Well a satisfying weekend, here's my definitive writeup of...
'Operation Herman the German:mount engine!'
With the engine still on the stand I made up the cambelt mount, this one wasn't too hard to do, but working out the correct placement of the mooting loop on the backplate was crucial and took much umming and ahhing. Anyway, got that one bolted to the engine, lowered the engine in and bolted that side in. As I only had the two arms today I found it easier to jack the car and slide the gearbox in underneath and mate them up that way.. and wow Herman's got a heart! A very valvey heart :)
The string was there so that I could level the engine and check clearances on the bonnet. As it happens the first mount pushed the engine too high, the intake manifold would have fouled the bonnet :O Out it came and the mount was modified accordingly
You can just about see the little rascal..
It could still be close but there's now some clearance here and the bonnet is slightly arched so this should be ok I hope!
With the engine manhandled and suspended in place on the one mount I joined the front loosely.. Note crossmember brace! :) A few paint chips in the engine bay now :( Inevitable but they'll be sorted.
Then set about making the mount to hold the gearbox.. It has no gussets like the mounts you can buy but the design should be so strong due to every seam being welded and the fact the sides are one piece.
Tacked
Seamed and chamfered
New mount pressed in using a vice. Definitely use a press next time! Need to order some long allen bolts for this. I've decided it's all about allen bolts from now on, how could I have been so blind!!? Ahh the travesty. I've already started this on the lights, more to come. Screw crazy modifications! Bolts are the new twin turbos! Lol
Anyway. Where was I? Oh yes! Here's the mount finally playing limpit with the gearbox :)
Then time for the final rear gearbox mount. I made one version from 2mm steel as it's quick and easy to work with..
Then once the dimensions had been set the final mount was made. The side plate is 5mm and the piece with the bend is 3mm. Gotta love them triangles for strength! I tacked the pieces with their edges joined and seamed them.. I like the edge you can get whilst retaining all strength.
In ze motor..
And voila! It has to come out right away as there's no flywheel/clutch/lsd/turbo etc but it means I can get the mounts sprayed all blacky.
And in a beautiful blurry pic I checked to see if my lower brace will fit.. and it will, like a dream :) Pretty pleased with that for a guess!
..... Ever thought about oven chips? Much safer...