The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline T5 into a 37 sedan behind a '61 261

I am putting a Langdons rebuilt T5 into a 37 sedan behind a 61 261 that replaced the original 216. The engine/tranny weight was/is supported by the front plate engine mounts and the mount at the rear of the tranny. The crossmember at the rear of the engine that's connected to the bell housing and framerails apparently absorbes the rotational torque of the engine and does not support any weight of the engine. The T5 tranny case and the four tranny/bell housing mounting ears are made of aluminum. MY CONCERN IS THE BREAKING OF THESE EARS SINCE THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE AND TRANNY IS SUPPORTED BY THE FRONT PLATE AND REAR TRANNY MOUNTS. Thanks in advance for any comments

Well, you are talking about a car, right? Don't know. My 37 truck has a 261 in it with a T-5 behind it and I've had no problems. A car could be a different story and I doubt if you find any information about a car on this site since it's a truck site.

You need to support the engine and transmission. The original mounts won't support it properly.
The 261 should have engine mount bosses on the side of the block like later model 230/250 engines have. You need an aftermarket crossmember for the engine and then a crossmember for the rear of the transmission.

If I understand it properly, you need a way of supporting the rear of the engine. Have you looked into using a later bell housing withthe side mounts?

Here's a company that sells quite a lot of engine mount kits, I'm sure they have what you need. The pass cars lack the beefy crossmemeber that trucks use making eng swaps a bit more challenging. Side support is the ticket with your 261.

http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com/1937-1939-chevrolet-car/?sort=featured&page=4

Ryanz,

I guess you know that the existing cross member for the side mounts will interfere with your oil pan?