[T/A Daniel]

I bought an '81 firebird that had a v6 in it originally but the previous owner was running a 455 pontiac in it. I went to stab my 440 in it this weekend and I couldn't get it to line up. I got the bolt through the driver side mount but then the passenger side solid mount would sit on the frame about 3/4" above and to the left of the hole in the frame mount. It looks like the frame mounts are in the same place as my '78 TA that had a 403 olds in it but it looks like the guy drilled a few extra holes in the frame so I'm not sure if they're exact. Aren't the frame mounts the same on 403 cars and pontiac powered cars?

Here are some pics of the mounts on the 403 and the '81
403 driver side

'81 driver side

403 pass side

'81 pass side

[ChrisTransAm78]

Can't see pics but I had to slot my holes on my 78 when I went to poly mounts to get it to all line up...

[myckee]

When I put both the 400 and 455 in my 80 bird, I had a similar problem as one side will sit in the mount, and the other will not. What I did was on the mount that was seated, I put the bolt in, and then repositioned the chain so that I was lifting only that side of the engine. This allowed the other side to drop in.

[T/A Daniel]

Thanks for the help guys, I'm gonna try the lifting one side of the motor trick and if that doesn't work I'll slot the holes some.
thanks again, Daniel

[74Grandville]

looks like the mounts are in the right spots. they should be the same as the 403. to bad you have so many holes in that frame to confuse you.

[T/A Daniel]

Well I tried both ideas and still couldn't get it to go. My next question is was there differences in the solid mount that bolts to the block from early 2nd gens and the later model ones?

[74Grandville]

make sure your solid mounts are for an f-body. I know big car mounts will not work. they are to wide. ask me how i know.....

[myckee]

Your engine should drop into those mounts without too much sweat and cursing.

Maybe the mounts that are there are finished and causing weird geometry. It might be just the angle the picture is taken on, but the mount on the '81 pass side looks like it is bad. The inside rubber is hanging weirdly.

[T/A Daniel]

The rubber was twisted in the pic but that was from me messing with it, the mount was hitting on the frame before the holes got close to lining up.
Here are the mounts I am using




Do these look like 2nd gen mounts or big car mounts?

[Thumpin455_GTO]

440? You dont have a 428 block do you? If you do the 428 blocks have different mounting holes and the stock mounts wont work. Indian Adventures has the adapters ya need if its a 428 block. I had similar issues with a 403 TA when I put in a 400. Still doesnt sit in there right. Everything had to be moved around to get it in there.

[T/A Daniel]

No it's a 455 block with a 428 crank in it.

[T/A Daniel]

I've been told there are short and tall versions of the solid engine mounts which would suggest that I have the tall versions b/c I'm having to move the clam shells up the frame to get them to line up and the oil pan is setting about an inch and a half above the frame. I fear if I move the mounts up to line up with the brackets I will have clearance issues with the shaker scoop. Anyone have any of the shorter brackets?
thanks, Daniel