I've read a couple of recent posts that say using the stock nose-mounting method for a Type 091 trans is a no-no and will shorten the life. Apparently mid-mounting is better, but so far I can't find out why.

I bought my 091 from Rancho and it came setup for nose-mounting. If I changed to mid-mount I assume the studs at that joint in the case would have to be swapped for longer ones, not a big issue I just don't want to go to the effort if it doesn't really buy me anything. Also, my Chenowth Explorer came tabbed for an 091 and is setup for nose-mounting, not provision for a mid-mount.

I would appreciate anyone who can shed some light on this to weigh in..........

my cheno has a nose mount with no problems. If there was better wouldnt they do it ? they make a good frame and are not newbies

My Cheno had a mid mount... rancho also built mine and put the longer hardened studs in during the build. The reason people say cone mounting is a no-no is because during a hard landing the stress on the cone may be too much and break the studs holding it together. Not usually an issue for sand cars, more for DS & race cars.

I posted pics on another thread about the mid mount/nose cone mount on my old car. Here is what I learned.

The sand cars are designed with some flex in the frame, depending on the triangulation of the motor cage and mounting, you could get some flex there, if that flex transfers onto the tranny at all, something has to absorb the flex. This is where the problem arose... My 091 was mounted on the bell housing at 4 points and on the nose cone using the supplied studs. The mounts were 3/8 plate and they worked well... until we kept breaking nose cones. We went through 6 cracked cones and 4 of those shifted the hockey stick enough to disengage a gear and break that gear. In talking with the guys at Transworks, they said to use the intermidiate housing mount so the flex is absorbed back into the chassis and not in the nose cone. The tranny can flex a hair with the chassis rather than the tight mount on the nose cone causing a crack on the top of the nose cone. If the weight of the motor on the tranny bell housing flexs, then the nose cone will crack. You may not notice it until it is too late, all of a sudden you pop out of a gear and it is broke.

I know of people using the nose cone mount on the 091 and it is fine. It is all in how heavy the car is, how it is built and how you drive it. If you are aggressive like I am, you will need the intermediate mount or prepare for several fixes throughout the season.

Here is a pic of my intermidiate mount.

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Thanks for the input everyone.

Midlife, is your bellhousing just bolted to the adapter plate, or is it also supported by a lower plate like in these photos?

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I had the mid mount installed on my last car at Rancho and they actually machine down the middle part of the case and the mount goes in between the two pieces and goes all the way around the trans not just 3 sides.

I have 3 mounts on mine. top 2 bellhousing bolts, midplate and nosecone.

The 091 was mounted on the bottom of the bell housing as well as the top two mounts. In total, I have 3 mounts in the front, a bracket across the bottom of the bell housing, and two uppers on the bell housing. We then changed from the nose cone mount, to the mid mount. As for the mid mount, you can go either way, we did the cheap way out and bought the bolt on mount from McKenzies ($26.00) and you bolt it on and weld tabs to the frame so that it is removable. Or, you can go with the nicer set up that you machine the intermidiate housing and install it between the two sections.

I will try to get more pics of the bell housing mounts. I sold the car to my uncle last year but he can probably get me some up close pics tomorrow.

Edit clarification - Yes, the bottom bell housing was a plate mount like yours. But you should also use the upper two mounting bolts as well. You will need to fabricate a piece to come off the frame and have tabs set on it to bolt up. Again, I will try to get more pics tomorrow.

PM me and I will give you my number if you have questions. I have been through enough 091 and we finally got the right combo of mounts working with transworks, McKenzies and Kartek.

Also, after looking at the pics closer, you may want to add support like I did in the back where the motor mounts. If not, the weight of the motor on impact will cause upward force on the back section of the tranny and you will crack the nose cone across the top. It wont leak oil out until it gets worse, you will notice it when it pops out of gear and breaks though.

Just trying to help out!! If you need more pics of the support, I can post them for ya.

- J

Sure, any more pics you have of all the support brackets and pieces would be very appreciated! When in doubt, make it stout right?

Thanks!

Here are some pics of my current car. Same chassis, just Mendi and V8. But you can see some of the cross bars in the pics to get an idea. You do want to add "struts" from the chassis to the subframe where the motor mounts. If you dont, the weight of the motor will pull on the tranny bell housing on any impact or bump. Here are some pics of the way mine is upported.

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Sorry, pics are not really clear but you get the point. PM me if you have any questions.

- J