autoricambi transmission mount too tall

[V12StealthHunter]

I bought one of these from AR for my 71 Spider;
http://www.autoricambi.us/product/MO7-4 ... 5-5-speed/


But it appears to be at least 3/4" taller than the old one (after compensating for the deteriorated rubber). Here is a link to a photograph of my mount next to the AR mount.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zP3lPRp89iI/U ... C_0001.JPG

I initially thought their 4-speed mount looked like a better match. But I think I'm wrong after looking at it more.


I noticed that both Vicks and Midwest list a "5-speed" mount that looks like a closer match to mine;
http://www.midwest-bayless.com/storefro ... =313990215


http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=2929



If I use the taller mount I think the shifter extension will interfere with the transmission tunnel. The one Vick's lists looks right to me. Anyone know whats going on here with all these different mounts listed for the same application?

On a side note I hate how Fiat parts supplier always try to hide the source of their parts by rubbing off part numbers or other markings. It makes it quite annoying to cross reference these things and figure out the correct part numbers for your car. Does their business model really rely on hiding their sources? Transparency is very important to me.

[Ramzi]

Fiat used a total of 4 transmission mounts on the manual transmission 124 Spider. Initially the earliest mount was only used on the torque tube cars as I recall and then Fiat superseded to one which was on the 1608cc cars. This mount was later discontinued to the 1800 mount and about 20 years ago Fiat boiled them down to one mount which fit the 1800 and 2000 cars. Which was the only mount available until both Malo Akron & Pirelli discontinued it several years ago. Several vendors sell a much taller mount stating that it fits the 124 when in fact that mount actually fits a licensed 124 variant model

I personally had these mounts produced to fit the range of 124 Spiders.... and to date have had only one other person say it did not fit his car. Unfortunately he was in New Zealand which presented a real challenge at the time.

That said... We have sold close to 300 of these mounts to date w/o another incident.... (and to other Fiat parts suppliers as well.). So honestly I don't know why it does not fit your car. Perhaps the cross brace or the tranny was swapped to an earlier one years ago? In any case, we will gladly take the mount back and issue a full refund.

Finally as to the reason there is not makers markings on the mount... several years ago, we actually had another vendor buy 95amp alternator from us to see what we were using. So helping the competition is not really part of our business model. And to be clear... that vendor does not post on this forum.

Ramzi
Auto Ricambi, LLC

[fiat218]

I bought one of these from AR for my 71 Spider;
http://www.autoricambi.us/product/MO7-4 ... 5-5-speed/


But it appears to be at least 3/4" taller than the old one (after compensating for the deteriorated rubber). Here is a link to a photograph of my mount next to the AR mount.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zP3lPRp89iI/U ... C_0001.JPG

I initially thought their 4-speed mount looked like a better match. But I think I'm wrong after looking at it more.


I noticed that both Vicks and Midwest list a "5-speed" mount that looks like a closer match to mine;
http://www.midwest-bayless.com/storefro ... =313990215


http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=2929



If I use the taller mount I think the shifter extension will interfere with the transmission tunnel. The one Vick's lists looks right to me. Anyone know whats going on here with all these different mounts listed for the same application?

On a side note I hate how Fiat parts supplier always try to hide the source of their parts by rubbing off part numbers or other markings. It makes it quite annoying to cross reference these things and figure out the correct part numbers for your car. Does their business model really rely on hiding their sources? Transparency is very important to me.

Stop bitching and go buy from Vicks then no need to slam a vender here or think they get the parts and have some one rub the damn numbers off, geesh

[fiat218]

Oh and by the way, if you want to suggest that a vender is doing wrong, do it in private

[SoFlaFiat]

I'm going to say my bit very carefully because not too long ago, both Jim and I used this forum to motivate a vendor. In an effort to not be a complete hypocrite, I need to include the fact that said vendor was completely incommunicado. That is never the case with Ramzi and Csaba at AutoRicambi! They will always answer the phone, reply to an email or text and go beyond expectation to assist all of us. Proof is in Ramzi's post! So, I agree with Jim, in most cases, if you have a problem with a vendor, keep it private. Some will take care of you and some will not! Just don't purchase from the "nots" any more.
Ramzi makes a good point that other vendors are not so honest and helpful but would rather reap the benefits of other peoples research. I remember trying to buy parts for my car when there was no internet and finding people like Csaba and Ramzi was next to impossible. Just as a fun exercise in futility, try finding the perfect part for your spider without using the internet today. And if you have an issue with the part, or don't speak the same language as the seller... Advertise in your local paper about how terrible the experience was.
Ok, that was a fun rant!!

