Trevor B
Well-Known Member
I learned something new today.
The left side transmission-engine support strut on my '73 Duster, which bolts onto the bell housing and also to the lower middle of the block, appears to come in two lengths. On this 1983 block, there are two holes next to one another to bolt into, one closer to the transmission and one further toward the front.
It would appear that the 1973 factory 318+904 combination uses the back hole but a 1983 318 (hooked to either a 904 or a 727) uses the front hole.
So guess what I didn't think to check before dropping the engine in and attaching everything I could? The front hole was threaded but my strut only reached the back hole.
The first funny part ways having to go back: off came the starter, transmission cooler lines (the front one of which, by the way, is an absolute bastard to tighten), whatever else is in the way and in went the tap, sort of.
The second funny part was me trying to tap the hole upward, upside down under the car, using various means of turning the tap to work around the oil pan, exhaust pipe, etc.
Yet another fun fact to put in my notebook.
The left side transmission-engine support strut on my '73 Duster, which bolts onto the bell housing and also to the lower middle of the block, appears to come in two lengths. On this 1983 block, there are two holes next to one another to bolt into, one closer to the transmission and one further toward the front.
It would appear that the 1973 factory 318+904 combination uses the back hole but a 1983 318 (hooked to either a 904 or a 727) uses the front hole.
So guess what I didn't think to check before dropping the engine in and attaching everything I could? The front hole was threaded but my strut only reached the back hole.
The first funny part ways having to go back: off came the starter, transmission cooler lines (the front one of which, by the way, is an absolute bastard to tighten), whatever else is in the way and in went the tap, sort of.
The second funny part was me trying to tap the hole upward, upside down under the car, using various means of turning the tap to work around the oil pan, exhaust pipe, etc.
Yet another fun fact to put in my notebook.
