Engine Leveler
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
Engine Leveler
My new motor and Trans are ready to be installed and I will probably end up doing this by myself.. Since I'm installing the Motor/Trans together this time, will I need a engine leveler to aid in tipping the Trans tail in first? I'm renting a cherry picker and just want to make sure I have everything I'm gonna need and make the job as easy as possible for myself... The cherry picker just has a hook on it..
Thanks!
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Searcy Arkansas
I used a "Oberg Tilt Lift" that I had bought several years back... It had no problem lifting & tilting the 350/350 engine/trans combo...
http://www.thestricklincompanies.com...7701c6edf74b53
http://www.thestricklincompanies.com...7701c6edf74b53
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
The engine levelers do work nice. Can you rent that too? A small wooden dolly or piece of plywood with wheels also helps to pivot the tranny into place. You would place the dolly under the transmission hump and then lower the engine/trans assembly so the tailshaft rests on the dolly and guides itself in.
Last time I did this myself, I purchased 2 small dollies from Harbor Freight tools. The first one kept the tailshaft off the floor, the second rested under the trans pan as I got closer. The dollies had some sort of carpet on them, so they gripped pretty well.
I normally remove the distributor when I install the engine. They can get in the way and even be damaged if you slip up a bit. It's best to prime the engine before you start it up anyway, so you might as well leave the distributor out just to be safe.
If you are doing headers....you may want to bolt them in before you lower the engine that last inch or so. It's MUCH easier that way.
Just some ideas. Nice looking engine you have there.
Last time I did this myself, I purchased 2 small dollies from Harbor Freight tools. The first one kept the tailshaft off the floor, the second rested under the trans pan as I got closer. The dollies had some sort of carpet on them, so they gripped pretty well.
I normally remove the distributor when I install the engine. They can get in the way and even be damaged if you slip up a bit. It's best to prime the engine before you start it up anyway, so you might as well leave the distributor out just to be safe.
If you are doing headers....you may want to bolt them in before you lower the engine that last inch or so. It's MUCH easier that way.
Just some ideas. Nice looking engine you have there.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Although it can be done without a leveler, it will be WORLDS easier with one. I installed my engine/transmission assembly BY MYSELF easily with the leveler, in less than an hour! And still found time to take all these pictures....Remove the distributor, pad surrounding areas with old towels, and I used a wooden dowel (closet rod) to shove the engine rearward to its final resting place. Also, almost forgot..I had my radiator out, and that makes things much easier, but not required...
The leveler was about $30 at Harbor Freight... Money well spent.
Last edited by MakoShark72; May 18, 2009 at 05:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
WOW, ask and you shall recieve.. Nice detailed photos!!! I see you didnt have your water pump or puley on either so it will surley be a tight squeeze for me but I have 2 full days to do it. I was really hoping I wouldnt have to pull the dist or radiator. And based on all the comments, a leveler seems likle the ticket.. The rental shop doesnt have any but its no big deal to buy one, since they are under $50 anyways.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
The pulleys..I dont know? The distributor FOR SURE. At the tilt angle there is a great chance it will contact the top of the firewall. I was lucky as I was swapping in a ZZ4 and 2004R transmission. I had removed radiator, etc to clean up the engine bay. For me it was pretty easy.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
The pulleys..I dont know? The distributor FOR SURE. At the tilt angle there is a great chance it will contact the top of the firewall. I was lucky as I was swapping in a ZZ4 and 2004R transmission. I had removed radiator, etc to clean up the engine bay. For me it was pretty easy.
Good luck!
Good luck!
I was planning on putting my front end up on ramps to give me more clearance for dropping/tilting it more downward and then tilting it back straight and working the trans into the tunnel at the same time.. There is no way Im gonna clear things with just a slight angle.. I drained my trans fluid so loosing fluid is not an issue.
By the way, nice Porsche!!! I almost bought a 911 instead of this Vette.. Matter of fact, I still wouldnt mind having one too.
Last edited by Fishndude; May 18, 2009 at 06:40 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
I was planning on putting my front end up on ramps to give me more clearance for dropping/tilting it more downward and then tilting it back straight and working the trans into the tunnel at the same time.. There is no way Im gonna clear things with just a slight angle.. I drained my trans fluid so loosing fluid is not an issue.
By the way, nice Porsche!!! I almost bought a 911 instead of this Vette.. Matter of fact, I still wouldnt mind having one too.
By the way, nice Porsche!!! I almost bought a 911 instead of this Vette.. Matter of fact, I still wouldnt mind having one too.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you have a leveler and a strong back, you can put the engine/tranny in by yourself....but what fun would that be???? 
Nobody to cuss with? 
: No one to drink beer with? No one to complain to when things go wrong? 
I just can't imagine the pure boredom of doing that alone. {just funnin'...hope it goes well}
Nobody to cuss with? : No one to drink beer with? No one to complain to when things go wrong? I just can't imagine the pure boredom of doing that alone. {just funnin'...hope it goes well}
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I have the same leveler as in the pictures. I did mine myself and it wasn't too bad. Of course it would have been more fun and easier with another person or two to help but all my friends are married with kids. We all know how that goes....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 1
From: Liberty Missouri
If you use the leveler be sure to put the crank handle toward the front of the motor. When you just about have it set in place you will find that the arm hits the fire wall if it’s in the rear. Yeah go ahead and laugh, I threw wrenches and anything I could get my hands on. 
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
Thanks everyone!!
I couldnt of done it without the engine leveler.. It went in as smmoth as silk... I fired the new motor up yesterday and dang does this thing sound mean.. It actually sounds better than my previous 73 Camaro that ran 10.80's...
I couldnt of done it without the engine leveler.. It went in as smmoth as silk... I fired the new motor up yesterday and dang does this thing sound mean.. It actually sounds better than my previous 73 Camaro that ran 10.80's...
