K-member side of the mount and re-adjusting it all(I doubt you can get 1.5in difference that way but you may make it a little better). I was able to make mine slightly better by doing that but it was still off. I'm using solid mounts so I did some fabrication to the passenger side mount to raise it up a little to make it level.
Old 10-20-2011, 06:09 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
White'89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: '89 GTA
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Very tough to tell by that picture...I had issues with my motor looking crooked from the front of the car, but my car had a salvage title . It was my core support being higher on one side from a collision.
Old 10-20-2011, 07:59 PM
  #17  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (8)
 
Mkos1980's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Macedonia ,OH
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: Formula
Engine: 6.0 LSX
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3:27
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

I had same issue. I had one motormount on the block mounted upside down.
Old 10-20-2011, 11:24 PM
  #18  
Senior Member

iTrader: (2)
 
camarotucker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lawrence KS
Posts: 830
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 91 z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60e
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42
Re: engine sitting crooked after swap

Youve just been Spohned
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
customblackbird
Suspension and Chassis
4
08-15-2021 10:16 PM
xkingcodex
Engine Swap
14
02-12-2020 07:43 PM
InfinityShade
Transmissions and Drivetrain
15
08-22-2015 08:00 PM
sreZ28
Engine Swap
4
08-14-2015 07:48 PM
bradleydeanuhl
DFI and ECM
4
08-12-2015 11:48 AM



Quick Reply: engine sitting crooked after swap



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:08 AM.