Background: I'm trying to put a 300 six into a 31 Ford Model AA

I found a couple of threads (all on the 61-66 F100 and larger forum) that talk about:

"A 300 six can be mounted in a 64 using the FE aftermarket crossmember for a 61 to 64 truck." (garbz2 - 2007)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...otor-swap.html

I found on other sites the FE 360/390 aftermarket engine crossmember will fit the 300.

So heres the deal, I really want to get a crossmember that doesn't already have the frame brakets welded to the support. I found an FE crossmember at speedway motors that I thought was exactly what I was looking for, but I feel like the dimensions are off.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Ford-FE-Series-Big-Block-Motor-Mount,3276.html

I contacted them and this is what they said...
"Center to center of slotted motor mount plate hole is 18 1/4
Slotted 1 1/4" for an adjustment range of 18 to 18 1/2"
Plate angles at approximately 45 degrees."

I measured the distance between the studs on the motor mounts on my 1976 300 six and it came out to be 16 1/8 inches.

So what am I doing wrong? Am I being completely ignorant and aren't considering required parts besides the motor mount and crossmember? Possibly the wrong application year of the crossmember?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and since I didn't know where else to turn, and most of the information I found was on this forum, I am posting here.

thanks
Scott

 

The crossmember needs to accept the I6 Stock motor mounts. In 65 and up the FE and I6 share the same dimensional mount ing hole location for the mount to bolt to the crossmember.

For a Model AA i would use pedistal type mounts as the frame is way narrower. A flat plate with tabs welded to it and bolted to the block and then a tower off the frame with a poly bushing and bolt Similar to a Small Block chevy mount, Clean sano and common. and way better than a cross member for the model AA

Garbz

 

So why do my motor mounts measure 16 1/8" from stub to stub and the crossmember has 18 1/4" spacing for the mounting holes? (this is my major problem that I can't wrap my head around)

I just feel like a cross member would be easier for a first timer. I could bolt up the mounts and crossmember and suspend the engine where I want it, tweaking it until I get it how I want it. Also my frame measures at least 27 inches (thats at the front of the frame) and the engine will probably be pushed futher back giving me more room to work with. The speedway motors people said that crossmember can be used in frames as narrow as 25 inches.

Scott

 

just measured my 1966 FE engine perches and they measure 17 inches center to center of the larger part of the hole. My perches are slotted and tapered. (see pic). I'm guessing that the 16 1/8" mounts would sit nicely in the narrower part of the hole.

 

Check out these mounts on a track roadster style car with a 300.

1930s Era Champ Car - new project - THE H.A.M.B.

 

I have a very old transdapt cross member here and it measures 17" across, bottom of hole to bottom of hole. While working at Industrial Chassis, Steve showed me that ford blocks vary in width and he refused to build mounts for them that were not cut to fit.

The engine mounts are meant to slide to the bottom of the tapered hole in the towers. the aftermarket one have an oval hole.

Garbz

 

Note from the speedway piece you posted...

"Ford Engine Tip:
We've found a lot of variation in width of Ford blocks. Bolt the cushion to the block first to get proper width measurement. "

I'm just up the coast from you and I have a 67 frame here with the perches on it if you want to come check it out or cut it out and take it...

 

thanks for the help fellas, I just got the ford shop manual and have been looking at it again.

scott