WTF!! NOW what ... ?!

[wsp8]

While up on the stands to install the cam tensioner upgrade, decided to remove the cross bar, engine mounts and other rear sheet metal to just clean and paint. Decided to install a Rennline cross bar and after I buttoned everything up ... it's off-center!! WTF? The photos show that it's about an inch off.

Thought maybe it's the sag in the Targa while on jack stands, but no, that'd be too simple ... although the suspension has not settled back down yet.

So my question is this: Anybody else experienced this? Do you just bend the cross bar? It's powder-coated stainless with top AND bottom flanges. I did have trouble removing the old cross bar, but mostly due (I thought) to rust on the bolt/mount sleeve. Maybe it was under great sheer stress, instead?

Ideas? Otherwise, the car's ready to close up and go!

[unclebilly]

Are the newer cars (with the G50 transmission) different? I think I read somewhere that if you install a G50, you have to move the engine either forward or back... perhaps this mount you got is for a newer car???

[Nostril Cheese]

Is it on backwards?

[slodave]

Why can't you just move the engine a bit? I have the earlier version from Rennline and really had no problem getting the bolts in.

[Walt Fricke]

Loosen up all the mounts, including especially the four 13mm headed bolts for the tranny mounts, and the other four that hold the tranny to the cross mount piece. Might give you enough.

Once you can get one of the long bolts in, you may be able to pry the other end of the mount into place. I've often had to force that rear mount some, which is why I usually like to get the two big tranny bolts in first. Then again, I haven't had spiffy double flanged stiffer engine cross mounts.

Walt Fricke

[wsp8]

It is on the right way ... flanges facing to the rear (confirmed with Rennline and it'd be even worse otherwise.) Thanks for these suggestions and any others. Move the engine back? By lossening all the tranny bolts as suggested? Would you need to loosen the shift rod set screw as well?

Thanks!

[Gunter]

You better leave the shift coupler completely disconnected until the engine sits where it is suppost to be.
Was there a partial drop to do the work?
I hope that the coupler was disconnected for the partial drop.
I assume it's a 915 transmission?
Loosen all bolts as suggested.
If you can, post a picture showing the transmission mount cross member and bolts.

[cgarr]

Kind of hard to see but it looks like your muffler bracket is backwards? would this change anything with the mount?

[randywebb]

the engien cross bar might be bent - they bend easily front to back

- try what Walt said & if it doesn't work go on to other ideas

[JP911]

I would start by comparing it to the stock cross bar to see where there are differences. The stock bar is pretty easy to "push" into alignment with the engine mounts, but it looks like that's going to be harder with the Rennline piece based on its construction. If you've never had the engine out of this car before, you may have found one of the quirks of this particular car.

[wsp8]

There's evidence that the engine's been out before ... just not by me. I'll post a tranny mount pic, as suggested. Also, the muffler strap mount is factory correct. Anyway, I'll loosen all the reanny bolts, too, and see what I can achieve. I WAS after better shifting performance and looks like I'll at least get that if there was this much misalignment.
Rennline should check in today, as well, after the Daytona weekend away (lucky dogs!).