I have a 206.8 engine that needs a new front motor mount bolt installed. The mount utilizies two 7/16 X 2" carriage bolts ( Not real easy to find) that drop down from the front mounting plate. I was able to get the bolt out, but had to cut It in half to get It to clear the crankshaft cover. I assumed that I could drop In a new one once I pulled the radiator etc. out and could see what I was doing. I am reasonably sure that when I installed the engine, years ago, that I dropped the bolts In without taking off the damper or the front mounting plate, since the bolts are not painted and everything else Is. No matter what angle I approach It from they hit the crankcase cover and don"t even come close to angling In. Am I just forgetting and the damper needs to be pulled to drop them In? Could It be that one of the bolts was designed to be nut on top and I had It backwards before? This is frustrationg the you know what out of me.
Thanks,
Richard

When we spoke by phone some days ago, I mentioned that I had some difficulty with that passenger side bolt but was able to drop it in by angling the head slightly to the passenger side and slightly forward. I did use a surgical forceps from the operating room cause my fingers were too fat!! You can usually find them at an auto parts store,an ACE hardware or a "dollar store". They are made in Pakistan and not of high quality. The one I used was about 10" long. Honestly it slipped in without having to remove any sheetmetal from the engine front.

Bruce:
I did find a slim forcep style holder, after our discussion, but that didn't help. Can I assume that you used a 2" 7/16 carriage bolt? If so, then I will just have to keep fooling with It.
Richard

Richard......

I can't remember exactly the length but I do remember that there was sufficient bolt left after the nut was tightened. I'll measure it today and let you know - I'll be in the garage this afternoon.
Bruce

Richard......

The two internal bolts (mounting the engine to the rubber extending through the crossmember) are 1/2" x2" carriage bolts with approximately 3/8" of thread left after the nut is tight. The bolts are not keyed.

Try this: to gain a little more wiggle room and not compromise authenticity too much, consider grinding about 1/8" off the outer perimeter of the carriage bolt head.... this could give you perhaps another 1/4" of space to work within. Let me know how it works - you only wreck one bolt if you fail!!!

Bruce

Richard and Bruce,

"The Revenge of the GMC Engineering Division." Will it drop into place??...Stay tuned!

I can't wait for the next installment!

Wally

Richard,
Are you trying to install this bolt with the engine setting on the mount? Try jacking up the engine to give clearance between the mount and the engine plate that way you can get more of a angle on the bolt.
Chuick

Bruce: I have considered grinding the head down, but have not tried It yet. You used an even larger bolt than what I am trying.

Wally: Nothing is dropping down, but my patience.

Chuick: No, the engine is not sitting on the motor mount. That Is how I got into this trouble when I attempted to move the mount from the top of the cross bar to under the cross bar. That part went fine, but one of the bolts needed replacing and I have tried every angle to get a new one In. NO SUCCESS.

Richard

Richard,

Just to confirm, my bolts are also 7/16, judging from the nuts at bottom. If the one is hanging up on the timing gear cover, could you grind a flat on one side of the carriage bolt or slightly enlarge the hole in the crossmember?

It's happy hour--go be happy for a while!

Wally

Wally Et Al, I just pulled the damper, should of done It earlier, and I still am unable to drop the bolt. It is very close and I will try manipulating It before I take off the crankcase cover and JUST finish It!. Bruce, you are the man, because there Is not the room with the damper on my truck. Magic fingers??
Richard

Let me know when the job is done so I may smile with you!

It's done! My front motor mount Is NOW on the correct side of the cross member. I did have to remove both the damper and the cam shaft cover to put in new carriage bolts. Thanks to all that took an interest and tried to help.
Richard

I'm smiling along with FootBiz!

Wally