The easiest,cleanest motor tie down ever

[sy2185]

Find a NAPA auto parts store and get PN 819-5738 Ford tailgate support cable. I cant find it on their website- http://www.napaonline.com
but all you need to know is it's 17 1/4" from end to end.
Remove the pass. side 15mm alternator bolt(the lower one it hinges on) and put it through the cable's eyelet with a washer between the bolt head and the cable eye. Leave it loose enough to move.
Jack up the truck and run the cable straight down from the alt. to the outside of the frame rail in front of the upper control arm. An inch or so infront of the forward most control arm mount you'll see a brake line fitting bolted to the frame. This is where the hard brake line mates with the soft lines to the caliper and it also holds the abs sensor wire. Remove the bolt and twist the cable end 1/4 turn to line up the holes. Replace the bolt, torque to spec up top and you're done! This cable is taut but not to tight and most imporatantly there's no holes to drill in the frame. If you've had or have a chain now you know the tension is critical(too tight feels like solid motor mounts and too loose doesn't get tight under throttle). Not with the cable. It's got the slightest bit of strech so it can be tight but not transmit the vibration to the frame.
At the track Sat. this dropped my 1/8mile time by.197 and my 60' times by over a tenth. For well under $15 sounds like a deal to me. No problems with full throttle launches, but I suppose with a longer bot on the bottom and you could run two if needed. Plus, no more motor mount worries. I've got pics if anyone wants to see/post them.
Jeremy

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: sy2185 on 2002-04-02 07:13 ]</font>

 

[Daron]

Had this on my Sy for a while. I secured the cable snug, and now it has stretched some. I am considering running two cables next time.. Or just get me some mounts...

 

[Eluding]

THANKS!!! Going to do it this weekend. Just the info I needed. Sounds like a clean set-up.

 

[Bundaho]

I would love to see pics. I might do this this weekend also.

 

[smeagol]

Word of warning, some trucks with really loose motor mounts have the motor moved around already, so this length may or may not work. Syclone here with bad motor mounts had the fan hit the shroud and tear up the place.

 

[Bundaho]

Thanks for the warning. How does one check out the motormounts. What would i be looking for.

 

[Hu Ryde]

Pics of a similar install done about 10 months ago, still holding well!

http://www.syty.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=11690&forum=21&6

If you do it this way you don't need to worry about the cable length. Adjust the hole to where it is needed.

_________________
Jesse A. MOFO
13.3 @99.41mph 1.7 60'

The venture into tranny land was fun but now over, at a fair price.
-Bottles are for babies, real men get blown!-

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Hu Ryde on 2002-04-02 16:48 ]</font>

 

[mrweelr]

I did this using a tailgate cable I bought at Kragen in the HELP section. First off, my motor mounts are still good - that's why I've tried so many different tie-down options. Anyway, I drilled a new hole in the frame near the bolt that holds the brake line in place and the cable was nice and tight. Well, I've had it in there for a few weeks and it has loosened up considerably - to the point where I don't think it's helping much anymore. Like Daron, I'm thinking about trying it with two cables or finding a stronger cable that won't stretch. After trying 5 different tie-down setups, I'm thinking about just getting the super mounts from McCoy and spending a weekend swapping them out. It looks impossible to do with the motor installed though :sad:

_________________
Jeremy
GMC Syclone #434
Yamaha R1 #1525
http://geocities.com/jdonavich.geo

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: mrweelr on 2002-04-02 17:07 ]</font>

 

[sy2185]

Yeah, NOT a cure for broken mounts.
HuRyde-I knew I'd seen it before, I just wanted to have the parts first before I jacked up the SY and wanted to use an existing bolt, but I didn't remember where I saw it.
Jeremy- I've heard you can do it w/ motor still in, but you gotta loosen all cab mounts/cables/ wires mot long enough and lift the cab up a few inches for clearance. Damn it!Did your cable resemble mine? I've been told you can have these eyelet-type cables made to order at many boat stores, but I don't know their name or use.Off-road race shops carry limiting straps for shocks/coil springs. That maybe what you're looking for.
Here's a link to my msn photo page.
http://god damn doesn't work.com/stupidassmicrosoft.html
Can anyone recommend a web hosting company just so I can link the files, pics that's not microsoft? what a pain in the ass! I don't mind spending a few bucks every whenever.
J

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: sy2185 on 2002-04-03 06:16 ]</font>

 

[mrweelr]

2185 - my setup looks just like HuRyde's. My buddy told me about a place here in San Jose that can fabricate cables with eyelets to your specs. I'm thinking of pursuing that further and having them fabricate a cable with a thicker gauge and stronger eyelets. These off-the-shelf cables don't seem strong enough.

 

[Hu Ryde]

I got my cable off of a comercial truck at the junk yard. Mine hasn't budged. Good luck!

