Oldsmobile Motor Mount engine straps

[jetsetw31]

Hello all. I just broke another set of motor mounts. This makes 3 since 2013, when I swapped my '73 Olds 350 for a SBO 307. The stock 307 mounts snapped a week after the swap. After I replaced them I wound up having a funeral for the 2004R. It's been T5 since.
I had this problem back in the '80s on my '71 350 Cutlass and I used cut chains tied to the end head bolts and to the frame. That car launched pulling the pass side wheel off the ground.(Suspension tricks helped achieve that feat. ) Meanwhile, I've tried buying new mounts from earlier years for my '88 but the results were the same. No room for chains on a Gbody Olds with full accessories, so I came up with a simple fix.
I made a strap that bolts from the block to the frame mount using the motor mount's holes. This way the straps stop the motor mounts from pulling apart. Kinda like a solid motor mount. But I'm only using the straps on one side of the rubber mounts to absorb vibrations.
Warning, I do see these straps eventually shearing (especially on 455s) but they are relatively easy to make and replace. So follow my lead with caution. Like the HotDog vender on the game Grand Theft Auto 4 says, "I'm Not Liable, Enjoy! "

 

[jetsetw31]

Here is how I started. A Sledge Hammer, a small Anvil and a pipe from Lowes.

 

[jetsetw31]

Then I trimmed to fit and painted.

 

[jetsetw31]

I did use new motor mounts from Rock auto. At $2.39 each , I knew some kinda help was needed for cheaply made parts.

 

[fleming442]

Ya know, you should only have to do the driver side....

 

[olds307 and 403]

Interesting. I need more power so I can wreck motor mounts. My question is, how in the hell did you make a T-5 hold together behind W-31 hp an tq? Another guy with an Olds 350 with ported 307 heads with standard 350 valves and a mild cam had the T-5 fail twice and gave up.

 

[Tuffregal83]

Had the same problem when i was running a olds 455 then i bought a set of these and never broke one again

 

[307 Regal]

The cheap Rock Auto mounts are indeed pathetic. Mine haven't broke, but my Buick 350 shakes like a bowl of jello.

 

[jetsetw31]

Ya know, you should only have to do the driver side....

I thought so too, but I learned the other mount moves too much in reverse.

 

[jetsetw31]

Interesting. I need more power so I can wreck motor mounts. My question is, how in the hell did you make a T-5 hold together behind W-31 hp an tq? Another guy with an Olds 350 with ported 307 heads with standard 350 valves and a mild cam had the T-5 fail twice and gave up.

Oh, I'm on T5 number four. Yet only one broke due to the engine power. The others were due to a lack of fluid. turned out the yoke was short and inch and I was impatient. The current T5 is 2 years old in the car. Of course now due to all the T5 failures, my 7.5 is way too loose. Due to budget restraints, I'm building a 7.3/4 with mostly new parts plus 28 spline Moser axles, all in a 7.5 housing. Post and Pics are coming soon as the housing comes back from getting the tubes welded. About May.