First order of business was the motor mounts. Due to the extra bracing around the motor mount bolt holes on the beefier Dart block, a stock style motor mount for Mustang 5.0 does not sit flush. Rather than cut material off the engine block, I notched the Energy Suspension motor mounts to clear the bracing on the block. It wasnt pretty, but it works. I am going to go back before I permanently install them and weld some extra material onto the opposite side from where the material was removed.
Next, the original motor mount brackets on the frame were too high, causing the drivetrain to sit at an angle of 4 to 5 degrees. Jason told me they now build the headers in the jig based on a lower bracket on the frame, so he sent me new brackets to weld in.
Here are the new brackets sent to me from Jason at Hurricane. They are still 3" wide, bent at about 45° to be welded flush against the inside of the frame. There are also trianglar gussets (not pictured) to be added. The left side is still offset wrong, and too narrow to support the full motor mount. So I decided to make my own. I got 3/16" mild steel 5" x 7" and measured and cut, bent in a 20-ton hydraulic press to match the same angle.
After cutting off the original frame brackets, I placed the engine and trans back in place, with the transmission mounting bolts in and located as forward as possible. I then marked where the new brackets land on the frame, and trimmed until I was happy.
Here are pictures of the original frame brackets before I removed them, and the new frame brackets located where they are to be welded in place.
Parts list:
- ARP Motor Mount Bolt Kit - part no. 150-3102
- Energy Suspension Motor Mounts/Motor Mount Inserts - Part no:4-1124R