Need help
I used an engine limiter for my 441. 700+fwhp.
I don't think you need a motor plate for anything less than that but it certainly couldn't hurt. Thinking about a mid plate as well?
This will leave you with so much room to get headers in and out, if you do the tabs right you can lower the motor in the car and still hold it in with 4 of the 8 or 12 bolts, and make pulling the trans really easy to do as well...
I would never bother building a race car with anything other then plates. For ease of working on it... it's by far the best way to go. Adds some strength to the chassis as well too I think, gets the stress off the K member, lets you move the motor in the chassis if you want to, etc.etc. With the cost being the only drawback.
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We both know someone that went 8.2 without a mid plate and split the block in half.
To the OP.....
Many have run into the high 8's and get away with motor mounts without issue, but I would still suggest anything faster then 9.0 going with a Motor/Mid plate and like JL stated using a torsional limiter along with it.
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One thing I would recommend with a motor plate, is do a setup that has 3 bolts in the front, 2 in the rear on each side (so 10 bolts total), and don't have any tabs that sit on the frame rails, let the load be on the bolts. Reason for this, is that if you want to unbolt the motor and lower it in the car, to get to the trans more easily, you can. If the plates have tabs that sit on the chassis this isn't as possible.
You can unbolt the motor, lower it in the car and hold it in with 1 bolt @ each corner and get to the trans, then just put the trans back in and raise the whole thing back up. Studs in the back of the motor so you leave the plate attached in the back, and just slide the trans off them also makes it easier as well.
A torsional limiter will also be needed, you can make one that will attach to the a/c bracket holes on the passenger's side and run it up to the frame rail very easily, and it's usually out of the way unless you have a dry sump pump attached at that point... in that case the engine mounting holes work fine.
Hope this helps.
One thing I would recommend with a motor plate, is do a setup that has 3 bolts in the front, 2 in the rear on each side (so 10 bolts total), and don't have any tabs that sit on the frame rails, let the load be on the bolts. Reason for this, is that if you want to unbolt the motor and lower it in the car, to get to the trans more easily, you can. If the plates have tabs that sit on the chassis this isn't as possible.
You can unbolt the motor, lower it in the car and hold it in with 1 bolt @ each corner and get to the trans, then just put the trans back in and raise the whole thing back up. Studs in the back of the motor so you leave the plate attached in the back, and just slide the trans off them also makes it easier as well.
A torsional limiter will also be needed, you can make one that will attach to the a/c bracket holes on the passenger's side and run it up to the frame rail very easily, and it's usually out of the way unless you have a dry sump pump attached at that point... in that case the engine mounting holes work fine.
Hope this helps.
I also applaud you on only 15 minutes. I can't come close to that using a lift.
Mid plate I'm not sure about. I thought the burkhart looked nice, It has a firewall tube you weld in then it has to top ears off the you weld on. So you can get to the 2 top bolts behind the heads easier. And leave the plate on the motor. I htink it had a side ear the bolted on too for you could change the starter, and get the passanger header out easier too. I started a thread looking for pics, and info on motor plates. about this time last year.






