Just a Bad day

[deathegg]

Well, I need to bring this topic back to life.....I mentioned here in October that my supports were rusty but not all the way through. Well, checked today, and guess what? The engine mount is resting on the sway bar. Damn!!

So back to the question I asked; How long will the sway bar hold with part of the weight of the engine and trans on it? The sway bar mounts look good, not rusty besides some surface rust, and of course the other engine mount near the belts is like new.

Opinions? Options?

Thanks!

[rcottle]

There for a second I thought I was looking at my car but realized it wasn't bad enough. I fixed mine when I was putting another engine in.. My daughters boyfriend knew a guy who was a welder by day - he wanted me to find a whole new clip and put in. Needless to say I fixed it myself. I think it turned out pretty good. Tried to make it just like it was originally, hopefully stronger. Cut out all the old rust, fabricated new pieces, welded it in then primed , painted and undercoated has much has I could. Then I sand blasted the trans/engine support, painted and reinstalled. Took 2 weekends wish I would have taken more pictures.

Just so everyone knows will be glad to help anyone that needs help if they are local to me / or with in a reasonable distance.

[rcottle]

Oh - i forgot the sway bar would probably hold for a while just can't imagine it is going to be a good thing.

[elcamino1]

There are three mounts plus the exhaust system holding engine and trans in place, so all the weight of the engine is not resting on the swaybar so i don't think it will break,that being said that's not a reason not to repair right away!

[deathegg]

Also, does the engine have to be removed for this? It sure seems like it does.

[rcottle]

Mine was out bad it much easier to do the job Right. Not sure if it could be done with engine in. Mine was pretty bad - pretty hard getting all the rot cut out.

[deathegg]

yeah, it seems very hard to do with the engine in, and expensive. I have no tools to do it myself either, and can't afford to have the car out of commission very long since I need it for work.
Well, I will check with a welding shop,,, I'm thinking a strap of some kind welded on ? to take some of the load. But I need the car to last me another 6-8 months, and i'm wondering if I should just let it go since the sway bar mounts are good too? Quite a problem.

[Tim]

My first Festiva spent most of its life in Ohio and had the same problem with the core support. It was resting on the swaybar and made a clunk when I went over bumpy road/potholes.

I ended cutting out all the rotten metal and welding in a new section.

It wasn't that hard, but then again I had access to a car lift and all sorts of fancy tools...


-Tim

[deathegg]

Tim,
How long did you drive it like that, with it resting on the sway bar?