You can adapt the timing plate to work on the '54 motor mount. The modifications can be made without removing the timing plate. I have done it with the engine on a hoist, just be careful and take adequate safety precautions.
The timing plate for the AD trucks has two square holes for carriage bolts to pass through. The bolts go from the top down and the squares hold the bolts in place when they are tightened up.
To modify the TF timing plate, which has no holes in the bottom, carefully mark where the holes would be for an AD truck. If you go to Deve's website...devetechnet.com...you can find very accurate measurements and a template.
Deve's instructions explain how to add the two square holes to accept carriage bolts. The problem is that one of the carriage bolts won't fit into the hole unless you do some tearing down to get at the hole. Instead, drill the holes and weld a nut in place on the crank/cam side of the timing plate. As I recall, the carriage bolts are 7/16 fine thread, so use that size nut. Then you can attach the motor mount by installing the bolt going up into the weld nuts instead of down using carriage bolts.
Very simple and easy. Does not require any tear down other than removing the harmonic balancer.
Matt
