ENGINE & TRANS INSTALL

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I didn’t know/see any at my local HF. I wasn’t looking for one though. Good to know they are there somewhere in there.
 
Oh, hood off, place it on the roof or outside. That’s about it. The 6-1/2 ceiling IS an issue. I’d roll the car outside for the install and push it in when you finish bolting the engine and trans in it’s place.

If that is impossible, the only thing I can think of is take the tires off to lower the nose but leave the jack under the car. One on both sides is preferable. The nose lowering is equal to raising the ceiling. Though only temporarily. This is not an easy way to do this. But if you can’t roll the shell out.....


cawley said:
Has anyone installed there engine & trans together ? Ive always put the engine in & then the transmission but do to the fact I don't have the room any more I have to do things alittle different. My garage only has a 6 1/2 ft ceiling. I will have to push the car out in the driveway to put the engine in. I think it would make things easier if I could put the engine & transmission in together. Never done it Never seen it done Is it easy Pain in the *** Anyone have any tips ? thanks
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The issue with doing it from the bottom is headers. I can’t think of a good set of headers that will allow you to go in from the bottom and get the headers on. For what I use it is impossible.

I get the back thing. I have a cheap floor jack that I use to put ten gear box in. And to take it out. I took the cup that is there off of it and made a plate to set the gear box on.

I set the box on the plate and used some wood to get the angle I wanted and then welded a tab up from the plate to the reverse lever on the side of the box. That holds the box on the plate.

Then the pin I used was slightly smaller in OD than the hole in the jack. And I just welded it to the bottom of the plate close to the middle. Done.

When the box is on the jack, that loose fitting pin allows you to grab the tail shaft to raise or lower the input to send it home.

Once the box is on the jack and under the car, it takes about 3 minutes for my fat self to get under there and get the box in. And it doesn’t kill my back. And I can do it myself.

BTW, big headers headers and a scatter shield are a PITA to install anyway. Trying to do it all together is just not worth it.

I can’t even mount the starter before the headers go on. They have to go in in pieces in a certain order or they will not fit. It’s a PITA but the headers are actually worth it.
 
cawley said:
Has anyone installed there engine & trans together ? Ive always put the engine in & then the transmission but do to the fact I don't have the room any more I have to do things alittle different. My garage only has a 6 1/2 ft ceiling. I will have to push the car out in the driveway to put the engine in. I think it would make things easier if I could put the engine & transmission in together. Never done it Never seen it done Is it easy Pain in the *** Anyone have any tips ? thanks
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Tools, time and training. How you do it depends on what you have. I've done a lot of engines and trans combo from above and it works okay with the correct tools. Putting the drivetrain in from below works even better but requires more tools and more space.
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If you are going to install the engine and trans together from above then I highly recommend a tilting pad tool. I've used this one for 20+ years and it really saves the bacon on the tight installs.
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I got mine in a couple weeks ago with the help of my 81 year old Dad, a buddy and my girlfriend. The leveler is a huge help
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Some like the top, I am sold on the bottom! Me and the wife and easy Peasy! With the hood on!

I would post the video but catch hell for it! 20 minute easy! 10 of those where looking and sweating, then the k-frame and crossmember bolts. I have never had it so easy. Standard size two car garage.

I had to run the engine lift cause she was to nervous about it. She gave the feedback I could not see.
 
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I have these available for the easy minded group!

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I normally advocate raising the car off the engine, transmission and K frame. But I didn't do that this time with Vixen. Nor did I use an engine leveler......and I do have one. I simply used the two holes in the head and attached a chain with a long flat blade screwdriver through to adjust so that it would have the tilt it needed to come out. I didn't drop the K frame because I wanted to get it done as quickly as I could to get the car back on the road. I know had I removed the K frame, it would not have gone back together until I got disc brakes and everything else, so I left well enough alone. Besides, from all the evidence, the car's original mileage is the 68,*** showing on the odometer. The pedal wear and everything else points to it. The suspension is in remarkable shape. I only put rear springs on it because it sat since 1980 and sagged really badly. But Kitty and I got the engine and transmission out and back in rather easily.
 
"Flat blade through the chain so it don't slip" I learned that from my dad Rusty. I still do it today on many cars and trucks even though I have a leveler.

When I first started my hoist was a large metal tripod outside in a field. It took 2 extension cords to reach the area so I had a light. Cover the tripod with a tarp I had a gararge. You could leave all your tools in there and no one would steal them. But when you got those special tools you worked for you took them in at night. My first electric impact!
 
The last time I put the engine in my M-code cuda I installed it thru the top with the transmission attached and the hood installed. I removed the carb, installed the lifting plate and hooked it to the picker with a short hook and chain. I also removed the two front bolts from the hinge brackets to allow me to raise the front of the hood up a few more inches.
 
If you use an engine crane to lift the front of the car, how do you get the engine/trans under with the crane legs occupying both sides of the front of the car?

I see pics of a car supported by an engine crane with the engine/trans underneath, but it doesn't appear you could get the car high enough to do that.
 
mcodecuda said:
The last time I put the engine in my M-code cuda I installed it thru the top with the transmission attached and the hood installed. I removed the carb, installed the lifting plate and hooked it to the picker with a short hook and chain. I also removed the two front bolts from the hinge brackets to allow me to raise the front of the hood up a few more inches.
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Not me! That would be way to scary!

I have pulled and replaced previously 3 times before resto as a full unit. Hood off.

I never tried using a plate, as not trusting trusting the threads on an old eddy TM6.
Dropping the new refreshed body over was the right choice and oh so rewarding!
 
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The way I see it, one must try either way. Up or down, otherwise you do not know! Experiment is my suggestion! If you do this regularly you will find what works best for you. I do not and was only, a one time last deal. No more resto’s for me. If needed I will buy another fully finished!
 
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