Rear shift rod rubbing against warm air guide?

[green71]

Hi all,

I've just rebuilt & reinstalled my 1.7l engine into my '71. Initial start-up & break-in went beautifully once everything was set. However, the engine seems to sit a touch low in the engine compartment. As a result, the left warm air guide is resting slightly on the rear shift rod. The rod doesn't move as freely as it should.

The motor & tranny mounts are new from May '01, and I didn't have this issue before I removed the engine a few weeks ago. It seems like the motor mount bar should torque tighter against the frame. I tightened the h*ll out of them w/a socket wrench, not a breaker bar. They just don't look as compressed as before, and I think that's where the engine height issue is rooted. When I put a little upward tension on the mount bar w/a floor jack, the shifting is back to normal. I believe I installed them the same way they came out.

Any ideas? Did I screw something up? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Mark

[green71]

*ahem*

Installation mistake on my part . . . seems like I can't turn a wrench on this thing w/o a steep learning curve. Guess that's what makes 'em fun.

Solution: moved big washers from between mount & bar to above mount where they belong. My mechanic tells me I'm lucky I didn't drop the engine entirely when I drove it around the block & over a couple of speed bumps. Must be living right.

Thanks,

Mark