Pulling engine out. Which is easier: engine alone, or with transmission attached?

Craig looks so serious....

 

It can be just as easy to pull it by itself, especially if you're not using an engine crane hoist. Can be easy to reinstall it too by itself, this is a one man operation if you use my engine alignment studs (take four long small block head bolts, cut the heads off, chamfer the ends and wa-la, you've got new engine alignment studs.)

 

These bolts will be used/screwed in the rear of the block where it bolts to the bellhousing? That's a great tip!

 

...posing...he appears to be moving but the engine isn't. also if he was installing that motor he would be sweating...

 

Craig knows what he's doing. He can swap a motor with his eyes closed.

 

he just didn't want to see it when/if the motor/firewall got scratched...

 

Yea, you got it. They take all the pain out of aligning the engine to the transmission while the transmission is in the car. Line up the studs (2 per side) and shove em together.

 

I can be a very serious dude.

See the long sleeves, it was December or January when I installed it. I know the heat was on in the garage, but it was still chilly.

It was mainly
1. lower the engine just a smidge.

2. then turn the crank and adjust the "pitch".

3. then push the motor/tranny back a little bit.

4. then start over at 1.

If one looks at the pictures, I had custom cut heavy carboard pieces to protect everything.

 

all at once. its easier to bolt up all your tranny bolts as well apart. nothing like lining up your bolts under your car

 

Craig looks OLD!

 

I did mine (6 cylinder though) together by myself with no leveler. Just be careful with the top of the radiator support. It helped to jack the back of the car up.

One word of caution. I recently read where someone had a HF leveler and the chain broke. Use quality chain! If the chain fails you could get hurt or damage the heck out of your car.

 

No need for two people on the way out. Nice little afternoon job in the garage. Handy to have help on install though. Nice to see your interest back in the car Scoop.

 

Has anybody cut the top of the rad support out and then bolted it back in ? I have heard of guys doing this. Seems like it would be easy and with a mig you would have to really look close to see it was removed. I know when I removed mine I pulled just the engine and it was close because the car was on my 4 post hoist, I had to raise the hoist so I could get the wheels under it. With the hoist up and the car up too the hoist with engine just cleared the support. When I find a 302 I think the support will become removable. I know you guys will have fun talking about this.

 

I've done it all ways.. and I usually prefer to work on the stuff while it's out in the open.

Makes for better pic's too. lol

 

If I had a hoist, I'd also have a tall transmission jack and pull the transmission and engine separately. Wouldn't need to cut up the unibody.