Boat is a 38 Fountain with SSM #4 drives. Bought boat without power. The boat had rear engine plates, as the aluminum L brackets are still there.

My original plan was to use the ears that mount to the tranny, and get thru bolted to the inner transom plate. However, the ears i had wont work. I have located a set, but now thinking about going to the rear plates.

I am guessing the rear plates are pretty much a standard like the front ones? My bellhousings are the dual cooler type. Im guessing i just need to remove them, and have them machined so the plates can sandwich in there?

Just trying to figure the best route to go on this.

bilge

I have a set of v mounts front tube / rear plate call if intrested
but you are on the right path.
Jim
573 346 5250

I got one rear plate from my buddy. Might need one more. Good on the fronts.

I was gonna sell both sets for what i paid 300
let me know I have family in Chicago. might help on shipping.

the rear motor plate mounts between the blobk&THE BELLHOUSING,NO MACHINE WORK NECESSARY.

yes, but the starter mounts to the bellhousing, so if i just bolt the plates on, the starter gear wont engage far enough.

If your starter is a rear mount (bell housing mount), there were two part #'s for the bell housing...with and without engine mount plate. The without bell housing could be milled/modified if necessary. You could also look at where starter gears are wearing to see if the starter can handle a 1/4" less engagement if the rear mount plates are added.
At then end of the day, the Gil type tranny support mount is likely going to be less re-rigging and easier to align the engines. To do this right, it is really a pretty big project. This is likely why the rear mount plate was removed.
When we added the rear plates, we used a short block, alignment tools, new angle mounts and marked all in place. Then made all and drilled to fit.
In many boats, it will be difficult to work with a fully rigged engine...no room.

I went through the exact same issue. Project boat with no motors and #3 drives. There were rear plate mounts so I bought front and rear plates. We assembled and installed the motors with front and rear mounts. Went through 2 sets of starters before we realized the bell housing had to be machined 1/4". Anxious to get on the water we took out the plates and bought the transmission to transom plate mounts. Ran this way for 5 years. This year we pulled motors and went back to rear plates (after machining the bellhousings I already have).

That is why I am selling the transmission mounts you inquired about.

You either have to buy "cut" bellhousings or machine what you have. That lesson cost me a few thousand dollars.

As much as I would like to sell my transmission mounts, if you have the rear plates I would machined the bell housings and use the rear mounting plates. In my opinion it ends up with a very solid installation.

Good luck,
Doug

Joe,no machine required,remove bell housing,remove flywheel,knock out the doll pins,install longer ones reverse prociedure but make sure you loc tight every bolt (Blue)..

i got you covered on the starters too!