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By oldcarmark - 7 Years Ago
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I pulled the Motor and Transmission this Morning. I would like to take the Steady Rest off and leave it off when I re-install. I can see 2 Bolts coming through the Oil Pan that hold the Rest through the Bottom. Are those Bolts threaded into Block and can't be removed without taking off the Damper? If I have to take the Damper off I have a Puller but not One to re-install it. Hoping to avoid taking it off if possible.I pulled the Engine and Fordomatic together. Took my Buddy and I about an Hour. I had already done all the Prep Work. First Time I have used one of those Levelers and I will tell You it makes the Job much easier. Didn't scratch or damage anything taking it out. Biggest problem was the Steady Rest making the Package just long enough to be difficult. Being a Convertible there is the "X" Crossmember that makes it a little Tighter getting both out together as One Unit. .What is the Thread Size for Damper Bolt if I have to find an Installation Tool?
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By Lou - 7 Years Ago
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Do not leave the study rest off when you reinstall the engine, it is there for a reason. that reason is to hold the engine in place if you brake a motor mount, or make a sudden stop. I found out its use the hard way.
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By oldcarmark - 7 Years Ago
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OK I will keep that in Mind. I still need to get it off to clean up and repaint Engine. Do I have to take off the Damper to get to it?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 7 Years Ago
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Yes, the damper has to come off. The crankshaft bolt is 9/16-18,
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By iowa fords - 7 Years Ago
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I am not sure why Ford used the steady rest, Mercury never had one.
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By oldcarmark - 7 Years Ago
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Thanks John
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By oldcarmark - 7 Years Ago
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Not sure either. Only on 55-56 Fords and Thunderbird. It was discontinued after 1956. Not necessary and saved a few $ on each Unit built.
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By DryLakesRacer - 7 Years Ago
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I will be replacing my damper soon as the ring has moved and I don't trust it any more. Damper Dudes have my replacement right now. I have had the two bolts off from the bottom since I removed the pan in the car. I too am considering leaving the steady rest off. I can understand the possibility of a side motor mount failure but with the rear trans mount holding forward movement would be hard to do and a broken side mount would definately hit the fan shroud I have.
I too would like to hear more about removing it. I'm not familiar with Mercurys; did they have different side and trans mounts? Thanks
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By oldcarmark - 7 Years Ago
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As part of my re and re I am replacing both Motor Mounts as they are badly deteriorated as well as the Transmission Mount. I removed the Steady Rest on the previous 56 10 Years ago when I did the Engine over. As I mentioned Ford discontinued these after 1956 even though the Engine Mounts remained the same for several Years afterwards.
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By KULTULZ - 7 Years Ago
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The guys that rebuild dampers also do motor mounts.
An option over off-shore replacement parts.
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By Florida_Phil - 7 Years Ago
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I recently rebuilt the engine in my 1955 TBird. I installed the engine and transmission as a unit. I left the steady rests off so I could see what effect they have on the stability of the drive train. Without the steady rests, I could rock the engine left and right. There is nothing supporting the drive train other than the front engine mount and the transmission mount. You definitely need these in an early TBird. I wasn't aware a passenger car had steady rests. I learned something.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 7 Years Ago
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Phil, the passenger and Bird mounts are completely different. On passenger cars, they used side mounts on the engine. The steady rest as discussed on this thread is on the front of the engine, similar to the Bird front mount. I connects to a bracket on the front crossmember. There has been quite a bit of discussion as to its purpose, I once read it was to take out the "freeway hop:", a resonance that comes from the tar strips between the concrete pads on the highway. The engine mass was supposed to dampen the pulses. As noted above, it was discontinued in '57, probably because the '57 frame was completely redesigned.
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By 2721955meteor - 7 Years Ago
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get rid of the front steady rest(the tbird is different as it uses a truck style front mount with a steady rest where the car motor mounts attach. i have had greaf with car motor mounts,the bonding not always good. the steady rest won't help as it is just bent tin possibly there is some help on the forum re good quality mounts
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By Florida_Phil - 7 Years Ago
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I had a 1956 Ford Victoria back in the sixties and I don't remember the steady rests. It didn't have it's original engine, so I assume they had been removed? All the other Fords I have had until now were 1957 or newer. This TBird is my first 1955 and my only small bird. Most of my other full size Fords had big blocks.
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By oldcarmark - 7 Years Ago
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A lot of them were never re-installed if the Motor was pulled. I just got mine off this AM .Damper came off real easy.
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By Lou - 7 Years Ago
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The way I look it it, putting the steady rest in place is cheap insurance against having to buy a new radiator.
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By paul2748 - 7 Years Ago
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I agree with Lou. When I put the 312 in my 54 Ford, I reinstalled the steady rest as it's cheap insurance (actually, the 54 steady rest wouldn't work with the 312 balancer so I got a 55/56 unit)
Lou (11/8/2018)
The way I look it it, putting the steady rest in place is cheap insurance against having to buy a new radiator.
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