Engine/drivetrain slightly crooked after reinstall - a few questions
12-31-2011, 11:43 AM
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Engine/drivetrain slightly crooked after reinstall - a few questions I removed/reinstalled my engine using the "out the bottom method" that most people here probably use. I'm doing a turbo build and a T56 -> 4L80e swap as well, which required use of an aftermarket K member and transmission crossmember.
I reused my stock A-arms and attempted to "eyeball" them straight/centered as best as possible, and centered/shimmed the engine mount clamshells on the K member as best I could.
When I reinstalled the engine/transmission/front suspension, I felt that I got everything lined up well because the "guide dowels" on the K member met up with the holes on the body and it didn't appear there was a lot of room for movement/error there.
However, when I went to bolt the transmission crossmember and bushing to the transmission, I realized that the transmission wasn't centered properly in the transmission tunnel and there was no way I would be able to bolt the transmission to the bushing.
This was my first time ever removing/reinstalling a drivetrain in a car, but I figured that if the K member guide dowels were lined up and fit, and all the bolts running through the K member that hold it to the car lined up, it *should* be straight in the car. Obviously that's not the case - there must be some "play" and room for adjustment (or in my case, error) that needs to be accounted for.
So my question now is this - how do I get everything lined up and make sure it's straight in the car?
I figured I might be able to pull real hard on the transmission tailshaft and get it on the crossmember, let the engine/tranmission rest back on the dolly I used, unbolt the 6 K member bolts half an inch or so, then lift the car up a bit and use the dolly to reposition the drivetrain? My thoughts were if I could somehow get the transmission tailshaft on the crossmember, it would help center it when the drivetrain because loose from the car again?
Another question I have is regarding my front wheels being severely out of toe. I did install new Bilstein shocks and Strano lowering springs prior to putting the drivetrain back in, so I knew there would be minor adjustment needed to account for that - but IMO this looks too out of tow for a simple tierod adjustment. The only thing I could think of that may cause that, aside from lowering springs, is my A-arms not being "straight" on the K member - or at least not being positioned "where they need to be"....wherever that is.
I know lots of you have done engine swaps here, so I can't be the first to have these problems. hopefully.
Oh yeah, we put a 2 foot ruler running across the throttle body as a straight edge, measured to the radiator support, and there was a 1 CM difference from one end of the ruler to the other. That 1 CM difference translated to a good bit of offset back on the transmission tailshaft.
I reused my stock A-arms and attempted to "eyeball" them straight/centered as best as possible, and centered/shimmed the engine mount clamshells on the K member as best I could.
When I reinstalled the engine/transmission/front suspension, I felt that I got everything lined up well because the "guide dowels" on the K member met up with the holes on the body and it didn't appear there was a lot of room for movement/error there.
However, when I went to bolt the transmission crossmember and bushing to the transmission, I realized that the transmission wasn't centered properly in the transmission tunnel and there was no way I would be able to bolt the transmission to the bushing.
This was my first time ever removing/reinstalling a drivetrain in a car, but I figured that if the K member guide dowels were lined up and fit, and all the bolts running through the K member that hold it to the car lined up, it *should* be straight in the car. Obviously that's not the case - there must be some "play" and room for adjustment (or in my case, error) that needs to be accounted for.
So my question now is this - how do I get everything lined up and make sure it's straight in the car?
I figured I might be able to pull real hard on the transmission tailshaft and get it on the crossmember, let the engine/tranmission rest back on the dolly I used, unbolt the 6 K member bolts half an inch or so, then lift the car up a bit and use the dolly to reposition the drivetrain? My thoughts were if I could somehow get the transmission tailshaft on the crossmember, it would help center it when the drivetrain because loose from the car again?
Another question I have is regarding my front wheels being severely out of toe. I did install new Bilstein shocks and Strano lowering springs prior to putting the drivetrain back in, so I knew there would be minor adjustment needed to account for that - but IMO this looks too out of tow for a simple tierod adjustment. The only thing I could think of that may cause that, aside from lowering springs, is my A-arms not being "straight" on the K member - or at least not being positioned "where they need to be"....wherever that is.
I know lots of you have done engine swaps here, so I can't be the first to have these problems. hopefully.
Oh yeah, we put a 2 foot ruler running across the throttle body as a straight edge, measured to the radiator support, and there was a 1 CM difference from one end of the ruler to the other. That 1 CM difference translated to a good bit of offset back on the transmission tailshaft.
not THIIS bad but my driveshaft looop did knock a weight off my driveshaft 
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01-24-2012, 10:54 PM
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Well the motor mounts are on correctly...any other suggestions?
One thing i noticed is that it seems like the engine/drivetrain sit just a little too far forward. When i look how the transmission bushing is positioned on the trans crossmember, it looks like it needs to go forward about a quarter an inch further to get the bolt through, and thats taking into account the 'wiggle room' the oval eyelet on the crossmember gives you.
Also, when i put the k member on the engine while it was on the engine stand, i noticed there was about a quarter inch gap between the clamshell mount on the engine and either side of the 'wishbone' on the k member where single bolt slides through, mating the two.
I took it upon myself to shim the gap with washers, an equal amount on either side of the clamshell, basically centering the clamshell between the wishbone on each side. Now i am wondering - was that gap left intentionally to allow you some flexibility when buttoning the drivetrain as far as front/back and left/right movement is concerned? I didnt make the connection at the time that the transmission crossmember being mated to the car then the transmission would prevent any front to back movement that i was concerned about from the gap on either side of the clamshell.
I dunno....i am basically throwing darts at the wall in a dark room at this point....thoughts?
One thing i noticed is that it seems like the engine/drivetrain sit just a little too far forward. When i look how the transmission bushing is positioned on the trans crossmember, it looks like it needs to go forward about a quarter an inch further to get the bolt through, and thats taking into account the 'wiggle room' the oval eyelet on the crossmember gives you.
Also, when i put the k member on the engine while it was on the engine stand, i noticed there was about a quarter inch gap between the clamshell mount on the engine and either side of the 'wishbone' on the k member where single bolt slides through, mating the two.
I took it upon myself to shim the gap with washers, an equal amount on either side of the clamshell, basically centering the clamshell between the wishbone on each side. Now i am wondering - was that gap left intentionally to allow you some flexibility when buttoning the drivetrain as far as front/back and left/right movement is concerned? I didnt make the connection at the time that the transmission crossmember being mated to the car then the transmission would prevent any front to back movement that i was concerned about from the gap on either side of the clamshell.
I dunno....i am basically throwing darts at the wall in a dark room at this point....thoughts?
