motor mounts and steering shafts

[pikupmn]

has anyone got pics of how they did an IFS and how the motor mounts and steering were hooked up? i set the engine in tonight to try and see where everything was gonna set and it seems to me that the motor mounts and steering shaft off of the rack are not going to mesh very well, plus the oil filter is almost exactly above the rack stub.
this from above the rack
this is where the motor mount and steering have to share the same space.i'm kinda stumped here, should i run the steering 1st or get the placement of the engine 1st. any input would be greatly appreciated. Jeff

[pikupmn]

oh, the area where the motor mounts is NOT above the Dakota cross member. Jeff

[bruceandersson]

I have not done anything like this, but would recommend you look into a remote oil filter to solve the interference with the steering.

[rubydist]

I did not have that problem because the steering shaft attaches further outboard on the ttb suspension than the one you have.

What I would do is get the steering shaft connected (because it has to go in a straight line...) and then build an "A-frame" type of bracket for the motor mount to attach to, so the "A-frame" goes around the steering shaft. Ford has a bunch of different configurations for motor mounts, so it may take a little searching to find one with the right shape to work in your application.

The remote filter idea should solve that problem.

[thrifty]

Is there a way u can run a shorter filter to gain clearance? U can slide your engine towards the passenger a little but not so much that it makes the transmission tail shaft angle to far off. You might want to consider a pillow block welded off the side of the frame. This will give u some flex and will not bind when u r trying to turn the wheel. Just my 2 cents

[Fanatic]

a Fram PH16 filter is shorter ,but may not be short enough. Remote would be better.

[pikupmn]

I've got 2 oil filter re-locators to choose from and I'll get to that but I'll NEVER run fram filters
as for the motor mounts I'm gonna try to revamp the ones I got from Speedway and as much as i hate to say it
I might have to run a brand X style steering column. Jeff

[Danimal]

What size engine is that? I'm curious as I may run into a similar issue. Thanks

[grump]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but what is considered a good oil filter? I know fram filters get a bad rap, but I've always used fram filters. The only time I didn't use fram it spun a bearing on my mustang, I used a stp filter when they first came out, luckily ford paid half and stp paid the other half to rebuild the bottom end. So can I get some opinions on best oil filter choices?

[jkimbrel65]

IMHO motorcraft or wix

Mike

[LM14]

Best oil filters are Wix (NAPA/NAPA Gold, Car Quest all made my Wix) or Motorcraft. I have had engines with 10-15# less pressure with a Fram in the past, never again.

SPark

[MadMaxetc]

Here are some shots of mine...

[Danimal]

Sorry I have to ask madmaxetc. Where did you get the motor mounts and steering linkage? Wow those look great!

[MadMaxetc]

I made the mounts. Scrap steel and end link bushings.

Linkage is Flaming River parts. I cut the rag joint off the column and carefully ground it down to a double D.

[LM14]

Dan,
Have you driven your truck with these motor mounts? Doesn't the engine want to move down with no support on the mount welded to the crossmember? Looks like it would bend the "post" down at the crossmember.

SPark

[MadMaxetc]

I have not. But this style is not uncommon. With the mount on the other side any downward movement actually pinches the engine. It looks almost the same as the ones ICI sells to put a 460 in the Dakota clips. Steve says he has never had an issue.

(The picture makes it look worse than it is too.)

[pikupmn]

DAMN..........wish I would have seen yours Dan b4 i made mine.....they are are a lot nicer to look at i just used 1/4 " x 4" plate should be plenty strong enuf, it ain't like i'm gonna be racing it or anything . but that is a really nice set up. by the way , i'm installing a 80s vintage 302 (NOT A 5.0) with an AOD. Jeff