The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 Front Plate Wore Out '50 3600

I started cleaning some of the parts for the 216 I'm overhauling and realized just how bad the front plate is. I'm assuming the mounting bolts were loose for a long time because the thickness of the material looks like it's about half as this as the rest of the plate and the holes for the carriage bolts are all slopped out and worn away. The metal bushings embedded in the rubber part of the mount also cut into the bottom of the plate pretty deep.

The top piece of the four-piece front mount, I guess you'd call it the oil shield, is cut right through in the shape of the engine plate base. It's so clean of a cut that it almost looks like it's made that way - even though I know the only holes in this piece should be for the bolts to pass through. It then continued to wear into the top retainer of the motor mount.

Now my questions is, Is this a common problem with these old trucks or did I just get unlucky and end up with one that's worn this bad? I'm going to have to find a new front plate and I'm just curious how difficult it's going to be to find a good one.

I could kick myself because there was an NOS plate on Ebay a few weeks ago but that was before I reallized just how bad mine was. Like they say, hind sight's 20/20.

Thanks,
Shawn

I would first look at the possibility of welding up and redrilling the mounting holes(a copper backing plate can help considerably). Changing the front plate is more work than meets the eye as the cam has to come out meaning complete valvetrain disassembly. Look in the tech tips for a drilling template.

Thanks Curt. I've got the engine out of the truck and completely dismantled so changing it won't add any labor in my case. I'd rather find a different plate but if I can't find a decent replacement, I'll have to try and repair it and use the template you mentioned.

Thanks again,
Shawn

Shawn, Sent you a PM.