MTFCA Forum

I'm putting my 26 Coupe back together. I disassembled it in 1965 I hit a tree and was getting ready to go in the Navy and didn't really have anywhere to store it inside. So most of the bigger parts were in my folks garage and only the body was outside under a cover. The frame was bent but my dad straightened it. Though last fall when I looked down the side rail it had a slight dip so I figured before I went any farther I'd get it straightened. So I got the chassis together and put the engine back in today but, the holes in the frame and the ones in the crankcase don't match up they are about 1/4 to 1/2 hole off. At first I was thinking just muscle them. Then I thought under that much tension and vibration it might break the motor mounts. Then I thought about heating them up, Then I seem to remember that the metal that Ford used shouldn't be heated to bend. So I was thinking about redialing the holes to make the bolts fit. What are you guys thoughts on this. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Richard, Your frame still has not been straightened correctly. You could take it to a frame shop and do it right, or there is or was a thread on the Forum on how to do it. You have to measure crossways in an "X" pattern from corner to corner and have the exact same dimension, and further the top of the frame rails should be straight from front to back. When you do this the engine and frame holes should line up and there will be no stress on the engine mounts.

That's the way I'd do it - just my opinion. Comments from others are welcome.

Keith

Keith

I don't necessarily disagree, but will suggest that the pan is possibly bent due to the accident that bent the frame. Perhaps the frame is straighter and squarer (is that a word?) than we're giving credit for and it is really the engine that is whopper-jawed now.

Keith, square is an absolute, like dead! The frame can be square or out of square. There can be degrees of out of square but there is only one degree of square. Isn't language a teaser. Your instincts were correct.

Allan from down under.

You may, as suggested, have 2 problems. Frame and pan arms. From what you're describing I'm betting on the arms being off quite a bit.

After I went to bed last night I thought also that maybe the pan arms are bent like Allan and Scott mention above. It should be checked on a pan bench by someone experienced in straightening them. It's well worth the money in my opinion.

Keith