The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Fixing the rear tranny/driveshaft mount (AGAIN!)

A year ago when I pulled my engine for repair, I found the rear tranny/driveshaft mount smooshed out. I had recast it using Simple Resin Enduro Soft 2-part polyurethane. So I had some leftover Simple Resin Enduro Flex material, a harder polyurethane product and recast it back in October '24 and stored it away to await reinstalling the engine/tranny. When I got it out of storage, I found it had smooshed out without any load on it (pics 1 and 2). So I contacted Simple Resin to ask about it and the responded that either material had a shelf life of only 6 months. I had used the Enduro Flex that I bought back in 2021 to cast the rear axle pivot mounts (they're doing fine BTW. ) So the leftover stuff didn't cure properly. I got a fresh batch and recast the tranny mount again and it looks good this time after a couple tries (pics 3 and 4). I'll have to find something to do with the leftovers before it goes bad. Maybe some fishing lures.
Or if anyone is dying to try this I could send the leftovers to you.

I didn't get a picture of how I cast the mount, but used 1/4" and 1/2" plywood forms with RTV smeared on them as release agent. Pic 5 is a shot of how I did it the first time with the wrong material. U-shaped plywood. This time I poured the material in from the front end rather than the back, and it worked much better.

I use a piece of a thin automotive tire casing. Never looked back.

The problem with using thin tire material is that there's no lateral support where the rivets go thru the holes in the support. The liquid stuff fills that space between the rivets and the holes and keeps it centered, but allows some cushioned movement. I made sure that the rivets were centered in the holes so the part that bolts to the tranny is supported both laterally and front-to back. With tire material stuffed in between the plates, it can slide around.

I sent mine to Steele Rubber Products to be rebuilt back in 2020. It was 156.00 and looked just like new. It still looks like new.

Kevin: I like your DIY method!

Twin Jimmys, I would have done that, but I'm a cheapskate and like to do things myself. But with the numerous attempts, it might have been cheaper to send it to Steele. LOL!

But the material only costs $36 plus shipping, and I have some left over for molding fishing lures. That was if I had got it right the first time. I also did my axle support bushings with the same stuff and they're working well. Although I used the wrong (softer) material for those the first time. It was a learning experience.

Attached pics is how I did my axle support bushings. I thought I had posted about that before, but can't find it. [on edit] That reminds me that I need to get off my butt and update my Project Journal. I'm still 5 years behind on it.

Kevin, I remember seeing that post so you must have posted it. If there is any interest, I did find an NOS trans mount in the garage today. Not sure if it is an exact match for yours. Message me if you want to look into it any further. Rich

I need to brush up on my searching skills here. I managed to find that thread by narrowing down the dates. Happened in early 2021. Here's the original thread.

Rich, I'm good on the tranny mount, but you might consider posting it in the Swap Meet for someone who needs one and doesn't want to either repair theirs or send it to Steele.