*This ends up as a pretty hardcore mod* (not for difficulty, but for "comfort" and "driveability")

I got tired of feeling all the play in the engine and drivetrain imparted via the mushy OEM rubber engine mounts and tranny mount. So, I decided to do something about it... The amount of visible movement was not only unsettling, but I have to wonder just how much energy was being lost and the feeling of the driveline lash was just driving me NUTS.

Enter Ireland Engineering. A few clicks later and their upper and lower engine mount inserts and tranny mount inserts were on the way... $75 is freakin' cheap for all that goodness.

Intel:

The upper and lower engine mount inserts look similar but are very, very different. As typical with Ireland parts, there were no instructions so I pulled both mounts to check. The upper ones are the smaller diameter set - the lower ones are the larger set. The lower ones also have thinner winged insert tabs. The tranny mount is also two different sized pieces - via trial-and-error, I discovered the bigger diameter insert goes in the rearward facing side of the tranny mount and the smaller goes in the front.

Install:

Upper Engine Mount Inserts - very straightforward! Place a jack under the engine's oil pan. Remove the single 10mm bolt from the fuel line bracket and set it to the side. Remove the bolts from the upper engine mount bracket - 2, 16mm bolts and set aside. Slip the inserts into the bushing. Fight with the bracket to get it to fit back over the inserts. Once I had installed them and slid the bracket back over the assembly, I noticed that the upper insert could have greatly benefitted by a BAW (big a** washer), so I slid one in and torqued it back down to spec...

Lower Engine Mount Inserts - pretty easy! The jack should still be under the engine oil pan. Remove the two 16mm bolts from the lower engine mount. It's right next to the power steering fan and kinda looks like a dog-bone. Then, remove the 4, 10mm bolts from the engine mount bracket (attached to the engine oil pan). One of the upper ones is a PITA. Anyhoo, pull the whole shebang out and slip the inserts into the assembly. Slide the dogbone back into place and slide the bolt back in on the subframe side and snug it. Slide the engine-side bracket into place, re-install the 4, 10mm bolts, and then the 16mm bolt. Torque everything to spec.

Tranny Mount Insert - PITA!!! The jack should now be re-positioned on the tranny side. On the Cooper, you have to pull the ECU, battery, battery box and intake. On an MCS, I'm certain you'd have to pull the intake and probably more... Once all that's out of the way, remove the 16mm tranny mount bolt and then the 3, 16mm bolts holding the tranny bracket on the car. Pull the wonky looking winged rubber things out and toss aside. Pull the metal insert out of the slot in the bottom of the rubber tranny mount bushing. Now, the bigger tranny mount piece goes on the back side (towards rear of the car) and the smaller piece goes in front. Slide 'em in. Force the tranny mount bracket back over the new, FAT bushing combo. It's a PITA. Slide the 16mm bolt back in and prepare to fight with the alignment of the bolt. Once you spend an hour fighting with it and FINALLY get it to start in the captured nut, re-install the other 3, 16mm bolts on the bracket. Torque everything to spec. Re-install the battery box and/or all other assorted crap.

Impressions:

Fire it up... First thing you notice at idle is the addtional vibration in the steering wheel and NVH in the cabin. "Hrm," I said to myself. Rev it while peering through the space between the bonnet and cowl - "WOW, NO MOVEMENT NOW!" I exclaimed, as my hands vibrate on the steering wheel. Wierd, everything seems very linear and analog now. I check it a few more times and then shut it down.

First drive... There is NO, and I mean NO driveline lash anymore. It's very, very linear feeling. There's no odd jerking when you let off the throttle and all the power's being put down immediately. BUT, (and this is a VERY BIG BUT!), do NOT do this mod if you like a smooth, vibration free car. Certainly, solid urethane engine and tranny mounts would be worse - but this is pretty noticeable. There's a LOT more vibration in the steering wheel and NVH in the cab at idle. Off idle, it's not very noticeable, however.

FWIW, my wife likes idle.

In any event, I'm stoked. It's exactly what I was looking for...

I'll snap some pics tomorrow - tonight, I'm getting drunk.

 

Your results seem very similar to what I experience with the pink engine damper from Japan. I gave my impressions here. Instead of a bit of hesitation followed by a lurch every time I press on the accelerator, there is a nice linear response. The vibration issue seems to be more severe for you. In my case, it can be different every time I come to a stop. One time I might hardly notice any extra vibration or noise, another time it might be clearly annoying.

 

Nice write-up! Once sober, please do snap and share some photos. Thanks again for taking the time...

 

Nice write-up

If you could post some pics of all the mounts that would be awesome

 

And now... the pics...

Upper mount, showing the BIG A** washer I installed... I felt that the top side of the engine mount bracket was either going to cut into the insert or not provide enough of a flat surface to hold it securely in place. The bottom has more material...



View of the upper mount from the side:



Lower engine mount - not real exciting:



4 bolts holding the lower engine mount bracket to the oil pan:



Tranny mount - okay, so this one is lame, but I wasn't ABOUT to pull the battery, battery box, ECU and intake again just to snap a pic....

 

 

Great write up! Thanks to you and DMH selling me a set cheap (from a test car) I installed mine last night. I did this at the same time as my 15% pulley since I had to remove most of the same bolts anyway. I notice the same vibrations as you which are only bad when at idle and first taking off. Car is much more solid now.

True if you want a smooth vibration free car; these are not for you. But, if you want to eliminate torque steer, engine jerking and movement...go for it. Not to bad to install. Thanks again!

Frodo

 

So how does this mod compare with the Engine Dampers being sold elsewhere on NAM? ( In this thread....https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...engine+dampers ) It seems like both mods are trying to achieve the same result but in a different way. Has anyone tried both? Thanks for the great post scobib!

 

BD,
My personal opinion is the other damper may be easier to install and looks a lot better. I don't know what the vibration comparison is like between the two; all I can say is there is more vibration right when you start the car and take off, and vibration in the steering wheel at idle. Other than that is is not too bad. My BFG tires are a lot louder :( . Like I said the torque steer and engine movement is gone and that was the most important issues for me. The other cool factor is I can hear/feel the motor more. Personally I like the fact that my motor is solid at all the motor mounts and not just at one point. There may be other bushings that don't have as much vibrations and the others have more colors if that is important.

I will be adding a true vibration damper by Fisher +2% to see if it will take care of some of the vibrations. (I need to replace mine anyway). I will post when I do. Good luck

Frodo