Re: solid motor mounts installed....2.5 hours
ok, my oil filter is located right under the oil pan mounted to the crossmember, so we took that loose and hung it to the side. took the starter out and hung it to the side, completely pulled the front diff out, had to bend the rear mounting bracket back a little so the shaft where the yoke goes could slide through it. pulled both front wheels, disconnected the pitman arm so we could swing the drag link from side to side, used a screw jack and a 2x4 to lift the engine up some.......be very careful and do not try to lift it too much or it will bind and you will then be replacing the oilpan. used an air ratchet and a open ended wrench to get the d/s mounts out, that one was broken and the part of the mount that is not bolted to the block kinda fell out as we lifted the engine. bolted in the new plate and solid mount, we had to use a little shorter bolt as the new mount was much thinner than the stock, this was only finger tight on all the bolts but the one attached to the block. moved to the passenger side, had to adjust the screw jack over to the passenger side of the oil pan then again carefully raised the engine. this mount was a little tougher as it was not broke. i stood on some stackable blocks so i could reach in through the wheel well as my brother took a pry bar and "tweeked" the mount so i coud get the....well....it is kinda like a flat chissel that i cut through the rubber a little at a time until i could see the bolt holding it to the block. then i unscrewed the bolts as we gained clearance to them. the top mounting plate bolt on this one was the biggest pain as there was really not much room to turn the wrenches so little by little we backed it out until i could turn it by hand. in with the new mounts lowered the engine down had to use the pry bar the finagle it down then to help get the new bolt through. once both bolts were in we tightned all the mount bolts. then i noticed a small oil leak from my relocater kit and tightned up the lines drained the front diff, and reinstalled bolted everything back up topped off the front diff with fluid reattached the steering put the wheels back on put the truck on the ground and fired her up. the front diff was really the biggest pita for sure but with it out of the way it was worth it for the room it made available. i started taking some pictures but then things started moving pretty quick and i didn't think about it and i really didn't want to have to keep washing my hands so i could pick up the camera. anyways hth
kevin
