engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

I am restoring my 1978 233 formula with twin smallblocks, and I am doing more glass work than was intended. I am installing new stringers and transverse bulkheads from the transom to the cabin. I want to install the best engine mounts I can. I have had race cars for 15 yrs so I am naturally looking at engine plates. What are the pros and cons of engine plates in a boat? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

i would think the typical offshore style of engine mounts would be best suited. by engine plates i assume you mean the standard water pump, timing case cover style which should not be used generally for c.g and leak reasons. offshore mount bolt to the original 3 bolt mount area as in automotive area, and that gets mated to a pair of vertical angle, i use 3x4 1/2 l channel. i have a pic of this style of installation, along with horizontal foot support's.

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

p.s at times people request an additional rear solid mount for extreme application( the above and fore mentioned are for a bravo style installation.

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

like these?

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

I always use plates. Never had a failure in 15 years.

Front and rear plates pictured. I tooled the front timing cover but I think one exists for chevy too. Rear plate is bolted to bellhousing with Borg Warner bolt pattern and prior to cutting the circular lightnening holes.

Allows suoer strong, super accurate mounting.

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

That's exactly what I was thinking. But I had never seen one in a boat before. Looks cool, hmmm a little polish, I can see myself with ones like that!

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

motor plates are the norm in the v drive race boats. I don't know why you don't see them in more off shore deals with custom installs.
Here is a pretty slick set up that might give you a few ideas. It's alot of work but things stay put very well.
This one will have a solid drive shaft with splines and Lenco couplers. No U joints at all.

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data...igging-med.JPG

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data..._mount-med.JPG

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data...igging-med.JPG

BTW, that's not my work. It's a boat I saw at Prime Marine.

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

i can not up load,my p.c is a piece of cra@. the above pics show some nice work. how ever this style of engine mounting has been proven to be inadequate in an offshore application. its not wrong, but typically you'll find that engines are installed and secured as i described.

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

think i've got it

Re: engine mounts/plate or conventional?
 

Monstaa, you must be referring to rails as I mount the plates with the exact same angle aluminum perches you show.

MTI uses rails I believe.

Stringers not true enough in my boat for rails,