New Mounts are installed!
... with some collateral damage fixed.
Both engine mounts were broken away from their metal bases, and the transmission mount was broken (replaced 2 wks ago). Exhaust was being strained enough to break the muffler at the pipe entrance to the muffler. Exhaust was sitting on the trans-cross-member...
ALL fixed and welded.
Took all of Saturday. It's not that difficult of a job, just time consuming and physically painful if you don't pull the motor. Your hands get very bruised in the confined spaces. I ended up buying Yellowgizmo's old mounts (thanks Billy!) for piece of mind, AND bought new mounts (installed).
Some tips for those attempting this:
Tools needed: 14mm, 12mm wratchet/sockets with extensions. 10mm small box end wrench.
Wheels off.
Jack up/jack stand the front end... high!
All bolts are accessible from inside the wheel wells or under the VX.
Remove each mount bracket from the engine (4 bolts per mount) and 2 bolts each that hold the mount to the chassis (accessible from wheel well or under the hood with a long extension for ratchet).
Driver's side... release and move the wire looms attached by plastic clips to a sheet metal piece. Remove the sheet metal (10mm bolt).
Passenger's side... remove the 2 metal transmission line mounts. Use bungee cord to pull the trans lines out of the way (to the right).
You'll have to pull the mount assy's loose from the engine, then jack the motor up slowly about 3-4 inches.
Once it's lifted, you can maneuver and twist the mount until the inner 2 studs/nuts are accessible. Remove these. The mount assembly separates into multiple pieces.
Note their order.
Drop out the piece with the rubber block.
Swap the new one in.
Maneuver it in.
Bolt it to the assembly.
Rinse...repeat.
Be prepared for bruised and torn-up hands.
The end-result is well worth it. It drives and feels 10's of thousands of miles younger now.![]()