BigRuss

I've got a '91 RS swapped from v-6 to 350 v-8. The problem I'm encountering is that I've broken two tranny mounts already and they're the hydraulic (liquid filled) type, which cost about $165 bucks a pop from the dealer. The dealer told me this is the standard mount on the v-6 from 90-92, and I'm sure I'm not the only person to swap an engine in a Camaro. I've looked everywhere: Jegs, Summit, JC Whitney, Spohn, etc, and nobody has an aftermarket equivalent to replace this POS. The crossmember is specially designed to only accept this type of mount. I'm getting very frustrated and wasting a lot of money on this, so any help would be GREATLY appreciated! My last resort will be to try and obtain a junk crossmember, but that will be a tough search.

RB83L69

Crossmembers are generally extremely easy to find. Dimensionally they're the same in all applications, whether 6 or 8 cyl, auto or manual; so just go visit your local buzzard and snag one. Then get a regular Energy Suspension poly mount and never worry about it again.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

TomP

Agreed; half the people on the V6 board have put ES poly trans mounts on their manual transmissions with no problem; the other half insist that they can only use this mysterious $150 liquid filled dealer-only trans mount... but they haven't swapped the crossmember. I'd never spend that- especially if a "real" v8 f-body came with the normal mount!! Heck, I'd think even if you wanted to keep the original crossmember, you could just fab an adapter plate out of some steel to take the ES mount.


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

BigRuss

Okay, I'll try and find a crossmember... what do you think a reasonable junk yard price should be? Also, it's my understanding that the 82 and 83 crossmember has a different bolt pattern than the rest of the 3rd gens. And how about the Firebird, does it swap straight out as well? Are you sure there's no difference in crossmembers with different trannys? Thanks for the help so far!

JoelOl75

Yes, the very early models used a different x-member, but you should be pretty safe in getting the right one by asking for a crossmember from a v8 with a 700r4.

Maybe $20 or less on price. Probably less. If you pull it yourself alot less.

BigRuss

But I have a Borg Warner T-5 manual transmission, is it the same crossmember for the 700r4? And what about the Firebird crossmember? Thanks!

TomP

There's a message on the V6 board that might help you... Drew posted two pictures. The message is here: https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/002493.html

The top picture is of the "normal" V6 & V8 automatic trans mount.

The bottom pic shows mounts for a manual transmission. The left side is for the "LHO" motor- the 3.1 V6. The right side is for non-LH0 motors; as in, V8's. That should help for the junkyard search!

FYI; on the top picture, see how there's a wide part (with a bolt on each side) between the crossmember and auto tranny mount? My '86 doesn't have that. I have the crossmember in the bottom picture, on the right side. I could've sworn that I read somewhere that that wide part (secondary trans mount) was added to the f-body because the center hole on the crossmember was fatigueing (sp) and cracking through. The secondary mount gives the crossmember two bolts to work on, and cushions the trans mount. But that might just be a load of wrong info; can anyone verify it?

------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

[This message has been edited by TomP (edited August 31, 2001).]

BigRuss

Okay, thanks for the info, guys! I got another crossmember from a junk yard and it bolted up perfectly. However, this is one of the crossmembers that has the second tranny mount with the two bolts on the crossmember. The rubber bushings on either side of the second mount are pretty much shot. Do I just have to break down and get new ones from the dealer? I can't find a parts store that carries them. Any idea how much they'll cost? Thanks!