Same question

I have the same question.
My 70 351C with Shaker sits 1/4 to 3/8 towards the passenger side.
Mark

 

Variations in motor mounts can cause this. And you cannot assume that the engine compartment is symmetrical. Some were built out of kilter.

 

Yes, the engine should be centered.

 

Probably not, I have an original '70 Mach I and a '65 fastback with the original mounts in both of them, and the engines both sit 3/8" to 1/2" to the passenger side of the car. On other Mustangs, I slot the engine mounts to move the engine over to the right to get clearance between the headers/exhaust, and the steering box. Your car will be fine as the engine does not have to be centered.

 

I'm not sure what Ford's spec was on the early Mustangs but it's not at all uncommon for automakers to offset the engine a bit, sometimes for clearance to certain components like steering shafts and etc, it also usually helps out vehicle balance in the most common condition (driver only.)

 

In my Mach 1 the engine is a little towards the passenger side. It hasn't been an issue.

 

never paid attention to the mustangs even though i will look when i put the engine back but i noticed the one in the 66 wagon is more towards the passenger side and at a slight anlge>looking under the hood the front of engine is at about the 5 o'clock postion and the back of the engine at about 11 o'clock and the pinion is offset 1.75" more toward the passenger side.

 

Mine is slightly to the right side.

 

I recall reading some time ago of engines being purposely installed slightly offset, so the universal bearings would rotate and not stay in one position. Don't know if this is true, and do not recall the source of this info.

 

Below is link I had read sometime in the past relating to offsetting engine. So don't throw those muffler bearings out yet!



DRIVE LINE PHASING

 

If the engine were put in straight the muffler bearings wear quicker.

 

Yes, and you would need to change the horn fluid more often.

 

I've been able to "adjust" the engine position a bit by loosening, NOT removing, the mounting bolts for the block mounts and the frame mounts as well as the intermediate bolt (or nut), prying the engine (It helps to use a cherry picker or hydrualic jack) into position and then re-tightening all the bolts. There is enough slop between them all to move the engine quite a ways actually.

 

I recall touring the Tickford/Prodrive/FPV facility in Australia a few years ago ('02?) when they were importing SN95 Cobras and converting them to RHD. They noted that the US LHD cars had the engine offset to the right - quite a bit, I want to say 40mm/1.5in - and that as part of the conversion they had to move the engine back to the center.

They did a LOT of work on those cars, and I don't think they sold more than a handful. Two-door cars were always a tough sell in Australia, a small niche market and not much more.

 

They did a LOT of work on those cars, and I don't think they sold more than a handful. Two-door cars were always a tough sell in Australia, a small niche market and not much more.

IIRC, the tax on 2-door cars is such that even in the early 60's, stock cars races were 4-door sedans.

Couple that with price of a Cobra, plus RHD conversion, and you've got a pretty small market. 2-door cars are not unknown there, though.

 

Damn! I want an Australian Falcon bad! I love the XA, XB, XC series. Looks like a 70 Mustang and a 70 Torino had a kid.

 

what about a bucket of steam & some relative bearing grease??

 

Another Navy vet.

 

I thought the engine was offset to balance the weight side to side since cars are most often driven with only a driver and no passenger.

 

Couldn't find horn fluid, but this may also be of help....
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=6