Dude, you said I was crazier than you?!?!?!? NO EF-IN' WAY!!!! You are a SICK FREAK!!!!!!




Here'* to TWO SICK FREAKS

Can't say I'm quite of drinking age yet, but here'* to ya, err us jeff

A few days ago I found a crapload of moisture in the oil (which for some reason I never bothered looking at or draining). Engine has been in our heated garage since July. Anyway, fearing intake gasket failure and possible bearing failure, I sent out an oil sample to Blackstone Labs...no coolant (was water) and no abnormal wear. Not the best thing to have happen but I don't think I've got much to worry about .

My buddy Mario, the welder (I'm the plumber), couldn't make it out this weekend though I should be able to mock up some more stuff. To avoid cutting and losing metal we heated and squished the engine cradle rail to clear the trans.

As far as mounts go, do I need to keep the "torque axis" concept in mind? You ought to be able to chime on in this one jeff. Reattas don't have a mount on the harmonic balancer side but the W body does, so I figure I might end up using that.

The G6 engine cradle seems to sit higher up in the car, and the 3900 probably does too considering how low the trans sits in the Reatta (E body) cradle. For the trans side mount (which I suppose I'll call the torque axis mount) is gonna be pretty close to the ground, so Mario and I were going to engineer it so the mount would be hung upside down...You suppose that would work?

Judging from the pictures you posted, you need to remove the reatta transmission mounting pad (cut just enough of it from the frame to get the trans level) and fab a new mounting pad in similar fashion to the stock one, but at the proper hieght to get the oil pan level side-to-side. Bolt the 6-speed mt to the trans, level the engine front to back, and BAM! That'* where the mounting pad needs to be.



As for the engine, you NEED to keep the right front mount to keep the engine in the right place. Make two vertical brackets on on either side of the new "tq axis" mount on the 6-speed. That'* easy! Just cut two peices of 1/8" steel about 4" x 6" with the bottom contoured to fit flush on the frame rail. Drill holes in them so you can bolt them to the tq axis mount, then, with the engine level front to back, weld the brackets to the frame. if you really want to be cool, box them off in the front (or just leave the two sides).





This gives you three mounts, front engine, front trans, and side trans. You need something in the rear on the engine, roughly opposite the front mount. Tie it in with the intermediate axle shaft mount like this:

Thanks for engineering my mounts jeff . We're gonna have to evaluate the trans side torque axis mount due to how low it would sit and the strut rod in the way. You don't suppose it can be mounted upside down and still function as it should can it? I'm sue Mario and I can figure out something. We already did grind off the stock mounting pad, sry it isn't pictured. I plan on using both radiator support mounts.

The G6 trans has a mount for the rear, somewhat similar to the front one, but it'* too big to fit the cradle. We're gonna have to evaluate that one.

But yeah, don't think I need the torque axis mount on the pulley side of the motor? Thanks jeff

Excuse my crude drawing, but do you suppose this would work? This is what I was talking about (not drawn to scale). Black is a piece of angle steel/aluminum, yellow is the mount, and blue is a frame to be welded up. There should be enough room, or I may have to cut the fender channel or whatever you want to call it



There just isn't enough room to mount it downward without some intensive re-engineering. The strut rod is also in the way.

You are talkign about "hanging" the trqans mount. The 92-98 N-body automatics used a hanging trans mount. it would work ok, but why not just use a generic GM RWD trans mount, like a TH400 mount, it'* alot smaller and would give more radius rod clearance. Use angle just like you talked about, but put the mount under it.

i have 3 of the poly rwd trans mounts if you end up needing one. they are energy susp.

That'* what I'm talking about! I used one for my left rear mount on the 4T80E swap. It is a good mount that is easily made custom brackets for.

You mean like THIS!!??



I'm thinking the one on the right is what you had in mind Jeff but I got the other one for good measure. I think one'* for some old Chevy truck and the other is for an old Caprice, or something. It definitely is shorter than the G6, Reatta, or W body mount

Either one is fine. The one on the right should have two holes, more leverage from twisting than the one on the left with it'* one stud. I'd use the one on the right. That'* what I used.