The Ford Barn

dave.y · 01-07-2020, 10:03 PM

Hi, I've replaced steady rest mount, gine mount, and damper. My damper contacts the stedy rest. Do I need to space up the mounts? Do the engine mount wich are c shaped with the c facing to the back.is that right?

darrell · 01-08-2020, 08:41 AM

yes the c faces back.the steady rest is bolted to the motor so you cant change that.you must have power steering or air as these come close to touching the steady rest.

54vicky · 01-08-2020, 10:33 AM

if it is indeed touching as darrell asked about PS then you may have a 55 and later damper.if so you need to change a few more things.

Daves55Sedan · 01-08-2020, 06:36 PM

The engine front steady rest bracket is solidly bolted to the front of the engine. The rubber insulators are located under the bracket and cannot come in contact with the crankshaft damper.
Are you sure the bracket bolts are tight to the front of the engine?
Are you sure the crankshaft damper is on all the way? Crankshaft damper needs to line up with the water pump pulley.
Are you using the factory original crankshaft damper or do you have one off a different engine with a larger diameter?
Even with the add-on power steering pulley, you shouldn't have a problem as long as you are using the factory pulley.
Are you trying to put a T-Bird crankshaft pulley on a car engine? That could be a problem. Look at the illustrations on page 48 of the 1956 Ford car shop manual. See the difference between the car crankshaft damper and the 312 crankshaft damper???

paul2748 · 01-08-2020, 09:04 PM

Are you sure of the origin of the steady rest. Is it a 54? If so, it will not work with a 55 and 56 damper. I found this out when I went with a 312 in my 54.

54vicky · 01-09-2020, 09:51 AM

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measure the damper and get back to us.measure across the face not the thickness

Ole Don · 01-09-2020, 12:05 PM

If you are dealing with a 54, 55, or 56 passenger car, you can safely do away with the steady rest. Because some aftermarket motor mounts have a questionable quality, I drilled my side mounts to fit two 5/16 bolts all the way through, leave it loose and double nut it.

Daves55Sedan · 01-09-2020, 07:27 PM

1954 was the first year they started using an aluminum rear extension housing at the rear of the transmission where the rear motor mount is located.
I would be skeptical of removing the front steady rest entirely on a '54/55/56, because you would be relying on that rear aluminum housing to support a lot of weight.
I know that aluminum housing is pretty thick, but with only 3 supports, could the aluminum housing crack under the added stress?

paul2748 · 01-09-2020, 09:22 PM

After 56 they deleted the steady rest with no apparent problems. That said, when I installed a 312 (with top loader 4 speed) in my 54, I kept the steady rest (off a 55/56) only because I wanted the additional security. I know a lot of guys said they do not use it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan

1954 was the first year they started using an aluminum rear extension housing at the rear of the transmission where the rear motor mount is located.
I would be skeptical of removing the front steady rest entirely on a '54/55/56, because you would be relying on that rear aluminum housing to support a lot of weight.
I know that aluminum housing is pretty thick, but with only 3 supports, could the aluminum housing crack under the added stress?

darrell · 01-09-2020, 09:43 PM

i never use it when i change a motor.a 56 is hard enough to work around without that in the way.

01-07-2020, 10:03 PM	#1
dave.y Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Clunes Victoria Australia Posts: 1	56 engine mount Hi, I've replaced steady rest mount, gine mount, and damper. My damper contacts the stedy rest. Do I need to space up the mounts? Do the engine mount wich are c shaped with the c facing to the back.is that right?

01-08-2020, 08:41 AM	#2
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: 56 engine mount yes the c faces back.the steady rest is bolted to the motor so you cant change that.you must have power steering or air as these come close to touching the steady rest.

01-08-2020, 10:33 AM	#3
54vicky Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakville Ontario Posts: 586	Re: 56 engine mount if it is indeed touching as darrell asked about PS then you may have a 55 and later damper.if so you need to change a few more things.

01-08-2020, 06:36 PM	#4
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 56 engine mount The engine front steady rest bracket is solidly bolted to the front of the engine. The rubber insulators are located under the bracket and cannot come in contact with the crankshaft damper. Are you sure the bracket bolts are tight to the front of the engine? Are you sure the crankshaft damper is on all the way? Crankshaft damper needs to line up with the water pump pulley. Are you using the factory original crankshaft damper or do you have one off a different engine with a larger diameter? Even with the add-on power steering pulley, you shouldn't have a problem as long as you are using the factory pulley. Are you trying to put a T-Bird crankshaft pulley on a car engine? That could be a problem. Look at the illustrations on page 48 of the 1956 Ford car shop manual. See the difference between the car crankshaft damper and the 312 crankshaft damper???

01-08-2020, 09:04 PM	#5
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: 56 engine mount Are you sure of the origin of the steady rest. Is it a 54? If so, it will not work with a 55 and 56 damper. I found this out when I went with a 312 in my 54. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

01-09-2020, 09:51 AM	#6
54vicky Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakville Ontario Posts: 586	Re: 56 engine mount Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) measure the damper and get back to us.measure across the face not the thickness

01-09-2020, 12:05 PM	#7
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: 56 engine mount If you are dealing with a 54, 55, or 56 passenger car, you can safely do away with the steady rest. Because some aftermarket motor mounts have a questionable quality, I drilled my side mounts to fit two 5/16 bolts all the way through, leave it loose and double nut it.

01-09-2020, 07:27 PM	#8
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 56 engine mount 1954 was the first year they started using an aluminum rear extension housing at the rear of the transmission where the rear motor mount is located. I would be skeptical of removing the front steady rest entirely on a '54/55/56, because you would be relying on that rear aluminum housing to support a lot of weight. I know that aluminum housing is pretty thick, but with only 3 supports, could the aluminum housing crack under the added stress?

01-09-2020, 09:43 PM	#10
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: 56 engine mount i never use it when i change a motor.a 56 is hard enough to work around without that in the way.