Engine support bar problem?

[scamperbus]

I've just noticed that the bolt that passes through the middle of the engine support bar and into the crankcase (just under the oil pump cover) is loose on my 1970 bus. When I say loose I mean the bolt isn't bolting the engine to the support bar - the bolt doesn't line up with the hole in the crankcase so I can't just tighten it up.

The bus drives fine and I don't know how long it's been like it as I last had the engine out almost a year ago. Is it dangerous or damaging to not have this bolted up??

 

[Clarkson46]

What you are saying doesn't make sense. You should have 3 bolts which attach the support bar to the engine. So either you have a universal case or an adaptor plate. Either way the bottom bolt will line up with the appropriate hole. Can you post a clear picture of what you have?

 

[scamperbus]

Finally got round to checking this out a little closer. I've removed the rear valance for a better view. I have the left and right bolts bolting the engine to the support bar - they're nice and tight. The centre bolt is loose and there's not enough thread sticking through the bar to tighten it into the engine casing. There's a gap just as wide as my finger between the face of the engine and the face of the support bar. It's as if the profile of the 2 is more like this side on: /| than like this: || if that make sense. ie. the bar is not offered up square to the engine case.

I may try to support the engine with a jack, undo the mounts and see if I can't get that middle bolt to pull the whole thing together. I've had the bus for almost 18 months and haven't had any problems but it doesn't seem right...

Anybody else had this problem or have any suggestions how I can get the 2 to mate together better?
Cheers!

 

[Araon]

pull your support bar and have a closer look at it....

sounds like its been twisted, you dont really want to putting all that force through just the pair of bolts on a possibly damaged bar...

 

[JoshB]

I agree - pull it out and have a look - it does sound bent

I would bet that if you just tried to tighten the bolt to pull it back into line you would pull the thread out of the alloy case :shock: Not good