MTFCA Forum

My parts chassis came with an accessory belly band (engine support) that I’m going to swap over to my car.

I also have some new wood blocks for the engine pan ears. They were absent from my car when I bought it.

I’m wondering if I need both the blocks and the belly band.

Don I’ve done both, can’t hurt imho.

"Belly Bands" are just an inexpensive insurance policy IF one of the c.c. arms happens to come from together !

Double thumbs up to Steve's comment

Thanks for all the input. I’ll be I installing both.

The wooden blocks take the vibration out of the chassis, less chance of cracking pan arms with them in.

Ford warned about about using the side blocks in Trucks, that the frame twisting broke crankcase arms, and pan twisting from holding the arms to rigid.

So, I have never used them on cars since I was in my teens.

Don't believe it! Take your floor boards out, and install the side blocks and bolts, the way they should be. Take it, still without floor boards, on a little drive over NO more then what you think you would ever encounter on a trip, or drive. At this time, the wood block holds the arm from flexing. All the flex now is about 1/8th, to 1/2 inch from the pan, where most break. The arm now, can not take any of the relief. All so, rev. the engine a little, and watch both sides, to see what the motor and pan do, compared to the arms.

Now, take out the blocks, and bolts, and test it again. You will find the flex is spread out over the whole arm. We use just a 3/8's bolt, stuck, bottom up with a new lock washer, and 3/8's nut, NO key.

Even normal driving, when you crack that throttle, it moves the motor and Pan, around.