sad story

[murray720]

as some of you know, for the past month or so, i've been at the tail end of a 1963, 220s m180 to m127 engine swap

well i finished last weekend!!!!

the sad part comes an hour after that when i decide to get this old lady on the freeway. I rolled up the 101 on ramp with plenty of power and set in the slow lane at a cautious 50 mph. after a few miles i heard a slight (one time) sound from underneath the vehicle. The engine remained strong and i still had plenty of power so i chocked it up to running over a plastic bag or something like that.

i was wrong!

forty-five seconds later i hear a noise that i have never heard come from an automobile (maybe a ton of TNT but not a car). it sounded as if the engine straight fell off the mounts and i was dragging it down the freeway. somehow i made it to the shoulder and quickly realized the engine is still running. i shut it off, put it in park and started to wonder about my craftsmanship and which yard will take this beast off my hands.

well i had it towed back to the house and found i broke the doughnut where the drive shaft connects to the tranny. it torqued off with such force it also twisted the tranny mount into a pretzel.

the good news is parts are on the way and i should be back on the road by next week.

[murray720]

[joshhol]

You had me really worried there as I was reading it. I thought you had toasted the engine, right after all the work. . .! UGH
Glad its fixable.

[murray720]

it was after i took my foot off the brake and started rolling backward into traffic that i first realized the engine was probably still good (then i thought it was the tranny i was dragging). to exit and insure not rolling back onto the 101 freeway i had to jump out, run to the trunk, grab an extra hubcap and place it behind the tire, all while keeping forward pressure on the car. it was to my surprise i wasn't dragging anything. lucky me!

it may cost close to what a tranny would but i feel better knowing it was just a coincidence and not faulty mechanics on my part.

and
i can't / won’t turn back now!!!

[300SDog]

Murray, everybody followed conversion you made from 220Sb to 220SEb documented on this board.... Can remember a point where engine had to be raised from riding low in the carriage.

Am hoping transmission drive link lines up flat-level with driveshaft coupling. If there's any angle there, you will be chewin up flex discs.

It sounds like tranny mount is critical issue - like maybe shimming or shaving the tranny mounts to ride higher will level out the drive train.

Hell, you've probably gotta put the car on lift with screw jack under the transmission...... and yes, work with carpenters' level to mount the unit for excactly straight drive.

[murray720]

you have a good memory...

i'm not sure if i followed up on the engine positioning problem i was experincing but if not i will now.

the engine was sitting too low which in turn rested the engine pulley against the stabilizer bar and the intake manifold against the the right fender. i was sure my engine mounts had collapsed but until i could find/buy new mounts i temporarily used wood blocks to raise the engine. this worked great and allowed me to verify that she was a runner. the odd part came once i took her off the jack-stands... the engine wouldn't even turn. well, i quickly realized the engine was now too high creating a sharp angle at the torque converter/flywheel. i removed the blocks, bolted her back to the mounts and all was well.

thanks for the advise!
once i have the drive shaft/doughnut/tranny mount replaced i will be cautious and bring it down to the shop for level confirmation.

also
i'm thinking the flex disk was just worn out as, before i even started this conversion i seem to remember seeing it frayed (like a radial tire)

thanks again