After third try, LS3 STILL won't go in

[ModernMuseum]

Ufh...after the third weekend in a row, this thing still won't go in. I think I'm going to rename this project "Hopeless."

Vehicle: 69 firebird
Engine stands: 68 camaro?
Engine: ls3
trans: t-56
Adapter plates: s&p
Energy Suspension Mounts 3-1117G

It appears that either the engine stands or suspension mounts are incorrect for the application. As you can see from the below photos, the engine won't go all the way down onto the stands. The stands appear to be too narrow and possibly a little low, so the engine is getting wedged before it will sit down.

I guess if I can't procure the correct parts to get this thing in, I'll have to bag everything up and take it somewhere to get some custom mounts made.

See below photos:

Friday night was wasted after I figured out the adapter plates wrong installed backwards, which came pre-installed when the engine arrived. Thanks Prodigy Customs After taking the plates off, I noticed that S&P even engraved what side they go on. Geez.


Ufh, anyway, today, after lowering the engine as far as it would go, this is about as far as it would get. Passenger side:


Driver's side


Passenger side stand installed (the partial mount on the right is what came on the car....I won't be able to remove it until I compress the springs since one bolt holds the A-arm on):


Both mounts installed





Am I doing something wrong here? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I think my buddies are getting kind of annoyed coming over when we start putting things together only to figure out that we have the wrong parts or things won't go together correctly.

[ModernMuseum]

Here's the mounts that came on the car when I received it. I guess there are different styles for the firebird and camaro? I had to take the top half off so I could get the engine stands on.

[Rybar]

Remove the pre-load plates from those energy suspension mounts and you should be golden. I had the same problem.

[ModernMuseum]

Ya, I considered that, but the instructions said not to remove them. Did you experience any adverse side effects from not pre-loading the mounts?

[Rybar]

No seemed fine to me but I did switch over to solid mounts this past year.

[Vegas69]

Didn't you break some poly mounts Ryan?

[absinthe]

use the preload plates! without them the poly will literally come apart on the first rev.

I was having the same problem with mine and here are some of the solutions possible to you that I tried:

1. Energy suspension makes an adapter plate kit that is the mount and adapter plate. Thay are built without the preload plate and "skinny" up the mounts.

2. Check to make sure you have the right ones---there are "tall-narrow" and "short-wide"

[Mkelcy]

Originally Posted by absinthe

use the preload plates! without them the poly will literally come apart on the first rev.

I was having the same problem with mine and here are some of the solutions possible to you that I tried:

1. Energy suspension makes an adapter plate kit that is the mount and adapter plate. Thay are built without the preload plate and "skinny" up the mounts.

2. Check to make sure you have the right ones---there are "tall-narrow" and "short-wide"

Why wouldn't the solid aluminum adapter plates provide the same preload as the preload plates?

[ModernMuseum]

Originally Posted by absinthe

use the preload plates! without them the poly will literally come apart on the first rev.

I was having the same problem with mine and here are some of the solutions possible to you that I tried:

1. Energy suspension makes an adapter plate kit that is the mount and adapter plate. Thay are built without the preload plate and "skinny" up the mounts.

2. Check to make sure you have the right ones---there are "tall-narrow" and "short-wide"

Thanks. Do you happen to have the part numbers of the skinny ones?

What about these solid ones that you guys are talking about? Thanks for the replies. This is VERY frustrating

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted by ModernMuseum

Thanks. Do you happen to have the part numbers of the skinny ones?

What about these solid ones that you guys are talking about? Thanks for the replies. This is VERY frustrating

The solid aluminum plate Mike is referring to is that plate you're bolting to your engine, that is suppose to put your LS in the right place.

Remove the plates behind the mounts and see if it fits. I agree with Mike, with them being bolted to a flat solid piece, I don't see why they're needed.