Trans to engine braces

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dartfreak75

dartfreak75

Restore it, Dont part it!
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I put my transmission on my engine and got it in the car today, but I couldn't find the braces I found one but it must have came off the slant six because it didn't fit at all. Are these needed? I plan to find them and put them in there eventually is it something that needs to be done sooner than later or no big deal?

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No headers just manifolds as hard as it was to get in the car im glad i changed my mind about headers lol
 
dartfreak75 said:
I put my transmission on my engine and got it in the car today, but I couldn't find the braces I found one but it must have came off the slant six because it didn't fit at all. Are these needed? I plan to find them and put them in there eventually is it something that needs to be done sooner than later or no big deal?

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never ran them on anything , hemi`s down to sbc--------------
 
The factory used them for a reason. The trans bellhousing hangs pretty low and is unsupported on a small block. They weren't used on a BB. I think the BB's have some lower bellhousing mounting holes that the small blocks don't have. That's a lot of area left unsupported without some bracing. Like others have said, if you run headers, the braces usually won't fit.(although I got them to fit with my shorty TTIs)

I've run without them with headers and didn't have an issue but I didn't have a choice. If they would have fit, I would have used them. Since you aren't running headers, I would find some and use them IMO. The 360 takes a longer bracket on one side compared to a 318.
 
Are the A body ones that same as the ones used on Dodge trucks?
 
I have never put them back on any of my cars. I won't be using them on my 414 and 727 either. I have never had a problem without them.
 
I think all the small block LAs used the same ones. I believe the RH one has a radius cut out where the oil filter is located.
 
They were only used on small blocks with automatics all models including trucks. The engineers must have thought they were needed to convince the bean counters to pay for them. I always use them.
I also have several sets if needed.
 
The B's had an oil pan rail 3" under the crank centerline. Im sure the B block had trans mount holes below the crank CL too.
 
I run 'em if I can, but questionable if they're necessary and some builds just don't allow for it, for reasons stated above and more.
But there are differences- I've got a whole stack of these on the shelf, and it seems every time I look for a pair to use they're a bit different, be it for a 904 or 727, and the above mentioned 318/360 difference (which is a new one on me, never heard/considered that before), and yes, I have some that came off manual trans too- 360 truck, but not sure about 833s; my memory is failing me on that one- it's been a lotta years since I've seen an unmolested one. And probably variations in each depending on year and whether they had a right angle filter adapter or a cutout for the straight filter, yadda yadda yadda.
Long story short, run 'em if you want to, no big deal if you don't.
 
The only different length is the left side when they went to a longer starter around 1976. The 904 and the 727 used the same braces.
 
I don't understand why you would leave them off. To each his own but Chrysler thought they should be on there.
 
Professor Fate said:
and yes, I have some that came off manual trans too- 360 truck,
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What 360 4-spd trucks had them? 81-up? I've owned several 72-80 360 4-spd trucks including my 73 W200 360 4-spd that have owned since new and they never had them. There is not even a place on the bell housing to mount them to.
 
moparmarks said:
What 360 4-spd trucks had them? 81-up? I've owned several 72-80 360 4-spd trucks including my 73 W200 360 4-spd that have owned since new and they never had them. There is not even a place on the bell housing to mount them to.
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Not 4 speed, they were on a '92 roller 360 out of a 2wd 2500, were still on the block when I picked it up- assuming it was an NV4500.
 
Engine to trans braces are used to reduce/eliminate bending modes between the engine/trans. These show up as boom periods at various speed/loads. Normally it is best if you have them but as noted, there are times when it is physically impossible. As many mods as are in many of our cars, you may never notice the boom periods. Also, compared to todays cars, the level of refinement of this and everything else(!) was not nearly then what it is now so you may also not notice these periods anyway.
No way for me to put them on my 72 Demon (408 with headers) but my stock 71 Demon 340 auto trans car has them.
 
Professor Fate said:
I run 'em if I can, but questionable if they're necessary and some builds just don't allow for it, for reasons stated above and more.
But there are differences- I've got a whole stack of these on the shelf, and it seems every time I look for a pair to use they're a bit different, be it for a 904 or 727, and the above mentioned 318/360 difference (which is a new one on me, never heard/considered that before), and yes, I have some that came off manual trans too- 360 truck, but not sure about 833s; my memory is failing me on that one- it's been a lotta years since I've seen an unmolested one. And probably variations in each depending on year and whether they had a right angle filter adapter or a cutout for the straight filter, yadda yadda yadda.
Long story short, run 'em if you want to, no big deal if you don't.
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Perfect! I didn't think it would be that why I decided to go ahead with the progress when I couldn't find them lol I figured I could always crawl underneath and put them on when I find them
 
Treblig said:
I don't think those trans braces will bolt up to a Four Runner??:poke::realcrazy::rofl:
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Hey, ole Kevin is Gettin er Dun. I applaud this guy for working on his dart and getting it done in adverse conditions. Heck I got a roof over top and a concrete slab and i still manage to never finish ****.
 
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