"Safety" Motor Mounts

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: "Safety" Motor Mounts

Memories! One warm afternoon in 1970, I left work in my '67 SB Camaro. We were located on the end of a half mile long flat straight road. As I had numerous times before, I decided to impress the ladies out front, stood on the gas and sidestepped the clutch. In the next few milliseconds, I had my hood reshaped from the inside, a totally locked up shifter, and an engine on full-tilt boogie. Fortunately I had the presence of mind to immediately kill the ignition. At the end of the roll, everything again worked just fine (well, except me)! So I coaxed my baby home to discover a squashed air cleaner and a crumpled motor mount.

The guy at the Chevy parts counter said, "Oh yeah, get these all the time..."

Ah, the good old days.

Pete

[Michael H.]

Re: "Safety" Motor Mounts

Sounds real familiar. Another memorible part is the incredible noise that the fan makes when it hits the fan shroud. Not near as bad with a clutch fan but pass cars without the clutch would make a noise that could be heard for blocks. Usually took out the shroud and the fan blade.

[Paul Reynolds]

Re: "Safety" Motor Mounts

Just ran across this thread this morning and I have a "correctness" question.

Should my 64 have the original style mounts only, original style mounts with the "safety strap", or the new locking style mounts?

I would think to retain the correct ignition shielding and to be safe as well, I should have the "safety strap" at least. Besides making my own, anyone know where to get the GM version, if they even still exist?

[Joe L.]

Re: "Safety" Motor Mounts

Paul-----

Your car originally used the non-locking style mount and NO "safety strap" was originally used. In fact, as far as the safety straps go, none was ever originally installed on any Corvette that I am aware of. Certainly, none were ever originally installed on any 1964 Corvette.

If you want to use the safety style (locking) engine mounts, they are directly retrofitable to your car. However, you will have to use the 70+ style lower V ignition shields. These are available in reproduction and, if you decide you want to use the safety mounts, it's preferable to leave you originals unmodified and just install reproduction shields on the car. Then, at some point, if you wanted to install original configuration motor mounts for "show" and "originality" purposes, you'd still have the original, unmodified shields.

As far as the "safety straps" go, these were once-upon-a-time available as a kit with all necessary attaching parts. There were several kits, though, for different chassis applications. None are available from GM anymore and haven't been in MANY years. They may be available in the aftermarket, though, from performance parts dealers. I do see the kits come up for auction on eBay from time-to-time. Usually, they don't sell or, at least, don't sell for very much.

[Paul Reynolds]

Re: "Safety" Motor Mounts

Thanks Joe.