Bent or Offset Mis-aligned Engine mounts on Early Cars. What Gives?

[zKars]

Ok, working on another early Z today and find the worst case of crooked engine mount I’ve ever seen.

Mostly I want to know if any one else has noticed this and actually found the reason. I’ve seen it on several cars, all “early”. 70-71.

Yes I know they vastly strengthened the later ones, maybe starting in 74 with bracing across or between the two side pieces, so it must have been noticed by Nissan. 

Feels like its in the time line of the early cars that had the diffs mounted too far forward, I suppose with age, the bushings in the diff and trans all get weak and the engine tends to move forward. 

But this one is bad. Mind you the rust on this one is pretty advanced. The floors and trans tunnel might not be the best supporting cast in this situation.

 

Edited November 6, 2021 by zKars

[240dkw]

I too had to straighten the ones on my car, not as bad as that but definitely bent.

[Namerow]

I wonder if Nissan had some build tolerance issues with the earlier cars' structures and used this strategy as a cheap-and-dirty way to get all three engine/trans mounts points to line up with the structure after the engine/trans was put in position (i.e. secure the transmission mount first, then bend the engine mounts to line up)?

Edited November 6, 2021 by Namerow

[grannyknot]

It also kinda looks like the rubber mount collapsed and the weight of the engine bent the mounting bracket as it settled down.