Is it possible for the 86/87 engine to be crooked?

[The Machine]

Both my stock & stretched intercoolers when looked at from the front of the car are slightly crooked. Eyeballing the valve covers, one side may be a bit higher than the other. Are there several mounting possibilities for the motor mounts on these cars? Is there an intelligent way to measure this?

Asking because it looks stupid, and I think I'm getting false knock with the stretched intercooler's aluminum shroud hitting the front sway bar on one side. It's been that way since 9000 miles when I bought it.

Thnx.

 

[vader87]

Sounds like one of your motor mounts is shot. Go with the poly mounts. If that doesn't work check your frame. Might have been in some type of accident before you got it. Good luck!

 

[Lee Thompson]

I would guess

Your motor mounts could be switched--There is a left and a right.

 

[The Machine]

Your motor mounts could be switched--There is a left and a right.

Is there any history of this occurring at the factory? Can they actually be put in the wrong location like that?

I do have a poly drivers mount that I've not yet installed. I just wanted to figure this one out first. I noticed it at 9K so I doubt it's related to a mount being worn out. But I guess it could be possible.

Are there ways to measure the levelness of the motor?

 

[Gary Wells]

Might be able to get underneath and measure from the ground up to the mounting bolts center line and get a pretty good idea of what's going on, that's providing that your car is level to the ground. Could the driver side mounting bracket have been bent or be off. Loosening the mounting bracket with the intercooler installed should give you some play, maybe enough to line it up correctly and then retighten. Does the motor itself look level when looking at it? Just a thought. HTH

 

[chrisgarrett]

Is there any history of this occurring at the factory? Can they actually be put in the wrong location like that?

I do have a poly drivers mount that I've not yet installed. I just wanted to figure this one out first. I noticed it at 9K so I doubt it's related to a mount being worn out. But I guess it could be possible.

Are there ways to measure the levelness of the motor?

There's no history of the factory screwing up, but the person who owned the car before you may have. If you're going to put a poly on the ds you should also replace the ps with an oem mount or go to autozone and get one.

 

[83ttypecooled]

Hi,
Install the new mounts, then we'll see . The old ones probably are shot. They served their purpose, but that's a lot of torque for many years. Good luck.