Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

So as the title states, I recently did a rebuild of the motor in my 68 1600 and also did the 5 speed swap. I did get the 2000 plate that the trans bolts to.

Anyway, I put the motor in and have the motor mounts connected (but loose for aligning the transmission) but I cannot seem to get everything aligned. I cut a notch out of the plate for some additional wiggle room and after some hammering and prying, this is where I am at. As you can see in the photo, there really isnt any room for the plate to move any further, what could be going wrong?

Are you using the 4 speed mounting plate? The 5 speed one is very different and is required for the swap.

david premo wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:08 am Are you using the 4 speed mounting plate? The 5 speed one is very different and is required for the swap.

I am using the 5 speed mounting plate. I did notice that compared to the 4 speed, the holes for the rubber mount are off-center on the plate. There is not much material I can remove on the side everything needs to shift towards however.

I would first set the car back on the ground and recheck that rear mount clearance, if it changes it might just be flex causing the misalignment. If you have your jack stands under the sway bar the car can flex while supported that way. Other thoughts are if you are using a roadster rear mount or an aftermarket urethane type? Last thought would be is you swapped out the engine mount brackets to the early type and have them on the wrong side or without the plate between the motor mount and block. Just things I would check if I came across this issue.

Check the motor mount brackets as Bill suggests.

It looks like you have the rubber mount bolted to the plate and to the transmission ( I would guess) I mount the plate to the frame before attaching the rubber mount to the plate. I assume the plate will line up and you can attach it to frame. This way you can lift the transmission mount on to the plate using a jack on the trans or even by hand if engine is still supported by hoist

This is order I have followed
1. Engine and trans in car but motor mounts not attached to frame, engine still suspended by hoist but close to or at the final position on frame

2. Rubber mount to trans

3. trans Plate to frame

4. Trans mount into plate (not bolted in) - you should be able to align it as part of securing the plate to the frame

5. Align and attach motor mounts

6. Tighten all

The hoist allows you to move things around a bit

Note that there are different 5 Speed mounts, refer to this thread for details: I struggled with the wrong crossbar that someone told me was a 5 -speed when I bought it - it wasn't. viewtopic.php?f=3&hilit=%20Transmission ... 2fcc3f113f

I have NEVER noticed any jacking have an impact on the locating of the transmission mount. Especially to that degree - both stock 4/5 mounts fit perfectly, the only difference is the thickness of the mount.

It would appear that you have the wrong mount.

Compare the holes with your 4-speed mount - if different - then somehow you have the WRONG one.

notoptoy wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 2:09 pm Note that there are different 5 Speed mounts, refer to this thread for details: I struggled with the wrong crossbar that someone told me was a 5 -speed when I bought it - it wasn't. viewtopic.php?f=3&hilit=%20Transmission ... 2fcc3f113f

I believe we have a winner, the mount I thought was a 5 speed mount is indeed for a 4 speed. It is different enough from the 4 speed mount I removed (shorter) that I believed I had the right part but it is more trapezoidal than square-ish of the proper 5 speed mount. I guess i need to hunt down a proper 5 speed mount.

Just to respond to the other comments, I am not using an urethane mount and the reason i have things bolted this way was during problem solving. Originally, i had the bushing mounted to the trans and the mount attached to the car but nothing would line up so this configuration was during troubleshooting.

Peter, you haven't WORKED on the cars that I have...lol