VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 39 side motor mount shims

While replacing the side motor mounts on my 39 Master Deluxe I discovered one had been taken out and two shims, made from washers, had been put on either end and the mount put back in.

Any ideas why this might have been done?

Thanks

Dave

To compensate for the engine tilted in the chassis. Could be cause by bad front mounts. transmission mount or bent or misformed something else....Or one of the side mounts is shorter than the other one.

The side mounts bear no load but just control the engine from twisting under torque.

Gene, do you know what symptom the car would show if it needed one side raised 1/4 inch?

Thanks

Dave

I doubt if there would be any.

I have had the car 50 years, my grandfather before that since new and I can't imagine him doing anything like that but who knows. When he got old he had the taxi garage do the work, probably happened there.

Thanks

Dave

I expect the process for a 1939 is similar. It was for my ‘37.

Engine Mounts

As noted, a key starting point is to have good front and rear mounts. Otherwise the engine will be sitting so low that it will be sitting on the side mounts.

Thanks Rusty that sounds like what was done.

Dave

Yes, same as in my 39 manual. I hate to admit after reading it many times I am having trouble understanding it compared to my side mounts. The other mounts look okay but your right I need to make sure they are good before doing any adjusting.

Thanks

Dave

I was confused about the procedure on my ‘37 until I realized that the front engine mount and the rear transmission mount were completely deteriorated due to be oil soaked for many years.

After I replaced those mounts the side mounts on the engine were slightly higher than the mounting surfaces on the cross member. If I remember correctly I only had to “shim” one side with a washer.