Body on alignment issue

[creeves84]

Ok here's the story, a MK IV body on yesterday (good day!) and getting ready to go to paint. I noticed the side pipes couldn't be put on due to the header being higher then the opening on one side. I sent a post and found that this is common to have to open up the factory cut.

One side I need to open up about 5/8" to allow for movement the other side I have to open up about 2 3/4" way to much. I looked at the motor mounts to see how much movement I have to balance it out a bit more. I think that I may have mixed up the right and left mount when I installed the engine. Should the stud on the motor mount be facing forward? The mount has a nub that fits into a slot and both sides are at the top of the opening allowing for no engine tilt for the adjustment. If I switch mounts I think that the nub will be in the longer opening allowing for adjustment. What do you think are the mounts on the wrong side?

[CCRsAC]

One easy check to ensure the mounts are correct is that the driver's side threaded stud for the mount should be in the hole that is slotted through the top of the chassis mount.

If not, can you post pictures of the mounts?

I also put the body on my car for the first time yesterday (a Mk 3.1), but the headers aligned pretty well with the FFR pre-cut holes. The FFR cut-outs tend to run small, though, so some additional trimming is expected. Before mounting the body, I took some measurements from the header flanges to the ground and, with the engine and trans mounts loose I stood on the driver side header to tilt the engine the 1/2" that I needed to make it reasonably level. From there, it looks like I'll be able to make due with just trimming 1/2" or so from the top and 1/4" or so from the front of both openings. I'll rely on the spacer/wedges from Breeze to get the correct alignment of the pipes along the side of the body.

[Cheapsnake]

Wow, you're moving! As far as I can remember, there isn't any difference between the two motor mounts from side to side. Is the interference at the sides or top of the openings? If at the top, it sounds like your engine isn't fully seated. If it's that bad at the sides and caused by engine misalignment I would think you'd have a major misalignment with your driveshaft. J-pipes or 4into4? If j-pipes, it's not unusual for them to have alignment issues.

[creeves84]

I tried uploading pictures but I'm having issues.....

The interference is at the top of the 4 into 4 headers, I looked at the mounts and maybe the engine is not seated down into the mounts well, they are both at the top of the slot, I don't have any issues with the driveline that I can tell, I go karted a fewtimes and it ran out well.

From CCRsAC post it seems that the bolts are in the proper slot, so I'm learning towards the engine being not fully seated.

[Cheapsnake]

Yup, you need to jiggle that puppy til it sets in proper. The bolt should drop all the way to the bottom of the slot.

[CCRsAC]

You may want to try loosening all three bolts on each side (the two on the block and the one at the chassis), then wiggle everything around and see if it seats itself a little lower.

[emac]

My mkiv , 351, j pipes, had no clearance issues. There was plenty adjustment in the exhaust flanges to get it very close. I did have to work hard to get the motor mount seated properly. Swapped the mounts a couple of times, cussed some, and finally got it right.

[SirAustin]

I am having the same exact issue right now!!
We moved the motor around trying to see if that was it and it is not.
I also am off by about 2-3 inches on the drivers side but just about 1/2 inch on the passenger side.
Did you ever figure out a solution to this?!

[Michael Everson]

I ran into this exact problem with a mark 4 using a 5.0 engine and 4 into 4 headers. I was off at leat 2 inches on the driver side. I told FFR about it but they checked out my header and said it was fine. In the end no one was of any help. I ended up mounting the header in my Bridgeport at work and milling the flange at a 5 degree angle in order to get it to fit.
I know of at least 2 other people that had this same problem. Its important that you contact Factory five and let them know. If enough people complain maybe it will get looked into.

Check out this link for more info

STUMPED: Mark 4 exhaust problem
Mike

[conger]

I had a problem get my 5.0 and 4 into 4 header to drop down low enough to avoid a lot of cutting into the side pipe openings. Driver's side wasn't too bad but the passenger side would have meant more than an 1" of material.
To get the engine to sit low enough, I had to loosen all the mounts and jack it a bit. Problem was that mount pin was already at the bottom of the slot. I used a die grinder and mill bit to cut the slot about a 1/4" lower on the passenger side. Settled the engine with the mounts left hand tight and it settled in. Then torqued the mounts. Still had to trim the opening but at least it looks symmetrical.

Gerry