| 4A-GZE installation |
| Notes: · 1) The gearbox LHS GZE mount was chopped and raised approx 10mm to aid clearence for the driveshafts. This was the most difficult bit to do as I had to cut the mount, get it tacked back together by a friend, try it and then modify again. It also had to be narrowed where the main mount to body bolt by about 5mm to fit the AE82 body mount. · 2) GZE RHS engine mount also needed narrowing by approx 5mm to fit. |
| · Due to the different gearbox casings between the C51 I had and the E52, I found that the mounts were different. When I tryed the fit using all of the GZE mounting bits the gearbox seemed to sit too low. I think you can use an AE82 mount but I think it's only got 2 bolt holes and looks a LOT weaker than the GZE mounts. I think I used the AE82 set untill the modded GZE mount was finished. Unfortunately this was done back in 1999 in NZ and now I'm in the UK without all those old bit's (the GZE engine first went in 1994!). As for why: again the driveshaft problem. With the engine sitting low the rear mount wants to rotate the engine bringing the driveshaft CV's in contact with the body. Now maybe if you get a AW11 gearbox mount it will match the AE82 body mount and be stronger for carrying the E series gearbox?? · For the front mount I used the AE82 gearbox bracket and the AE92 crossmember mount but again bolting through the front crossmember hole into the rear mount hole. Not very good at all! only using the one bolt too. This is what I should sort out properly. · I've sourced a AE92 center mount and I'm going to see if there's enough clearance to get it fitted onto the AE82 crossmember. This will require drilling new holes of course to get the nuts/bolts through the crossmember. Seeing as I've now got a welder I'll also make a start on seam welding and strengthening probably starting with the crossmember! This is because the car will now be doing duty at sprints, track days and tarmac rallys. |
| · 3) For the rear gearbox mount (closest to dash): the original AE82 mount was moved towards the dash by about 4cm so the rear crossmember bolt hole now lines up with the front of the rubber mount hole. You now need to drill the crossmember to make a new hole for the rear bolt to the rubber mount. Note this gets the mount very close to your steering rack. Pic shows the two main chassis mounting bolts under which is the Aluminium spacer (can't be seen). Also the new opening to access the rear mount bolt. |
| · 5) The front gearbox mount was sorted by mixing mounting hardware and I still haven't found a perfect solution but it's been OK so far. · 6) I'm also getting an AE92 center mount which I'll be trying to fit to my AE82 as extra support. |
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| · 4) To get a good fit I also got a 12mm thick block of Aluminium and used this as a spacer for the rear of the crossmember where it mounts under the car. This allowed the engine to rotate anticlockwise (when looking at the engine belt side). This rotation moves the drive shafts away from the body where they were otherwise just touching - well the CV boots anyway, not good!! |
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