front engine mount on 55 Ford ?

S

steve fritz

Well-known member
Did Ford use a front engine motor mount on the 1955 car or was that first started in 1956 ? On the 272 V8 engine.
Thanks!
Steve
 
Does it look like these? They may have been introduced in 'full-sized' cars on the Y-block engine in '54 (239 and up ?) but I don't really know for sure.
 

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For the sedans, it was called a "Steady Rest". Started in 54. I think they discontinued it for 56 model year (may have been for the 57 model year)


The Birds used a similar thing, but it was the actual engine mount and had a different configuration. The "steady Rest" was on the sides of the engine
 
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paul2748 said:
. . .The Birds used a similar thing, but it was the actual engine mount and had a different configuration. ...
Click to expand...
photo 1: a '55/'57 T-Bird style front mount
photos 2 & 3: a couple others, used in various trucks
 

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Somewhere along the line Ford apparently quit using the front “steady rest” on the cars. Seems a lot of cars had them left off over the years, and it appears if the main side mounts are good, it’s not a problem. I’ve heard a variety of opinions why they were there, but don’t know which if any is correct.

On a truck, it’s the only thing holding the engine up, no choice. Same with the ears on the bellhousing. On a bird you have to have the front mount, and you really need the side mounted steady rest. My first bird was missing them, and the engine moved a whole bunch under load without them.
 
- ENGINE STEADY REST -

1954 - 1956


398723


This was a stabilizer, mostly for ride-quality as it tied engine movement into the frame. It is not an engine support in any way.

The BIRD and LT FRT ENGINE MOUNT is a completely different design and purpose.
 

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This was because the first iteration of the 239 (and maybe the second) did not have the harmonic ring which the 272's and up had. When I went to a 312 in my 54 Ford, I found that out and had to get a 55/56 unit (I decided to include the steady rest even though others said it wasn't needed)



54vicky said:
the 239 car one will not work on later engines different size
Click to expand...
 
The '54 thru '56 full sized cars all had a diamond pattern power-plant support system consisting of: front steady rest, two side engine mounts and a transmission rear extension housing mount. I have known people who left their front steady rest off, and went to remove the transmission, leaving only the two side engine mounts to support the engine.
One fellow experienced a torn radiator hose outlet and another guy complained that his side mounts cracked as the engine tilted too much (but his radiator was not installed at the time).
I think that the factory designs things the way they do for a reason.
 
On my 56 Wagon, stock engine was a 292 4 barrel carb. Bought the car with a 302 and I removed the metal/rubber mount off the front xmember. Rectangle Mount Was pointing towards the motor. There was a support for the original motor.
 
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