Hey i am doing a S5 TII swap into my 80 SA and I have already gotten the front cover and oil pan from a gsl-se but I don't think I understand how it works. By looking at the fron cover it appears that the engine mounts bolt to that, but when I look in my engine bay I don't see how that would work. The mounts seem to be in a totally differant spot. Can anyone tell me by this picture if I am missing something else to mount this engine?

 

this pic shows how the motor is to be mounted, youll be able to see for yourself if your missing anything
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...x/DSC00916.jpg

 

It seems like you are forgetting that you require the "Engine Mount Bracket" which should be attached to the 12A you pulled out of the car. With that bracket, it mounts the S5 block at the front (thus the gsl-se front cover) instead of mounting them at the side housings. The bracket mounts onto the chassis where you see the crossmember in both pictures, each end bolting down on the engine mounts (the circular things).

Also, you could be experiencing the problem I had with my 79' GS with S5 n/a swap. I tried using the stock 79 engine bracket but it either doesn't leave enough space to fit the engine or it fits but the holes don't line up. Don't even bother trying to fit it because it will only leave you frustrated and tired (if you are doing this yourself). If this is what you are experiencing, take my advice and get an older 1st gen engine bracket and everything will start to fall into place.

 

Can anyone tell me what year engine brackets will work for what I am doing with it?

 

I would like to say any 81-85 model bracket will work.

 

This will make your life a little easier
http://www.mazdatrix.com/mounts.htm

 

Has anyone made one of these brackets themselves before? If so how hard is it to get it right? What all did you use. If anyone has any info please let me know.

 

Im not gonna lie, it wouldnt seem that hard but it does support alot of stress. If you need one i bet the FS section has someone with one for sale for cheap (i.e me)

There is a fair amount of precision needed so that the stress lands on the correct points.

 

.... Goodness.... Just buy one in the "For Sale" section for like $10. There are so many people with stock 81-85 engine mount brackets. Just buy any of those, just not the 79-80's.

 

Buy the one from mazdatrix, its made to put a 13b in a 12a chassis, The SE and non SE crossmembers are different, and you need that mounting bar to make the 13b fit, unless you want to get a SE cross member. The 12a mounting bar won't work correctly in this situation...

 

Maybe you will have to slot your holes.

 

Just slot the holes. 10mm on the bracket, 10mm on the cross-member and it drops straight in. It will take you half an hour max.

 

That works too

 

ok so again just to clarify, what model and year engine mount bracket do I need to make my S5 13b fit into my 80 SA?

 

I guess because people who haven't done the work, yet claim to know how to, tend to have the right answer...

I stated 3 times... get an engine mount bracket from ANY 1st Gen model between the years 1981-1985. DONE DEAL!

 

Thanks druken, I just wanted to be sure which year before I end up buying one.

 

Who are you referring to there?

He will still need to slot the holes if he uses a stock 1st gen bracket.

Whenever you put a 13B in a 12A 1st gen. you need to slot the holes or get the Racing Beat/Mazdatrix bracket. Simple as that.

 

When I get home, I'll try and post the picture of my brackets. Both stock, both are from different year 1st Gens, and only 1 fits.

Could it be that I got lucky with a stock bracket that fits my S5 in my engine bay perfectly?