Engine and trans install

#1

I’m ready to install my rebuilt engine and trans. Is it possible/feasible to bolt them together and install them as a unit? I have been told there isn’t enough clearance at the radiator support to do so.

I was thinking it might help if I put the car on jack stands to give more room to pivot the whole assembly down into the engine bay and back into place.

Trying to avoid the PITA of having to heft the trans from under the car and then installing the top trans bolts with the engine in the car.

#2

Yes, you can install them as a unit. Get the car up high on jack stands and wedge it in there.

#3

Thats what she said.

#4

You’ll need a lot of angle on the engine as it goes in, which implies having the front of the car well off the ground. That angle has to be reduced as the engine settles in. Doing that is easy with load leveler and rather a pain otherwise. But it can be done with brute force by two people if you don’t have a load leveler.

#5

IIRC, depending on how high your engine lift pulls, you may have to get the engine/tranny combo at about 45 deg, position the tranny output flange on the ground (put down a piece of plywood), and then raise up the body in order to clear the radiator support/front clip. It is definitely the way to do it though. Saves a ton of time. I will be doing it myself (again) in a few weeks.
Ed

#6

Just like Ed, I did it solo last year. The load leveler is the key. I had the car on jackstands and didn’t have to raise the body any more. It took me about 45min to finally get it into place. An extra set of hands and eyes can go a long way with this project.

#7

Solo engine/tranny install - nice work!

#8

Got the engine and tranny installed yesterday. Was able to do it as a unit with help from two friends. Put the back end of the car up on jack stands and left the front wheels on the ground. I think that helped with the angle. I didn’t have a leveler, but was able to get enough angle to dip the tail of the tranny down and still barely clear the radiator support with the oil pan.

We put a narrow piece of plywood on the sway bar for the tranny to slide down. It took some time to twist the engine around in the bay to get the motor mounts to line up, but we finally got them installed.

I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been to get the tranny installed from beneath the car. It was tough with it on the ground.

Thanks for the tips.