The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Confessions of a Model A Modifier

Purdy Swoft · 06-27-2010, 10:33 PM

allen, I installed a set on our 31 coupe a few years back and soon regretted it. Clutch chatter started shortly afterwards. With the original rear mounts you have a solid crossmember between the frame and the flywheel housing. With the engine and transmission floating and the torque tube and rear end connected to the transmission the whole drive train has a tendency to lose some stability. Usually the drive train will creep foward from the pressure of using the clutch and brake pedals and from the force of the rear wheels as they pull the car foward. Some of the early flatheads had floating type motor mounts but they had torque rods that attached to the rear of the engine to stabalize the drive train. With the floating motor mounts installed in the model A you don't have the torque rods. The frame will be weakened and will eventually sag at the cowl and a wide gap will appear at the lower rear corners of the hood. You will lose the ability to use the engine pans that help so much with cooling and grounding the engine to the frame. The only good thing that I can say about floating motor mounts is that it is easier to remove and replace the engine because you won't need to use a frame spreader.

This is just my views and experience with float A motor mounts. I don't recommend them. Many people seem to like and use them and it is not my intention to offend anybody that uses them.

06-27-2010, 10:33 PM	#20
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Confessions of a Model A Modifier – Model A Upgrades? allen, I installed a set on our 31 coupe a few years back and soon regretted it. Clutch chatter started shortly afterwards. With the original rear mounts you have a solid crossmember between the frame and the flywheel housing. With the engine and transmission floating and the torque tube and rear end connected to the transmission the whole drive train has a tendency to lose some stability. Usually the drive train will creep foward from the pressure of using the clutch and brake pedals and from the force of the rear wheels as they pull the car foward. Some of the early flatheads had floating type motor mounts but they had torque rods that attached to the rear of the engine to stabalize the drive train. With the floating motor mounts installed in the model A you don't have the torque rods. The frame will be weakened and will eventually sag at the cowl and a wide gap will appear at the lower rear corners of the hood. You will lose the ability to use the engine pans that help so much with cooling and grounding the engine to the frame. The only good thing that I can say about floating motor mounts is that it is easier to remove and replace the engine because you won't need to use a frame spreader. This is just my views and experience with float A motor mounts. I don't recommend them. Many people seem to like and use them and it is not my intention to offend anybody that uses them.