Engine/Trans Install - Can't fully seat mounting bolt

[gregwils]

I had my engine and trans out for a few winter projects. Was reinstalling yesterday and one of the transmission mounting bolts that goes through the carrier and trans mount and into the body won't fully seat.

I always start bolts by hand to avoid stripping, did this one too. It starts nicely by hand, but meets tremendous resistance about a half inch before fully seated. I pulled the bolt back out and ran a die down the treads to clean them, no problems, the threads looked fine.

I can see that the transmission mount is properly aligned using a light and a mirror. The bolt starts easily by hand and can run it up to within a half inch without any problems, then it just stops. It's the same bolt that came out, but I measured the hole depth just to be sure.

I am afraid to run a tap up hole for fear I might screw something up.

Any suggestions?

[RWebb]

spray something up in there - like brake cleaner?

try a wooden probe & feel around?

[boyt911sc]

Loosen the two (2) 8-mm bolts on the transmission mount and thread the big bolts. Do not forget to torque the small bolts too!!!!! Allowing the engine/transmission mount to align itself during installation makes everything easy.

Tony

[gregwils]

Thanks. I like the idea of loosening the trans mounts, I might try that.....next winter. I lowered the engine and did run a tap up there until it buried. I did get a few metal shavings, not sure why, but it is clean and fully seats.

Ok, I have another question. In examining the trans mounts during this process I noticed that the center metal tube fully seats against the body, so you can properly torque the mount, but their is a small gap, about 1/8th of an inch between the body and the rubber bushing. I hope this makes sense. Let me explain another way. The transmission is installed, everything is torqued down and the engine/trans are suspended from their mounts. There is a 1/8th in gap between the body of the car and the rubber section of the mount. It had to be that way before, nothing has changed.

Does this sound right? Thanks.

PS - My mounts are about 4 years old, look almost new.

[fastfredracing]

DO you have both of the cupped washers on the top and bottom of the mount?

[gregwils]

I should have searched first. I found a couple of threads, this one most clearly answered the question. Yes, there is a small gap between the body of the car and the transmission mount.

[Flat6pac]

Fred, the flat washer doesnt go on top of the mount, per the PET. Greg, the bolts go bad on the threads being softer than the body metal, sometimes they get loose on their own.
Bruce