I am swapping out muncies on my 350 (M20 for year correct M20) for my 69 Cutlass. Car is on jack stands. Do I need to support the engine (other than motor mounts) for the short period between taking off the old and putting on the new? Will have a couple of headless guide bolts to insure alignment when the new xmsn goes on. And if yes, should support be forward or behind the mounts? (or both). Would use floor jacks of some kind in that case.

Steve P
El Paso

 

Yes you need to support the rear of the engine with a floor jack and 2x6 across the pan, or picking up the lip off the oil pan.

You might want to consider changing your clutch, pressure plate, throwout and pilot bearing while your in there if it's old, it's not expensive. You don't need guide bolts, to align the trans.

 

Thanks for the reply. Everything forward of the muncie is new (resurfaced fly wheel, CF dual friction set and new pilot bearing. Old trans came with the car and its taken a while to get the proper xmsn set up and find all of the speed drive adapters, etc. Old xmsn casting #s said it was an older chevy model (w/ speedo on the drivers vrs pax side). Fixing older cars is addictive, isn't it?

 

Then it should be a simple swap then!

 

I've replaced a lot of Olds clutches and I've never supported the engine. Unless you have a 64-70 full size or a 73-74 Omega, where the motor mounts are in the forward position, the mounts are just about centered under the engine. It will rock back a little, which really helps with reaching the upper bellhousing bolts.