EM plates
 

Hi,
For a Roadster Sierra donor, SOHC Pinto engine, is it compulsory to make the engine mount plate assembly as the book ("box" made of plates EM1-2-3-4)? I saw pictures of Roadsters with only one plate (looks like EM3) welded directly on top of BR1-BR8/BR2-BR9. First I thought it was only for the MX5 based Roadsters, but I also see pictures of this set up with a Pinto. Of course, I understand it allows to place the engine lower and to lower the centre of gravity, but isn't there any sump clearance problem ?
Thank you for giving me your mind or sharing your experiences about that.
Sylvain

My EM plates are different on both sides ( CVH 1.8 engine) , 1 side is flush with the bottom rails as you describe & the drivers side has a 30mm rise, this is to facilitate fabricating the engine mount to clear the steering column on this side.

Its ok to make the EM plates flush with the bottom rails ( subject to fabricating the actual engine mount heights), its the engine mounts that create the height of the engine & the sump clearance you require for your given engine.

I hope that makes sense :confused: :D

cheers
andy

Thank you Andy.
Yes, I think it does make sense. So if I want to use the Sierra engine mounts (what I actually want), I need to fabricate the EM "box" as in the book. If I want them flush, I will have to fabricate my own engine mount. Is that right ?
Thanks.
Sylvain

Hi Sylvain my solution is to weld some 6mm flat plate across the bottom and then make a open ended box similar to the book dims so I can bolt the box to the plate then engine mount to the box....this way I can have any height I want by fabricating a new sized box....handy if you want to change engines later:D

I like his solution Kev, very clever. But why 6mm plate ? Isn't 3mm enough ?

I made my mounts as the book with a pinto, had the steering column higher than the book and still had a problem.
The column wanted to pass through the top of the engine rubber bolt

So I ended up making a new mount (only on drivers side)
5mm plate on the engine and 3mm on the rubber.
Link to photo

simples....better safe than sorry....cos my post iva engine will be capable of producing 250 bhp.....will post a piccy soon.
my open ended box is still 3mm...... suppose 6mm is what I felt I should use at the time;) ;)

heres is a couple of pics of the method I intend to use to mount my engines
kinda universal.....will probably use 2 x 10mm bolts to hold it to the chassis

Thank you for the details and the pictures my friends, very instructive. I think I will go for a 3mm plate on the chassis for now, and check with the steering column when I fit it.
Thanks again.
Sylvain