front motor plate and mid plate

i have recent purchase both, motor and mid plate to make a swap from 351w to 460 for mud racing..

http://www.jegs.com/i/Competition+Engineering/247/4002/10002/-1

any one have any problems with motor plate.. i have heard some guys have messed up the block when using one..

or is it better to make motor mounts?

I don't know how you could mess up the block using motor/mid plates unless you don't use good bolts. I run a 1/4" aluminum motor and a 1/4" aluminum mid plate with no issues. The thing you need to remember is to ditch the block plate, shim the starter properly and look at limiters to keep the front/rear travel in check.

ok the bolts i have are from ARP.. how much horsepower are you running? i am running about 700hp and i have heard the motor plate has rip the bolts out of the water pump passages..

I was running around the same for the last few years with no issues and even added a 250-275hp shot of nitrous to the mix, and this year will be a bunch more on the motor I have always used grade 8 bolts and have had no issues. There are guys making much more hp than you or me running motor plates on BBF's and don't have problems. If your local guys are, then they are doing something wrong!

ok.. kjett they probably are.. i just don't want to mess up my BBF. but this is my first time with a front motor plate.. i am thinking of raising the motor up about 2 inches and back 2 inches for weight transfer.. any sugguestions or comments on where to put the motor?

Someone definately had something screwed up if they ruined a block with a motor/mid plate setup. Like karl said though, you will need some form of a limiter to keep from flexing them. You will love this setup for installation and removal. Lower and back are the best on engine placement, never go up, unless there is a serious issue with clearance somewhere.

schmitty wrote:Someone definately had something screwed up if they ruined a block with a motor/mid plate setup. Like karl said though, you will need some form of a limiter to keep from flexing them. You will love this setup for installation and removal. Lower and back are the best on engine placement, never go up, unless there is a serious issue with clearance somewhere.

i know this sounds dumb, but what you mean by limiter to keep from flexing??

Any substantial piece of pipe, or bar stock bolted between the engine and the frame that will stop fore/aft movement of the engine. Most guys use a pipe with threaded rod ends similar to panhard bar from the rear suspension.

I got mine from S&W racecars when I bought my motor and mid plates. Like Schmitty said, it's a piece of tube with rod ends at each end attached to a tab mounted on the frame and another on the block. Mine is mounted on a plate that uses the factory motor mount bosses.

Here's the kit I bought:

http://swracecars.com/store/Door-Car-Engine-Limiter---Single-OSCARItem_129=20-606.aspx

oh sweet thanks alot.. do you have any pics so i can have an idea what you mean?

No. Motor is out of the truck at the moment as well.

when you have time can anyone put some pics on for the engine limiter so i have an idea.. but does it matter what side it goes on and how does it work?

You should run two limiters, mount one end to one of the unused motor mount bolt bosses and run the bar forward to a point on the frame, weld on a mounting bracket and you are all set

Mike R wrote:You should run two limiters, mount one end to one of the unused motor mount bolt bosses and run the bar forward to a point on the frame, weld on a mounting bracket and you are all set

thanks for the suggestion.. do you have a pic so i can see what your talking about..

kjett wrote:I got mine from S&W racecars when I bought my motor and mid plates. Like Schmitty said, it's a piece of tube with rod ends at each end attached to a tab mounted on the frame and another on the block. Mine is mounted on a plate that uses the factory motor mount bosses.

do i need just need 1 limiter or 2 limiters for my 460? any sugguestions

If you can fit 2 (1 on each side) go with that, but if you can only fit 1 (like me), then do that. The goal is to limit front and rear travel so you don't need to run a solid trans mount. The motor/mid plates elimintate the rotational forces and put it to the chassis.

kjett wrote:If you can fit 2 (1 on each side) go with that, but if you can only fit 1 (like me), then do that. The goal is to limit front and rear travel so you don't need to run a solid trans mount. The motor/mid plates elimintate the rotational forces and put it to the chassis.

ok. does it matter what side to put it on?? my frame is 86 bronco

If you can run 2, put 1 on either side of the block. Mine is on the passenger side to keep room on the driver side for the drive shaft.

I got my lateral limiter kit through D and D, http://www.ddautospec.com/products_complete.html