Just getting started attempting to fit my mystery boxett (#2) Excelsior triple engine to its correct engine / trans and differential carrying cradle (subframe).
Ran into this apparent paradox, likely the first of many, not covered by the manuals with extensive hand written notes in it that came with the car.
The engine / trans unit does not readily fit into its proper cradle. This is shown in the photo showing the whole power train tipped onto its face, and the cradle poised vertically, but like an inflexible shoe trying to be squeezed onto an over sized foot, just not possible without unlasing a tongue of sorts.
You can see part of the problem in the close up of the rear mount at the top. It shows a floating stud that readily slides sideways within the confines of its cross drilled home at the back of the trans case. It is shown slid fully to left register in the first pic, and fully to the right in the second pic.
However unless the clutch housing were to be removed, it cannot slip completely out of this confining arrangement, and therefore blocks the proper fitting of the cradle's side plate holes in alignment with its self.
I'd take off the clutch housing if I knew that this was necessary, but do not wish to open another potential Pandora's box if not.
I did something similar on my Petite's power train once, and got promptly rewarded by an oil bath.
The whole problem could have been easily avoided if the creators had seen fit to simply tap threads into the very amply endowed thick walls of this studs housing, thus allowing short non captive bolts to be fitted from both ends. So I hope that there is some redeeming mechanical value to this otherwise needlessly painful arrangement.
In addition, I cannot even be sure if the front of the engine will then be able to swing onto it's triple rabbit ear flanges when I get past this impasse, as the clearances look almost impossibly too close from this point of the time line. Be not deceived, despite the front engine cradle's mounts looking to be very close to the hole in the engine casting bottom of overall picture) - this hole in the casting is destined to fit in the cross drilled hole in its cradle's side plate a few inches away.
Anyone who has removed either the Excelsior 328, or 492 has certainly had to discover the answer to this obvious apparent paradox, and will hopefully chime in right away.
I'm amazed that I saw no mention of it in my manual.
BTW - what's with the nuts retaining the cradle mounts sheet metal flooring pieces to the side plates?
Their bolts have a perfect 7/16" dimensioned hex head, but their nylock nuts are just the tiniest too large to be squeezed into a 7/16" wrench or socket, and any other size wrench, be it imperial or metric is too loose, or won't fit on at all. I ran into a similar problem with apparent 5/16" nuts / bolts not fitting into wrenches previously in the fuel system.
