It was time to replace the cracking plastic radiator fan on the Mustang... I'd noticed that the old one had actually had the tips carved to clear the fan shroud, because it was too low, and would be hitting the shroud.

Didn't occur to me at first that the motor mounts might be worn, but when I checked, it was clear that they would also need to be changed. The engine was sitting over an inch too low, especially on the passenger side, where the rubber part of the mount was completely torn up.
While I was at it, I figured I'd replace the transmission mount as well... glad I did, because when I took the old one out, it was in sorry shape.

Got the parts, and managed to get the job done in about 5 hours, in the parking lot here at the loft... with two jack stands, a bottle jack, and my buddy Stevie Z. helping out. Amazing how much faster you can work when you can stay under there and have someone pass you tools! 

Some of the mount bolts were a huge PITA to remove; even with a lift there would be annoying clearance problems (no room to swing the ratchet handle).

Not having an engine hoist, I put the car on the stands just high enough to get under and loosen the mounts, then used the bottle jack and a hunk of wood to lift the engine up.

Started up and noticed immediately that the old mill doesn't lurch clockwise like it used to... gonna take it on the road this evening and see if there's any improvement in power transfer in general. I love it when I get any car project done in one day, without a shopping trip for parts or tools...   

expat wrote on Jul 18^th, 2010 at 9:44am:

Oh, dear... 
Yes, those jacks that come with the car are for changing tires only, and are usually not well-designed for even that task. I would never put any part of my body under a car supported only by one of those things.

BTW... it is running much more smoothly with fresh rubber all around. Very little torque being wasted now, and it also tends to lurch a lot less in low gears (stock 5-liter Mustang drive train is like a truck; not much fun in stop'n'go traffic).

Very happy, but I will soon double-check to make sure my "that's about right" torqueing of the fasteners was adequate. 

Wanted to install urethane ones, but these were available immediately, and it was a semi-emergency.

ShaneG wrote on Jul 21^st, 2010 at 9:05am:

I intend to, but it'll have to wait. Time was the critical factor here; the fan was looking like it would let go any minute, and without new mounts, I couldn't replace it. The urethane ones would have taken several days to arrive, and I needed the car on the road Sunday, so...

The rubber mounts will be OK for a while; I'll probably replace them with urethane mounts next spring.

If you want new you have to wait... thats the deal here in europe (unless its something that always breaks, like those stupid light switches in the doors).

In holland you have Brezan and Vink, and Euromaster has bushings but most stuff is imported (like from Powerflex)

Meck wrote on Aug 18^th, 2010 at 4:11am:


No, alcoholic beverages are for really big projects, like an engine swap.   

Meck wrote on Aug 18^th, 2010 at 4:11am:


That Jack was used afterwards...............to calm the nerves and help to close my sphincter!!

Matt