I just got the engine mounted on my chassis today and it seems awfully close to the front sway bar:




Additionally, the engine mounts looks as if they're gonna block the power steering. Overall, the setup looks similar to a post by TCI (the manufacturer of my chassis) here:

TCI 5.0 Coyote Modular Build?? - Vintage Mustang Forums







Any thoughts on the two issues?

 

Yes that is close. The bar doesn't move around much in the middle but there will be torque at that location. The engine mounts appear to not allow any adjustment in height so you could try the engine in that installation. In the pic it looks like that motor mount could be modified to lift the engine higher. This also might give better clearance for the power steering. I just went through this with my 351, modifying motor mounts was my specialty for a time in my build. Every time I added something I had to build new ones. Have you considered headers yet?

 

I have the headers and I should have put those on to see if they'll fit or I'll have to get a different set (they're the stock headers) - I was just shocked to see how close the setup was and wanted to verify before I put everything else together.

 

Yup I would try the headers before going any further.

 

Do you have good clearance from the rad?

 

Its hard to tell from that picture. Also that distance you are concerned about will change with the angle of the engine/transmission. What angle are you at now?

 

I guess tomorrow I will have to install everything then just to verify. I probably should have put a tape measure in the picture, but there's approximately a 1/8 to a 1/4 inch clearance between the engine and the sway bar.

I didn't measure the angle of engine slope.

 

Could you put some spacers between the frame and sway bar to move it down?

 

It looks like the clearance issue is with the steering rack? Your sway bar should be mounted to the rear of crossmember.

 

56PanelFord - I like that idea. When I get the full powertrain installed and it's an issue, I will look in to that.

Last chance 53 - It's a TCI chassis with the modular V8 - the sway bar won't fit back there because of where they had to move the engine mounts.

 

Jerry...the only issue you may have with clearance at the sway bar is whether you can slip the serpentine belt between the pulley and the bar. The bar does not go up and down and if the engine rotates with torque it will be about the axis of the crankshaft. I don't see an issue with clearance there. I notice that you have the crossmember notched and that you have yet to install the brake lines...are you sure that you will have clearance across the crossmember for the brake lines? Steering hookup looks OK, are you buying Borgeson joints/shaft for the install? Borgeson makes a nice u-joint with vibration isolator for the R&P end. Here is what it looks like on my 40...

 

Chuck,

Actually, I worked on it more yesterday and took it apart and it's actually quite adjustable. It came with two types of ends and when I swapped the ones I put on it originally with the new set that came (I think I had posted here before, but TCI put mounts on originally for the short block 302 and not the long block coyote 302, so the original front sway bar was behind the MII posts), it looks like I can adjust it to have a good inch or two of clearance!

Now, I just have to study youtube for the throwout bearing setup and I'll be good. I found a place that will create my driveshaft in a week or so after I get the transmission on. I have the throwout bearing on the transmission, I just have to study how it should be set properly!

I verified the headers will fit, it's tight, but the stock headers fit. I'm a bit shocked how big the coyote is vs your 351 from the pics you posted in another thread a few days ago!

So once I get the throwout bearing set and the transmission on, I will have to do a bit of touchup paint around the transmission area on the chassis as trying to do all this by myself with very tight clearances - the transmission is a super snug fit - resulted in a bit if bit of chipping.

 

Here's where I kinda left off yesterday. I was rushing because the 7 year old kept asking to go home and I didn't take many pics. The bell housing is on the engine in that pic to ensure it all aligns up. The bell housing is currently on the transmission with the throwout bearing on the shaft, just not properly adjusted.

 

Yep those DOHC heads really spread out the width of that engine...makes good sense with the design of the new cars with the lower hoods.