Front motor plate
 

Who makes a front motor plate for 65 gto?does it go between block and timing cover? If so I would assume you would have to mill the cover. Thanks Don

Don,
Allpontiacs has a front plate. It covers the entire front.

We've used a two-piece type in the past. The "plates" go from the frame up to the front side of the heads, and does not involve the timing cover. These are usually fabricated by a local fab shop. Not expensive or complex.

Jim

Don,

BOP Engineering and AllPontiac both sell the motor plates. BOP sells the conversion kit for the oil pans, so that you can modify it. IMO, if you're going to put a motor plate in it, you might as well put a belt drive on it too. ;)

-Brian

I really do not recomend a front plate that bolts to the heads -- for a lot of reasons-- I have done a couple different styles -- the best is 1/8th in. Titainum and then mill the cover .125 and fit it between the cover and block -- have done the same with 1/4 aluminum -- just milled the area between the cover and the motor done to about .150 and left the remainder at 1/4".

The AllPontiac.com plate mounts in front of the timing cover, so there's no milling required.

The BOP one also mounts to the timing cover area.

itnop

I have a 65 LeMans and recently installed the All Pontiac motor plate. It bolts to the front of the timing cover with four bolts. It was easy to install all I had to do was weld a tab to the frame on both sides, drill holes and install bolts. It's made out of 1/4 inch steel and has lightening holes. I am happy with the set up. I did have to use a different lower radiatoer hose.

Tim C

KRE
 

Try KRE that's where I got mine at.

Don,

Did you take a look at the front of my motor? I milled 1/4'' off the back of a Wiend timing cover and fabbed a 1/4 aluminum motor plate that goes under the cover. Then I fabbed adapters to mount a (sorry about this) SBC Moroso electric water pump. Works great! And you can pull the heads without messing with the motor plate. I have a couple of Moon covers if you'd like to do something similar. You're always welcome to come by and talk Pontiacs.

Rob...

Rob you have mail

Front motor plate
 

I made my own out of 3/16 plate. It goes between the block and the timing cover. I did not mill/cut anything. I also welded a piece to the plate that goes between the cover and the oil pan. This was done for many reasons, but mainly for strength. It works great and am building another one for my High Port 505.

Heres another ? if you run a front plate, should/do you need to run a midplate?

I use a mid plate and would recommend it. It prevents undue stress on the trans.

I plan on using a midplate .Thanks for the replies.

Do any of you have pics of the plate that bolts to the front of the timing cover on your engines?

Here is a picture of a front motor plate installed by BVR421 from AllPontiac.com: We have many differant designs lengths. We have a A body design that mounts around the stearing box. Notice the Alt. mounted under the plate. Great job BVR421

Here is the AllPontiac one


http://www.pontiacgroup.com/warpedtepeepics/23t/mp.jpg

Had to swap back to Pontiac power when I bought the TA roller and the AP plate made it a piece of cake! A real problem solver. We just welded a tab to each side of the frame and bolted it up.
The alternator just wouldnt fit right mounted in the usual places so I hung it below where it seems to be doing ok.
BTW, I had to swap out the cam and lifters a couple months after that pic was taken and the AP plate was no real extra hassle at all at least in my car as the midplate held the motor up and on reinstall the bolts to the frame went back in with a slight lift (1/32") from a big screwdriver. With a behind the front cover type plate, it wouldnt have to be removed at all to get to the cam but still it was no real concern on my setup.

Robert, WARPed,

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. Did you use anything special for bolts being the mount is away from the block so far or is it really secure against the timing cover?

It very closely fits the front of the timing cover. I used slightly longer (1/4") bolts from the hardware store. Dont worry about the bolt deal. It aint goin nowhere.

Now I'd like to see a pic of the one Bob C mentioned for the stock frame GTO
I may use one on my new 64

A stock frame twist rotates so much under load I think a flexible trans mount would be necessary with a front plate, more so than with stock rubber mounts.

My 64 recently split the block right up the middle using solid stock location mounts. I dont know what caused it yet we havent pulled the 462, it could be the eagle crank let go first.

I dont know if I want to solidly tie the new motor in place or let it move around.