Motor mount motor/Starter removal...loaded question

[dchall89]

98 3.8L

Hi! Okay, so. Full suspension/steering install is complete. I'm kind of kicking myself for not getting to motor mounts/trans mount while I had the front end completely dismantled. Anyways, it's all back together but the motor mounts are awful. Just awful. I figure I'll wait to get to trans mount too since I can just jack up engine/trans and get it all in one go, or 2.

So to my question: where on oil pan should I jack? I have frame every spot that I would think to put pressure to jack up. I've taken pictures to show, and hopefully someone can point out in the picture what I'm missing

. Can I lift engine from transmission area? There's a pretty flat spot I see (circled in pic, it's got 3 holes in it

) that I'm wondering if it's safe to jack from.

Also, looks like I'm not going to even try passenger side mount without starter removed. Does that sound right to you guys? The nuts towards the back of the engine look like an absolute [email protected]#$_ to get out. Any special pointers on starter removal? I'll take pictures of this as I do it. Also, I don't notice any areas on top of engine to lift it from. I have a hoist I can use but I am clueless to what I need to lift from top instead of jack from bottom.

Thanks!

 

[dchall89]

I did this on my phone, so I'll need to get home flip a picture and edit title [emoji23] [emoji13]

 

[dchall89]

I figured it out, Since I have a convertible there is extra support underneath to make up for what is lost structurally with the roof. That brace will have to come off to jack up from oil pan

 

[08'MustangDude]

You still DO NOT want to place a jack on the oil pan! You can damage the
pan. #1, you can stress the metal, which will pull the sides in and it will
start leaking at the gasket. #2, can put a nice dent in the pan, or crush it.
Trans pan too! You can also shift the pan, break the gasket seal, and it
will start leaking...

Find SOLID METAL, like the block, or trans bell housing, like right where the
trans bolts to the motor. You only need to lift it up enough to change the
mount(s). Do not use any pan!

 

[dchall89]

You still DO NOT want to place a jack on the oil pan! You can damage the
pan. #1, you can stress the metal, which will pull the sides in and it will
start leaking at the gasket. #2, can put a nice dent in the pan, or crush it.
Trans pan too! You can also shift the pan, break the gasket seal, and it
will start leaking...

Find SOLID METAL, like the block, or trans bell housing, like right where the
trans bolts to the motor. You only need to lift it up enough to change the
mount(s). Do not use any pan!

For sure. I am super weary of doing what others have done and jacked with a block of wood on the pan. So where the trans meets the engine is a good spot?

 

[08'MustangDude]

Lots of people use the wood under the Oil Pan, but they're not making
them like they used to. If you must, use the oil pan flanges, not the pan
itself. The oil pickups are very low in there, and any dent could effect
oil flow. Some people use a wood block under the crank pulley too,
another not so good idea. Something more solid than a thin metal
pan though.

 

[dchall89]

Lots of people use the wood under the Oil Pan, but they're not making
them like they used to. If you must, use the oil pan flanges, not the pan
itself. The oil pickups are very low in there, and any dent could effect
oil flow. Some people use a wood block under the crank pulley too,
another not so good idea. Something more solid than a thin metal
pan though.

Yeah I think I'm going to hoist it. My neighbor has a crane lift for farm equipment repair and I can easily use that to lift engine. According to Haynes I just need to buy the lift brackets and install them.