I am most of the way through a retro fit on a fuse I was given and the only real way I can get the motor mounted is to use a standoff (cage) still mount - is this a bad idea?  any input would be appreciated

I will try and snap a pic of it tonight to show what I have had to do....

Hi Wynn,
I have used this approach several times, with "X" shaped plates attached to the motor and simple mild-steel threaded rods rather than standoffs. Blind nuts behind the firewall and washers/nuts in front combined with nuts on both sides of the plate attached to the motor work fine. I have a picture somewhere, but not with me now. I have done this with the motor mounted from the back and with it mounted from the front. I used 6-32 rod with big 3000 Watt motors and 4-40 with smaller stuff. The springiness in torsion never bothered a thing, and the stiffness in the "wobble" direction is good.

I'll go look for pix tonight,
Dean P.