[Jimb]

I will stand behind Autoricambi. Their service and efforts to help are second to none.
If there is a problem they will do everything in their power to resolve and therefor they are always my first choice whenever I need something I can't find locally.
Jim

[131]

Unless you find a NOS item, most of what you buy these days will be produced without numbers or markings.

[V12StealthHunter]

Wow. What the hell just happened. Lets get something clear. I think AutoRicambi is probably one of the better Fiat part vendors out there. I have NOTHING against them. Almost every week now since I got my 71 Spider a couple of months ago I've been buying stuff from them. I sent them a technical question on Sunday and got a response within an hour. You can't beat that kind of customer service. So now lets all take a deep breath...and exhale.

The only way I know how to reference the mount I bought from Autoricambi, is to call it "autoricambi transmission mount". There are no manufacturer/ODM part numbers on it. How was I expected to reference it without mentioning the name of the vendor?

Ramzi explained to me that Fiat has used many different mounts over the years. Their mount is a one size fits all part and I hear they've sold hundreds of them. That's wonderful.

Here is a link to a photo Ramzi (thanks) sent me;
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KzaoIwwkFc/U ... phic-1.jpg


The longest part of their mount is 5-1/2", my mount is only 4-5/8". Thats a 7/8" difference. Given the roughly 1" clearance there was between the shifter extension housing and the transmission tunnel (with the old sagging mount), and assume the mount will flex by at least 1/8" in either direction, the transmission will definitely hit the transmission tunnel on a big enough bump. So I decided to come here and ask you guys why the mount was too tall. And now I've learned of the different sizes.

My comment about this whole private label business was not targeted specifically to AR. I think its a Fiat-parts industry wide problem. You don't see this in the British or German car world (which makes up 99% of my classic car history). Vendors are more than happy to give you the Bosch, Behr, Bilstein, Saschs, Nissens, Lucas, etc.. part numbers. I'm against this private label stuff in the Fiat world but we'll leave that for the Fiat Social forum if anyone is so inclined.

Obviously my search wasn't exhaustive but I did manage to find 3 vendors listing the older, shorter mount (Vicks, InternationalAuto and MrFiat), And pretty much all the vendors who only sold the one-size fits all mount said the same thing, "we've sold X hundred of these, no problems" And every vendor I spoke to who sold both sizes said, "No, there are two sizes". So... yeah.

I called one of the vendors listing the smaller size (which I asked them to measure and it was indeed the exact same size as the one out of my car) and I placed an order. Done deal. Lovely jubbly. I wish I could have bought it from Autoricambi, but they don't stock them.

[V12StealthHunter]

So just to conclude this story I eventually got one of the shorter mounts from MrFiat.
http://mrfiat.com/fiat-124-transmission ... 8-new.html


Its not just shorter, it has a few other differences. Compared to the AR mount it is thinner. The AR mount is the same 1/4' thick metal the original mount is made from but the MrFiat mount is thinner at just over 1/8" thick. The AR mount feels quite flexible in my hand. Whilst the MrFiat mount feels really solid. It doesn't flex easily by hand at all. I posted some photos on my blogspot showing the difference in the amount of rubber used.

@Ramzi, if you get a chance you should check out this mount I got from MrFiat. it feels like a much better product. The U shaped mounting surface was also nice and flat whilst the one I got from you guys would probably need work to get it onto the car. Thanks for all the help. I'll return the taller mount this week. Here is a link to some photos; http://124spider.blogspot.com/2014/05/t ... mount.html

[RRoller123]

Where does this mount? I have a sneaking suspicion that it is missing on my car.

[ClarkTheShark]

Where does this mount? I have a sneaking suspicion that it is missing on my car.

It mounts at the tail of the transmission... You know if you didn't have one.

[RRoller123]

Thanks! From the very top of the transmission to the chassis? I think mine is missing....

[aj81spider]

The fat part attaches to the transmission mount cross member. There is a slot it fits into. The two ears stick up (toward the chassis) and mount to the transmission just behind where the guibo attaches. I would think your tranmission would sag pretty badly without it.

[SoFlaFiat]

+1 on that
Pete, it's there for sure! I'm trying to imagine the vibration you would feel if the back of your tranny was suspended from the guibo.
Look for it holding up the trans rather than the trans hanging from it.

[spider2081]

RRoller here's a couple photos of the mount






I am pretty sure its on your car.