Please help classic olds! I feel super dumb posting this but I’m over it. I have a 65- f85 with a 69 455 “in” it. I managed to find a combo of frame mounts and engine mounts that would work for my car, interestingly enough the part numbers I found on the forums did not work, but anyway. Now I’m struggling with how to get the 3 frame mount bolts in. I don’t have the space to pull the engine out completely so I can just hoist the engine/trans to work.

Is there ANY tricks to getting these bolts in when they essentially surrounded by the crossmember? I’ve been working on these for days, I’m tired of working on this.
Ryan

 

Stop.
First, read this thread.
Second, reinstall your original frame pads.
Third use your original motor mounts (or Anchor 2261s if you need or want new ones). The 455 is externally IDENTICAL to the 400 that came in the 65 442. There is no need to change anything on the car as far as motor mounts are concerned.

 

Joe your a huge contributor to this site, and I read and bookmarked that thread, I ordered the recommended part 2261s and it was identical to the mounts that were on the motor. They weren’t even close to matching what I had for frame mounts which were replacements. No frame mounts came with car. I’m past all that though. I have a set that match together. I’m past those hurtles. I assembled the two halves outside of the car because of excess rubber I couldn’t get them lined up for the one long bolt. I’m now having troubles getting the three bolts in from inside the crossmember out so I can get washers on there has to be a trick im
missing. It almost seems I have to pull the lower control arm for a clear shot. Or tape a bolt to a wrench and come in through the hole on the front of cross member. Made by engineers not mechanics.

 

2261s will only work with you original frame pads. Post a photo of what you have now.

 

 

The frame pads you have should bolt up in the same location as the original pads, and the 2328s are the correct motor mounts for those frame pads. What isn't fitting?

 

everything is fitting per se, I just can’t seem to get the bolts for the frame pads in the correct way (facing up) if I put them in head up threads down, I can’t put washers or anything on, and even if I don’t use the washers i
cant seem to get the nut on the upper, more forward bolt. Only access seems to be the hole in the front of crossmember. It feels like I’m missing something in the process because it’s such an awkward angle.

 

Changing or installing the frame brackets is a major pain even with the engine out of the car. I used a combination of sockets and end wrenches on mine. This video will kind of explain it you just have to reverse the steps. Be careful not to drop the bolt or a socket inside the cross member, anything dropped in there is a bitch to fish back out. I used butyl strip calk to hold the bolt in the wrench or socket ends.

 

What you're missing is that the factory installed those pads on the bare frame, before the front suspension was bolted in place. It's MUCH easier to go in through the hole where the lower control arm front bushing goes.

 

so far I have a nut, a wrench and a few washers 😂😭
thank you for the video!

 

They are the 2261 mounts. Joe got me squared away there. I have the other 2238 mounts, see pics when thread started, I did not try those with these frame pads. Joe - loosen mount and try to get cross-bolt in .... worth a shot when I get back to it. I originally tried with the cross-bolts in and then installing the mount-engine bolts but that was a no go. I appreciate the idea.

I’m going to sit down for a beverage and mentally prepare for Monday and the work week ... will update after I give it another go.