PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

This is the most updated design of the front transmission mount on the 2000-2005 Bonneville. I have been installing these on all of my project vehicles. It feels just like a stock mount, without the engine movement. There are no vibrations and it will never fail. The original design used hockey pucks, they work fine. The drawback to them is they need to be drilled out and they aren't as easily available in some areas. The first boat roller design used the 3" boat roller and a .75" stack of washers to make up the difference between the original mount height of 3.75". Using the 4" boat roller with adequate pressure on the rubber brings it down to 3.75", a perfect fit. The 4" boat roller is less work and looks better.



The Parts:
1 - 8" long 1/2" bolt
2 - 1/2" washers
1 - 1/2" lock nut
1 - 4" boat roller
1 - old swaybar endlink bushing

The Cost:
The bolt, nut and washers should cost you around $1-2 at a hardware store. The boat roller should be $4-5 at Fleet or Marine store. They are available online, but I haven't found any at that price point. If you don't have a used swaybar bushing, its a good time to install new swaybar endlinks on your car and use the old one for the mount. Brand news are around $5-7 per corner.

The Installation:
Remove the 18mm nut on the bottom of the old mount. Remove the 18mm nut on the top of the old mount. Jack up the vehicle slightly using of the engine oil pan. You just want to take pressure off the mount. Remove the 3 - 15mm nuts holding the bracket to the transmission. Remove the bracket and pull out the old mount. Inspect the old mount, its probably badly torn. Insert the bolt/washer/bushing assembly through the bottom of the subframe and up the hole. You will either need a 2nd person to hold the bolt, or put something like a jackstand under it to hold the bolt in place. Slide the boat roller on the bolt, and put the bracket back in place. Install the 3 - 15mm bolts that hold the bracket to the transmission. Put a washer on the bolt on top of the bracket. Top it off with the lock nut. Use a 2nd person or your extremely long arms to hold the bolt head on the bottom while you tighten the lock nut on the top. Tighten it enough that it starts to squeeze on the boat roller. Lower the jack and you are done.

*edit 3/25/21* I've made a single change that will make these last even longer. Add a washer between the swaybar bushing and the subframe. The bottom of the subframe is not flat and will eventually tear into the bushing.

DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN. The boat roller doesn't need to be squished, just snug. After install rock the car back and forth in park to see if there is any movement. Snug up until there is no play. Tighter is not always better.

Good write up, easy and clear. This is my next project. My Anchor mount is already mushy 2,000 miles later.

harofreak00 wrote: Using the 4" boat roller with adequate pressure on the rubber brings it down to 3.75

Can you give this just a tad bit more explaining what do you mean by "Adequate pressure" do you mean by how much you tighten the top bolt or some other third thing b/c i really like the idea of the boat roller over my currently installed hockey pucks so i would just like a little bit more clarity on this small matter if you don't mind. Thanks for the awesome write up by the way, and the mount overall it looks really clean.

The boat rollers are soft enough to squish down when you tighten the bolt.

Love the concise write-up! Thank you Andrew!! - BC

We should sticky this or put it somewhere it won't get lost.

^ I'm with Carl! ^
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Hey, that looks real neat and clean!!!!

Thanks for the detailed info, this will be very helpful when I get mine done.

I am really suprised that the mount on my 02 sle is still very functional and not damaged. I have looked at it very carefully several times and it shows no sign of failure or weakness. The hardware looks original, but the mount may have been replaced before I bought the bonny 2 years ago. No issues with noise or engine movement, so I not going to fix what is not broken. When she goes, I will go with this design.

Thanks,

Steven

As the mount comes apart on the bottom, you can't tell with a visual inspection if it's good or bad while it is installed on the car. It's only when it gets real bad that you'll experience engine movement.

I used the same setup, though I think I grabbed a 3.5" roller, seemed to fit perfect, with bushings on the both outer points to provide more cushion. I am happy with the results and glad I don't have to invest in any more mounts.

You should be able to find all the parts for this locally. If you can't and want to take the easy route, I've made up a bunch of these, ready to go for $20 shipped (had to increase the price because my supplier ran out and had to get them else where)

$16 shipped is a DEAL! wish i needed one, my puck mount is holding strong.

Not bad, looks good and all the boat roller has to do is support the engine. The bolt keeps the engine from rotating back when hard on the gas. I made the first solid mount for the SSEI back in '01 or '02, put over 200k miles on that solid mount and when I sold the car it was working as good then as it did when I put it on. Mine cost just a little more than yours(X 10). Good job.

ROD

I know this might be common sense but what material should the bolt and hardware be? Stainless, galvanized, hardened steel?

Any standard grade bolt. There really isn't that much force being applied. Stainless only if you don't want it to rust.

Painless ordering, painless install in less than 15 minutes. I just installed a anchor brand mount to replace the damaged stocker, but was still unhappy with the amount of engine movement I was seeing. After putting in this mount from Andrew the motor moves only a minimal amount. Didn't notice any more vibration than before. Extremely happy I made this upgrade. Thanks Andrew

Quick question on this, should the boat roller be solid rubber or one with the steel insert that the bolt goes through.

Solid rubber. If you get the steel insert kind, you will have extreme vibration issues.

Im gonna be needing one of these soon.. how do we go about ordering one from you ?

You can email me at andrew.suderman@gmail.com