Crooked Engine

I pulled my v6 out of my 66 cj5 to replace the freeze plugs and upon installation I find that the engine and trans have been installed un-square. What a mother getting the motor mounts bolted back up. My query is this: I'll need to rebuild the transmission and Tcase this winter so how do I square the drive train up the frame? Seems like this would be the time take on the whole task.

 

I would guess . that the weight of the transfer case was throwing you off . I normal put a jack (low end) under it to keep thing straight

 

Hmmm - I'll keep that in mind when I do the trans. Tcase work. I can see that my engine is not paralell to the fire wall by comparing the rear of each head to the fire wall. I also found that there is damage to the fire wall, minimal, where the bell housing has encountered it in the past. I've been working my way through this jeep for a couple years now - with anonymous guidance from Early CJ - but now I'm looking at some next steps. I'll post some pictures this week.

 

Normally that V6 is offset about and inch to the passengers side anyway from the factory and both side mounts are different........If yours was a retrofit the Left side cylinder head will normally hit the firewall unless someone has beat in a little clearance.........from the factory they cut that area out and installed a little triangle shaped piece of sheet metal for clearance...........If it was in fact a retro from a 4 cyl. then you really have to take some time and make sure the PO didn't get it in there crooked which is pretty normal.

 

As Terry mentions above, the left head sits farther back than the right side head. So if you are using the heads as a visual reference then yes, it would appear crooked.

 

I'd suggest you measure. Use the drive line axis as a center, and see if it's really crooked. Or use a straight edge to find the long axis of the engine, and see if it is parallel to the frame. Measure. NB the engine is not necessarily centered in the frame, but it should be parallel.

 

If the engine is indeed found to be crooked, maybe give a look at the transmission mount and make sure it's where it belongs.