 

[sy2185]

weelr-I got 2 good leads as well. After testing my SMC kit today(SWEET!), I saw it was stretched noticably. Since it's not gonna shrink, I'm still looking too. I can hook you up w/whoever I find has it or send you one. Be back tommorrow.
J

 

[SY732]

On 2002-04-02 17:03, mrweelr wrote:
I did this using a tailgate cable I bought at Kragen in the HELP section. First off, my motor mounts are still good - that's why I've tried so many different tie-down options. Anyway, I drilled a new hole in the frame near the bolt that holds the brake line in place and the cable was nice and tight. Well, I've had it in there for a few weeks and it has loosened up considerably - to the point where I don't think it's helping much anymore. Like Daron, I'm thinking about trying it with two cables or finding a stronger cable that won't stretch. After trying 5 different tie-down setups, I'm thinking about just getting the super mounts from McCoy and spending a weekend swapping them out. It looks impossible to do with the motor installed though :sad:

_________________
Jeremy
GMC Syclone #434
Yamaha R1 #1525
http://geocities.com/jdonavich.geo

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: mrweelr on 2002-04-02 17:07 ]</font>

http://www.nwstp.com under products page, and motor mounts.

 

[sy2185]

Bill Nesbitt at Hardcore Hot Rods and Race Cars here in SD is making me one for $20. I have a pic of a similar design if you guys want to see it. He says he's run the same style as low as 9 seconds and the problem w/the tailgate cable is not the cable, it's the ends. He uses a little tiny dia. cable instead of the big tailgate one but what makes it work is the high quality of the steel rope and that he loops the ends and crimps it back on itself. Because of the AWD he might use dual straps. I'm gonna pick it up tomorrow. He says if it stretches (good to like 1500lbs) he'll order some bigger and we can go from there. Oh yeah, he'll use coated cable too.

Hardcore Hot Rods and Race Cars
4158 Poplar st.
San Diego, CA 92105
619-584-6465

Jeremy

 

[ParTyBoy]

On 2002-04-03 18:20, sy2185 wrote:
Bill Nesbitt at Hardcore Hot Rods and Race Cars here in SD is making me one for $20. I have a pic of a similar design if you guys want to see it. He says he's run the same style as low as 9 seconds and the problem w/the tailgate cable is not the cable, it's the ends. He uses a little tiny dia. cable instead of the big tailgate one but what makes it work is the high quality of the steel rope and that he loops the ends and crimps it back on itself. Because of the AWD he might use dual straps. I'm gonna pick it up tomorrow. He says if it stretches (good to like 1500lbs) he'll order some bigger and we can go from there. Oh yeah, he'll use coated cable too.

Hardcore Hot Rods and Race Cars
4158 Poplar st.
San Diego, CA 92105
619-584-6465

Jeremy

Hey Jeremy... just wondering what ever became of that shop you spoke of.. the one with all the NOS parts... intakes and such..? You have AIM or ICQ?? let me know what your contact name is... thanks

 

[Mephisto]

On 2002-04-03 18:20, sy2185 wrote:
Bill Nesbitt at Hardcore Hot Rods and Race Cars here in SD is making me one for $20. I have a pic of a similar design if you guys want to see it. He says he's run the same style as low as 9 seconds and the problem w/the tailgate cable is not the cable, it's the ends. He uses a little tiny dia. cable instead of the big tailgate one but what makes it work is the high quality of the steel rope and that he loops the ends and crimps it back on itself. Because of the AWD he might use dual straps. I'm gonna pick it up tomorrow. He says if it stretches (good to like 1500lbs) he'll order some bigger and we can go from there. Oh yeah, he'll use coated cable too.

Hardcore Hot Rods and Race Cars
4158 Poplar st.
San Diego, CA 92105
619-584-6465

Jeremy

jeremy! if those end up working out let me know, ill send you some cash to get me one! also email me your address so i can send you the sy/ty cd ya let me borrow. i dunno when ill be able to make it to SD, since i have to work weekends at my new job :sad: i miss those 1/8th races down there haha.

 

[Carnut16]

What exactly do the engine tie downs do? I'm guessing they keep the engine from moving during hard launches?

 

[TheObiJuan]

any photos???

 

[sy2185]

You all got pics of the strap- what do you think? Looks damn fine to me. He used some bigger cable, though it was not coated.
ParTyBoy-Dude's a total ass. I prefer people not to talk sh*t because I take what people tell me to be the truth. I'll call my friend (the guy who's the ass) on the way to work today.
More to come.
Jeremy
Neal- I'll send it to you tonight. Go to http://www.racelegal.com there's Friday races coming up.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: sy2185 on 2002-04-04 17:42 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: sy2185 on 2002-04-04 23:22 ]</font>

 

[Typhoon #1133]

i did this last week to my Ty, the cable was very tight. now when i checked it, I cam move the cable about 1 inch to the side. it is very loose. did i get a bad cable or what? any help here?


Keith