Engine swap, mounts

[olboy]

Over the past few years I have done a few mx engine in and outs
Every time I always have trouble lining up the mount holes
After lots of pushing and shoving and broken levers they go in but there must be an easier way
I'm sure Mr Mazda wouldn't have had the problem when he made the car originally
Do you loosen the mounts on the block so they can flex a bit ?
Does one go in before the other ?
Any advice would be great, I'm doing a swap tomorrow

Thanks
Olboy

[hks_kansei]

When the cars are assembled the engine is already in the subframe and shoved up from the bottom.

Obviously that's not doable at home.

But yeah, usually I just lever and swear at it.

[manga_blue]

hks_kansei has pretty much nailed it. It's not a natural fit.

It's not that hard with two people and an engine hoist with a levelling bar. manga_scarlet helps me get engines in and out. She works the hoist and passes the pinch bars, levers, screwdrivers, etc to me under the car. Last time we put the engine and gearbox in the NA8 we had it driveable in 5 hours, ran it in that night and put it on the track at Sandown the next morning.

[ralt]

Hi.
Usually the left hand side mount is the first to do. Get it in do not fully tighten it. The right mount usually does not line up. Get your car jack put the base against the sway bar and a wood block against the box around the mount. screw the jack until the engine mount bolt is in the centre of the slot. Lower the engine until the bolt is in trapped in the slot remove the jack and lower the engine. Do all the mounting bolts up and the job is done. No need for pry bars etc.

[Lokiel]

Hi.
Usually the left hand side mount is the first to do. Get it in do not fully tighten it. The right mount usually does not line up. Get your car jack put the base against the sway bar and a wood block against the box around the mount. screw the jack until the engine mount bolt is in the centre of the slot. Lower the engine until the bolt is in trapped in the slot remove the jack and lower the engine. Do all the mounting bolts up and the job is done. No need for pry bars etc.

Your left or my left?
Which way are you facing?

ie. Please use hotside/coldside or port/starboard to make it completely unambiguous (I've learned not to use driver/passenger side since I also post on LHD forums).

[beavis]

Have a look at the subframe. You will note the engine mounting hole is slotted on one side, but not the other.
Get the non slotted side lined up first and then work on the slotted side.

From memory, the intake side is the slotted side.

[ralt]

Hi.
See Beavis post he is correct the slot is on the drivers side on our cars here in Aus. I have never seen a left hand drive car. I would assume they would all be the same.