The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Front motor mount 235

I'll be installing a newer 235 in my 53 truck this week. The front motor mount bolts on the 216 which I removed look like carriage bolts which sit very tight in that plate on the front of the block. On the slightly newer 235 the same plate (cam chain mounting plate?) has nice round holes but no installed bolts.
Can I pound the old carriage bolts out of the 216? What kind of new bolt might I use on the 235 instead? Carriage bolts with square inserts? File out the existing holes? How was this 235 originally bolted down? It can't be fun to hold the heads of those bolts when they are hidden under the cam cover.

Karl

The bolts shouldn't need to be pounded out of the old mount. Must be some crud in the holes.

I have made the round holes square by hand filing and used hardware store carriage bolts. The only difference in them and stock is thread pitch.

I also used carriage bolts, 3/8 I think.

I believe these bolts were originally tack welded in place. Most of them come loose over time, so its rare to find them still fastened by the minimal tack weld.
Carl

Here is the "pressed/pinched" carriage bolt in a GM NOS replacement front plate for a 1954 235 engine.
Here is a top view of the bolts.
Sorry about the poor photos.

- If I had to remove the bolts, I would probably first carefully try to press them out.
- If that did not easily work, I'd probably try to grind down/out the pinched plate metal where the bolts come through the plate.
- If that did not work, I'd probably cut the bolts flush with the plate and then try again to press them out.

Thanks guys, I will leave the old bolts in place and find some sort of replacement for the 235.
Karl

Karl -

You're right. It will be difficult to keep a bolt in the round hole from turning as you tighten the nut. If the square holes in the 235 mounting plate have been enlarged and rounded, then maybe they could be welded kinda square and filed into shape to accept a carriage bolt. I dunno ... I've never even held a welding stick, so don't rely on my idea!

The "carriage bolts" in the front mount of my '54 3104 were long lost. Here is info on how I replaced the front and rear mounts and substituted carriage bolts for the original front bolts. A full hardware list is included in the post.
> Motor Mount Installation

NOTE: The location of the "thick" washers shown in the post is wrong.
> CORRECTED INFO on position of the "thick" washers

Also, some of Denny Graham's posts were made invisible by the new forum software. You can still view them by clicking on "Quick Quote" below his posts.

- Lonnie