Motor mount steel plate thickness?

[dana]

I am to the point where I need to make mounts for my tdi swap. I have a bunch of 3/16 mild plate, is this thick enough? I would use 1/4 to be safe, but if would be nice to use this if possible since I have it right here.

[loxxrider]

That is completely dependent on the geometry of the part. You could make it out of sheet metal with the proper design...

[dana]

ok true. Not sure how to describe what I am planning. There will be a plate at the block with 3 bolt locations and a plate that rests on the factory mount with a slotted hole. To connect the two I think I would use a flat piece of plate with a perpendicular brace of plate to support it, sort of like an I-beam. Not entirely sure what it will look like until I start mocking it up.

[dana]

sort of like this construction but with steel.

[dana]

also keep in mind that this will be a 250ft lb 130hp tdi, not a 500hp drag racing monster.

[my2000apb]

3/16 will be plenty, its all in the gusseting

[loxxrider]

I'm not sure what the dimensions are on that aluminum mount, but you can consider aluminum to be roughly 1/3 the strength of steel... therefore 1/3 the cross sectional area required for the same strength (generally speaking).

As Tim said, all in the gusseting.

[themagellan]

Will be more than enough

[AngryTaco]

My motor mount plates are 1/4" thick. I also designed them in mind with high horsepower / torque cars to beat on them repeatedly. 3/16 will be fine for your application