Originally-

Posted by Bob Carabbio on March 24, 1998 at 20:21:24

In Reply to: Re: Engine Mounts
posted by confused on March 23, 1998 at 22:32:36

Judging from the photos in the Service bulletins, and Page's book, the original intention was to use a cast type of "Float-A-Motor" mount which did use rubber donuts etc.Of course the front of the motor was bolted solidly to the front cross member, BUT it's unlikely that any drive force was intended to be transmitted that way since the front cross member wasn't braced for any forward push.
Why the design was changed is unknown to me, but it's clear that the original design of the "A" didn't depend on the motor mounts being an additional crossmember. a stamping would be cheaper than a machined casting for sure.There is mention of a couple of other stamped motor mount designs in the early pages also.
The Float-A-Motor rear mount is nothing but a rubber pad that rests on the front flange of the center cross member - possibly because the original "A"s had a projection on the upper half of the differential housing that grabbed the flange - probably so the brake cross shafts which also attached there wouldn't fall out of engagement with the drive bar, and leave the driver with no brakes.
This does mean that all the drive "Push" does flow through the rear motor mounts to the chassis, but the pads and bushings of the are plenty big enough to support that kind of thing, and the front axle is driven from the clutch housing so it's not in the equation.
Anyway I'll be using Float-A-Motors in my 160-A because I Love quiet - and a little vibration goes a long way - I just wish they were still made out of iron-
Bob Carabbio

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