How much shim are you running under your motor?

[LINUS]

I see a ton of variation from swap to swap, so I thought I'd make a thread to address this - just to get an idea of what everyone is running.

If you aren't running e36 motor mount arms & the green motor mounts that seem to be the standard, state what you are using - just to keep this a true comparison of the shim, nothing else.

My motor isn't in yet, and I'm really hoping I can avoid shimming if possible.

[Van Westervelt]

I am using the "ebay special" headers, and no shims, with e36 arms and green mounts.

[gazellebeigem3]

Im using a 1/4 inch with obd2 manifolds and midpipes. (w/standard green mounts and e36 arms)

[Van Westervelt]

Oh yeah, no rubbage. :)

[asubimmer]

shims are bad, the motor wasn't designed to be at an angle like that. I am running the IE urethanes w/ obdII's w/ the dent mod. They are dual wall so its not a prob ;)

[skatebline]

Ok so what i understand is that if someone uses the stock obd1 manifolds and the stock arms and mounts......the mani's will hit on the cross member or can it still work?

[golde30]

you cant use the stock mounts. this isnt a FAQ thread... when ppl say standard green mount, they are referring to an e28 535i or m5 motor mount.

i am running Ebay Headers, e36 arms, and Gray E28 motor mounts(same shape as the greens, but grey?). engine is going in this weekend, i will update if i have to use shims.

[gazellebeigem3]

shims are bad, the motor wasn't designed to be at an angle like that. I am running the IE urethanes w/ obdII's w/ the dent mod. They are dual wall so its not a prob ;)

It wasnt designed to be put in an e30 either!!!!

[Van Westervelt]

Shouldnt be at an angle, if you shim one side, you damn well better shim the other side too.

[asubimmer]

what its running in has nothing to do w/ how the fluids run through it ;)

[Van Westervelt]

It wasnt designed to be put in an e30 either!!!!

I was designed to be in an e30 tho... :p

[matt]

Shouldnt be at an angle, if you shim one side, you damn well better shim the other side too.

I have 3 M50 headbolt washers under each side.

[surebimmer]

I'm running 3/16" shim with stock e36 arms with green motor mounts. I had only shim'ed the exhaust side but then the intake manifold was to close to the brake booster. So I shimmed the driver side as well.

These are 2" steel stock 3/16 inch thick 2"x2.5". This seems like a better idea then just using washers under the motor mount to space the mount up. This way the motor mount is still sitting on a flat surface load is distributed over the whole flat surface of the mount, not just on the area of the washers.

Also if you run these shims it would seem to me that it would act as a Front Subframe Reinforcement Kit like what Turner sells. I didn't weld the plates/shims in place. Now there is now lots more metal in the motor mount area.

[1990m3]

cars are wierd...first time I dropped the motor in no shims with green mounts and I had no problems with clearance anywhere and a ton of room near the brake booster. Had to pull the motor back out and when I re-installed in the SAME car the second time if was rubbing on the booster and I had to shave the intake manifold and I shimmed the motor a 1/8" or so for good measure. I think it has to do with how the motor mounts are twisted when the motor goes in, I still want to take the weight off them and try to rotate them around a little bit.

[Mr.SWISS]

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