Good news, bad news?
Good: I managed the test fit this morning.
Bad: My back is a bit sore. But I expected that.
Good: It fits!
Bad: Ok, it only
mostly fits!
Good: I only need about 3/8" to make it level.
Bad: I'll have to notch the frame rail or else cut the shaft short. (I don't want to cut the shaft.)
Good: The tire clears the shaft at full lock and the car is worth less then the motor, so it's the frame rail that will get cut.
Bad: That's more work.
Good: The rail has a good 1/2" seam that I can notch which will minimize structural weakening and work, hopefully. Frame rails don't do a lot but hold up the bumper past the shock towers, anyway.
Bad: It's not already notched, like the older models. (To get at the crank bolt, I assume)
After all that work to get it in, it had to come out again.
To do:
Finish properly/permanently bolting the plate to the trans. Requires a trip to the hardware store for bolts that are compatible with my tap set.
Make a bracket to mount the back end of the motor to the 3rd motor mount. Need to experiment with welding aluminum to decide if it'll be aluminum or steel.
Notch frame rail. Requires not having a sore back.
I'll keep an eye out for 4-cylinder mounts, shafts, linkage....but I'm not expecting any affordable luck in that department.
Yee-haw!! Progress??
