Random as Truck

lowbudgetjunk · Dec 2, 2015

Here's the most random thing in my automotive happenings list that I have ever experienced. I placed my engine in the buggy with an engine hoist. After getting everything aligned, putting a couple of bolts to the trans and getting the drivers side motor mount secured, I tackled getting the passenger side mount. It was a little less than a 1/4 inch off, so I decided to use a chain binder to pull the last 1/4. While pulling with the binder, I heard a pop, with a small explosion like a rock getting mashed by a very large object. Some particulate matter went in all directions and I jumped back. When I looked closely, there was a light oil dripping only from, what appeared, to be inside the motor mount.

Is it possible for an oil pocket to somehow get trapped inside the motor mount? I have been scratching my head for a few hours and have absolutely no idea wtf happened. I haven't pulled it back out, because it was a complete PITA to get it in. Please someone tell me WTF happened and that this has happened to someone else. I know I have been off a bit lately, but this did happen and I am confused more than normal.

bbone · Dec 2, 2015

your motor took a ****

lowbudgetjunk · Dec 2, 2015

Don't wish that bad JuJu on me. Nothing on the engine was leaking or had remnants of oil. And the motor mount is a 4 or so inch piece that mounts to the engine itself.

creepycrawly · Dec 2, 2015

I hate to say it but check around the mount really well to make sure you didn't crack the block where the motor mount bolts to it.

lowbudgetjunk · Dec 2, 2015

I'll take a look in the am. There is not a ton of oil, just a couple of drops. I pray that I did not **** up the block. Otherwise, the 3.4 is coming out of the Truggy and getting the supercharger bolted up to it. Blah...

sappmann · Dec 2, 2015

what brand engine?

sappmann · Dec 2, 2015

most gm motors the mounts have antifreeze behind them

lowbudgetjunk · Dec 2, 2015

The explosion/oil came from between the frame mount and the motor mount, not the block.

This bolts to the passenger side. It happened between this and the frame.....no idea where the oil came from.

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

lowbudgetjunk · Dec 2, 2015

3.4 Toyota ....maybe a 5ze5-768698638abc.....or something like that

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

Neal3000 · Dec 3, 2015

Could the motor-mount bolts have pulled out of the block?

lowbudgetjunk · Dec 3, 2015

I'll snap a few pictures to examine in a minute. Bolts were still in. The pop/explosion came from the frame side of the mount. Where the circle from where it was previously welded to the frame. I am baffled and may never know what truly happened. Or, I could fire it up and know immediately.

John Galbreath Jr. · Dec 3, 2015

lowbudgetjunk said:
I could fire it up and know immediately.

That what I would do, after torquing the mount bolts on the engine side to be sure not stripped. I cranked solo a while back without an oil sending unit installed. Let's just say a LOT of oil can come out a 1/4" hole.

joho75287 · Dec 3, 2015

lowbudgetjunk said:
The explosion/oil came from between the frame mount and the motor mount, not the block.

This bolts to the passenger side. It happened between this and the frame.....no idea where the oil came from.

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

If it was between that mount and frame, maybe it was a piece of debris trapped between the two (like a pebble or something) and the oil really wasn't involved in the incident, just an innocent bystander minding its own biz, just dripping along??

lowbudgetjunk · Dec 3, 2015

KMCMINN came by as an independent adjudicator. He saw nothing that was of concern either. He also got the mount welded on, in case there is some type of failure. :flipoff1:

I still stand by this as the weirdest thing that has happened to me. And very possible on the pebble, but the oil? It was a clean binder before I put it on and the only place there was any oil was on the binder and inside the motor mount, directly around where the binder was. Nothing touching the engine had any oil on it.