98 v70 na engine mounts -155000 miles Topic is solved

[98v70dad]

OK. I understand. Time & motivation during the week are in very short supply. No worries.

Given the amount of time you spend commuting, you're in for quite a surprise once both mounts are replaced.

I bought a set of Sunex swivel sockets last night after watching the CUBS WIN! at about 1 AM. I guess you could call me committed now. I've got to order the engine mounts. Any input to share on the best value lower torsion link to buy? It looks like the rein is pretty good for the money. What do most people buy to get OE quality?

I've got veterans day off next weekend and that's as good a time as any.

[sleddriver]

The World Series was indeed GREAT this year. I too stayed up. Well worth it.

"lower torsion link" = lower transmission torque mount? I went with a Hutchinson. Not sure the delta-$ with Rein. However, it is very easy & quick to replace if the Rein fails early. Quicker than both the upper torque mount & front rubber pad mount added together!

[98v70dad]

OK. I understand. Time & motivation during the week are in very short supply. No worries.

Given the amount of time you spend commuting, you're in for quite a surprise once both mounts are replaced.

Purchased the parts this morning from RMeuropean. Hutchinson front HMM and sub-frame lower torque rod mount. Corteco rear HMM. Last time I ordered from them my stuff arrived the next day. I was shocked. The quick delivery definitely weighed strongly in their favor in ordering from them again. Anyhow, next weekend I'll attempt the replacement. Monday I'll see if I can get the top nuts loose if my swivel socket set arrives. I bought it Wednesday night and it shipped yesterday so I may get it in time to do a little car work Monday.

In the meantime I'll be up in the North Georgia mountains at a music festival for the next two days (hemlockfest - check out their website). Enjoying music and Terrapin Ale all day and hanging in my hammock by night. Its cold at night up in them hills lately.

[sleddriver]

Sounds like a plan.

I wish mountains were closer to me. I'll take cold anyday over wilting heat & humidity! Air is so much fresher at elevation.

[98v70dad]

Sounds like a plan.

I wish mountains were closer to me. I'll take cold anyday over wilting heat & humidity! Air is so much fresher at elevation.

Interviewed for two good jobs in TX years ago. One was designing/building F-16's for General Dynamics in Fort Worth (that would have been fun until the inevitable lay off). The other was building/designing refineries for Fluor in Houston (that would have been fun until the oil industry collapsed in the 80's). Passed on both because TX is too flat and way too hot and humid for me. On the day of my interview at General Dynamics I was up at sunrise and looked out from the 5th floor of my hotel and thought to myself "I can never live here -too far from home and way too flat". I think I might like West TX where the Rockies sort of peter out. TX, like GA , has been a great economic engine for a long time. I'm originally from the rust belt where people are cold AND unemployed AND recently more and more angry and fed up with politicians.

But, I digress. As I ordered my parts it occurred to me how much my HMM's have collapsed, Mine are both squashed down to the largest diameter cylinder on the rubber portion. That's about a third of the uncompressed height.. Getting excited about getting rid of the buzzy front end vibrations (hopefully).

[sleddriver]

I'm a native Texan. Even as a kid always perked up with cold weather in Houston. Rest of family complained about cold, then also complained about heat & humidity! I repeatedly wilted as a kid in it. Just brutal. Amarillo would be ideal due to the higher elevation, higher latitude, close proximity to NM, Colo. Ariz. and leaving the state to go N and NW! Much drier up there too! Snow skiing is just too much fun and year-round yard work is a REAL drag! I visited the rust-belt in 2000: Very different mentality up there! Nice place to visit......

As I ordered my parts it occurred to me how much my HMM's have collapsed, Mine are both squashed down to the largest diameter cylinder on the rubber portion. That's about a third of the uncompressed height.. Getting excited about getting rid of the buzzy front end vibrations (hopefully).

Really? I recall you said they looked OK or something to that effect. Not squashed down THAT much!

You're going to be astounded at how high the motor will sit up on new mounts....just wait! You're also going to be amazed at just how high you'll have to raise engine/trans. to get the new ones in! You're also going to be amazed at just how much better/smoother/quieter those long daily commutes are!

[sleddriver]

Very interesting thread herere: SFB and rack replacement. Nice photos. Shows how to suspend the engine from above to make dropping the sub-frame from below easier. This is something I've wanted to learn more about. Might also help in your case.

[98v70dad]

I'm a native Texan. Even as a kid always perked up with cold weather in Houston. Rest of family complained about cold, then also complained about heat & humidity! I repeatedly wilted as a kid in it. Just brutal. Amarillo would be ideal due to the higher elevation, higher latitude, close proximity to NM, Colo. Ariz. and leaving the state to go N and NW! Much drier up there too! Snow skiing is just too much fun and year-round yard work is a REAL drag! I visited the rust-belt in 2000: Very different mentality up there! Nice place to visit......

As I ordered my parts it occurred to me how much my HMM's have collapsed, Mine are both squashed down to the largest diameter cylinder on the rubber portion. That's about a third of the uncompressed height.. Getting excited about getting rid of the buzzy front end vibrations (hopefully).

Really? I recall you said they looked OK or something to that effect. Not squashed down THAT much!

You're going to be astounded at how high the motor will sit up on new mounts....just wait! You're also going to be amazed at just how high you'll have to raise engine/trans. to get the new ones in! You're also going to be amazed at just how much better/smoother/quieter those long daily commutes are!

Parts looked OK until I had new ones to compare against. Now its obvious mine are nearly squashed flat. I ordered my parts on Friday and they arrived on Saturday....amazing. The lower hutchinson torque rod was only $27, an amazing price. My parts came from Texas.

So, as promised, today I tried to crack the top nuts loose. It took me maybe 15 seconds on the front and 15 seconds on the back. I was amazed - no problem at all. In the back I used a 3/8 drive ratchet with a 15mm deep socket, a 6 or 8 inch wobble extension at the bottom and a 10 or 12 inch regular extension and about an 18 inch cheater on the ratchet. In the front I used a regular 15mm socket, a universal joint and a 24 inch 3/8 drive extension, a ratchet and the same 18 inch cheater. So next weekend its on! Good karma breaking the top nuts loose ...maybe it will continue with the rest of the job. Today I gave the bottom bolts a liberal dose of PB blaster...it can only help.

[sleddriver]

OK. That makes sense. Having the new ones in hand to compare with. "As I ordered...." didn't lead me there. Give them a good spray with silicone while you can get to all sides.

The bolts will be easy. Glad to hear both nuts were. That means you won't waste any time on them. That saved time will come in handy!

[98v70dad]

OK. That makes sense. Having the new ones in hand to compare with. "As I ordered...." didn't lead me there. Give them a good spray with silicone while you can get to all sides.

The bolts will be easy. Glad to hear both nuts were. That means you won't waste any time on them. That saved time will come in handy!

We used to joke at the office that once you've done something one time you're the local expert. So sleddriver compared to me you're the local expert since you've been answering my questions. I'll read your post about lifting the engine from above but it probably wont be practical for me. I helped a friend do that with his very heavy outboard engine.

Anyhow....what do you recommend regarding a jack for lifting the engine? I have a hydraulic floor jack with a pretty high lift capability, a bottle jack (not a good choice in my opinion) and a scissors jack. I'm partial to the scissors jack because it is fairly compact, can easily lift the load and it doesn't require jack stands to be safe. So left to mine own devices I'd go for the scissors jack. But, anyone who has accomplished this knows more than me so I'd like to hear your advice. In the mean time I'll read the bthread on lifting the engine from the top side. .