Hi Quick question...I have the beta 20..sitting beautifully in wooden shims in the engine space - very near perfect aligned to shaft coupler...
then I put the "engine feet" on and lowered again into the space...the rear of the engine with the feet in their lowest setting is still at least 3/4" too high...
And all 4 feet could use about 1.5- 2" further out from the engine to be square on the stringers (19.5 on centre) engine is 16 on centre..
I new the engine was narrower and originally I was going to do some glass work and build in the stringers.... now that I see it and how close it is.. (the mounting hole on the feet are right on the edge of stringer)
I want to unbolt (all 4) of the red metal mounts on the engine and have a fabricator either make new ones or weld the required extensions on the existing mounts so the feet canuse the existing stringers....
(the rears (red metal mounts) have to come up 1.5+ inches and out about 1.5" furthere so the engine can be lower on the feet and align.
(the fronts only need to be extended out about 1.5" to use the existing stingers...)
this seems faster cleaner and more efficient..I would paint the extenstions red and it should be good..any advice...
Any issues with unbolting the 4 red mounts from the engine block to take to a fabricator... (the go into solid block - not any oil filled spaces that I would need to worry about??)
OR
Can these be exchanged with BETA for the size I require...?
( my other option is to "cut down" the rear stringers 1.5 inches and build in the bed at all 4 locations...(but the clearances are already very close (Catalina30) so I am not a fan of making the engine space even smaller...
It should not be a problem to change your engine beds. This has been done many times before and is usually the preferred method.
If you prefer to modify the engine feet, this is acceptable. The engine feet (metal brackets) are easily removed. Remember the following; 1) measure twice and check again before you commit your engine feet and drawings to the fabricator. 2) Note which bolts go where. The ones that thread into the block (front mounts) are a very fine thread whereas the ones that thread into the flywheel housing are a coarse thread. Be very careful to use the correct bolts when you refit the feet. Forcing the incorrect bolts into the block can cause very expensive damage.
-- Edited by Stanley on Monday 7th of June 2010 08:49:19 AM
Thankyou for the advice...will definetly measure twice...ultimately when this project is done...(I have tons of pics) it would be neat to show future people how it was done,,,
