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Sept 16, 2009 11:48:09 GMT
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I'm in the middle of shoe-horning the V8 into the Benz, but before I make the engine mounts I need to get the engine in the right position. Trouble is, I'm a bit worried about getting the engine and box straight... are there any tips or tricks on getting things aligned? How critical is it? What sort of tolerances are involved? Pic of the offending article - the engine is in roughly the right place here but I need to jiggle things a bit to get it just right. Sorry if this is a stupid question - this is my first engine swap and I want things to be right!
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Sept 16, 2009 13:02:44 GMT
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I work off rails underneath, measure evenly to the crank centre from each rail and from the prop output on the gearbox to each rail, get it all streight that way and you'll be close enough! work in mm tho not inches!
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sowen
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,245
Club RR Member Number: 24
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Sept 16, 2009 13:05:05 GMT
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Assuming that your propshaft has universal joints, the engine and gearbox must be parallel to the axle, but the propshaft needs to run at about 30 from the centreline so they need to be at different heights. It sometimes helps if the drive flange on the axle is offset to one side. This is essential to keep the universal joint bearings lubricated, and not running in the same position.
Is the gearbox physically too big to sit in the same place as your original as surely if you could get the output at the same position in the tunnel as what mercedez did then there's no need to worry.
When I dropped the v8 into my landy, the oil filter sat too close to the front axle, so I jacked the front of the engine up until it hit the bulkhead, packed out the mounts and let it settle back down. Both axles are at different angles to the engine but it doesn't seem to make any difference.
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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Sept 16, 2009 13:27:03 GMT
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Good Question BB as this has been on my mind too.
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kee
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,991
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Sept 16, 2009 13:35:51 GMT
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so what happens when a car is jacked up at front or rear, like a gasser for example? this would send the prop angle out and then knacker the prop wouldn't it?
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Sept 16, 2009 14:08:32 GMT
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so what happens when a car is jacked up at front or rear, like a gasser for example? this would send the prop angle out and then knacker the prop wouldn't it? Most uj's will tolerate running up to angles of about 25 degrees, although they can handle less power at this point. Wide angle joints are available to cope with higher angles and for even more extreme stuff you can use a double cardon joint - essentially two ujs joined together. Edit: Good to see its progressing well BB, mine has ground to a halt whilst the engineering shop wait to see if they can find any (double) oversize shells for my crank. Can see me going down the engine swap route too, to be honest. At least its an excuse to get on and weld some fresh metal in whilst i'm waiting
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Last Edit: Sept 16, 2009 14:13:07 GMT by Deleted
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Sept 16, 2009 15:30:54 GMT
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Thanks for the replies! It's hard to find points of reference in the chassis and on the engine so that I can get things lined up, but I guess I'm just gonna have to look harder and measure more! I read that this engine originally sat 19mm to the left, but surely I just need the crank line to be in line with the centre of the trans tunnel. It's coping with getting it aligned to the centre of the car, and getting the angle right longitudinally aswell. Oh and getting it at the right height for the prop too. Sowen - The new engine and box sit much further down the tunnel than the original, so I'll need a shorter prop. Not sure if I can still align the trans coupling and the back half of the prop, bolted back in place? Maybe that would be worth a try. I think it's just boggling my mind a little at the minute but I am pretty tired, so maybe I just need to chew it over for a while. Thanks again! Oh, rustmonkey - I tried to check whether that 4-speeder I have is the same as your diesel one, but I didn't get that far. I think the diesel boxes are tougher, but I'll keep looking for info. Sorry to hear you're having trouble finding parts.
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Last Edit: Sept 16, 2009 15:33:43 GMT by BenzBoy
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Sept 16, 2009 16:36:14 GMT
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so what happens when a car is jacked up at front or rear, like a gasser for example? this would send the prop angle out and then knacker the prop wouldn't it? a lot of gassers had the pinion angles tipped upwards and the engines and gearboxes tilted back to keep the prop angles correct
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Sept 16, 2009 22:54:17 GMT
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allways think of the mk1 escort twincam's with its eng futher to the pass side frt when these questions crop up, or the fordson/thames vans with complete eng/box further to pass side.
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theres more to life than mpg & to much power is just enough.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,924
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Sept 17, 2009 7:02:32 GMT
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I've built a couple of cars with the engine over towards the passenger side. They still have to remain parallel to the axle though.
Matt
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jikovron
Part of things
mechanical chaos
Posts: 633
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Sept 17, 2009 12:23:22 GMT
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ive found it best to stick the engine/box in as much complete as possible condition,,, fitted up with exhaust manifolds,,alternator,,waterpump etc then you can see where the engine is going to want to sit,,,or whether the inner wings bulkhead need cut and box'd,,,its amazing how much stuff gets in the way or bits mounted to the inner wings get in the way where previously it looked good to go
the engine box if mounted in what looks a reasonably straight position in the bay wont be more than a few minutes of a degree out of parallel perpendicular to the rear axle but it shouldnt be a problem even so as the uv joint can't tell how the engine is mounted just the angle/power it takes
i centralised mine basically by centralising the front pulley using the wheels as datums as the inner wings were slightly Asymetrical, rear output centered in the transmission tunnel and the height was adjusted at both ends to achieve the basic prop angle and sensible engine positioning
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