I pulled the 454 out of my 70. I removed the radiator and shroud first. I pulled the engine/bellhousing/transmission as one assembly. I always pull the engine/bellhousing/transmission as one unit. Take out only the engine and bell housing?.......No way am I going to lay on my back and try to get the transmission input shaft backing the clutch assembly with a fixed transmission crossmember. No way. It's just me. When I get the engine finished, I assemble the clutch and transmission out of the car......it's soooo much easier. I used a harbor freight engine hoist and a "load leveler" where I could tilt the engine/bellhousing/transmission assembly for ease getting in and out. With an engine hoist, during removal you'll reach a point where have to angle the nose of the engine up in the air to start to get the entire assembly to swing up and over the radiator frame. As for removing the engine, bell housing, transmission.......the whole assembly is only held on, in the car, by four bolts. The engine motor mounts (2 bolts) and the transmission/crossmember bolts (2).

 

So you go under the car and unbolt the trans from the cross member, then lower the car, hook up the cherry picker from the side and then undo the 2 motor mounts and pull it all out? I'm guessing is best with 2 people as you probably have to tilt the assembly quite a bit?

 

I did it by myself with a leveler device on the hoist.
If you are going to leave the trans in the car, unbolt the 4 trans bolts..
Separate it an inch with a crowbar.
Set the car down, and put a jack under the trans.

 

I plan on removing the trans as well so that I can have open access to the bottom of the car. Sounds like I will have to remove the trans with engine? My C2 was so easy in comparison! I was hoping I could pull the 4spd and then the engine or vice / versa, but looks more and more like that's very difficult if not impossible on a C3 in a home garage?

 

i always pull the engine and trans separately. i know everyone will jump and bash me and tell me im an idiot and they do it together.

but really- you are under the car anyway disconnecting things, how much more work is it to either unbolt 4 trans to bellhousing bolts or 6 bellhousing to engine bolts? if you unbolt the bellhousing from the engine you only have to pull forward like 3-4" and it lifts straight out. then go back under the car and pull the trans by itself.

 

in a crowded garage pulling any engine from a vette is a challenge with the length of the nose. Taking the tire off on the side you are working on helps but the jack stands are a hassle. getting underneath and disconnecting getting the tranny slid back to slide the engine forward is a hassle to.

what I would do and I suggest to everyone is make , or buy a removable transmission mount and take it out as a unit. If you have the room, either build or buy a gantry crane..they take up less room, nothing to trip over and just make life so much easier. small blocks basically climb out on their own and using a high end engine tilter make big blocks come out easy...EVEN by your self. The only reason I needed a hand this time was I wanted my buddy to help me pull the hood. I used the gantry last time and it was pretty easy. harbor freight and northern tool sell gantry cranes for $750 to $850. I bought 3 pieces of I beam for $350 bucks, the to east west beams rest on my supprt walls and the North South beam is suspended from trolleys so I have a 3 axis stationary gantry for less than a thousand for eveything including all the rigging, electric hoist, pulleys and tilter.

and with the gantry I can grab the back of the motor and lift and support it if I pull the trans seperately, and I can operate is from under the car with out having to deal with any jacks in the way besides the small tranny scissor jack, because the pendant hangs down to the floor through the engine compartment. I can lay there and adjust the motor angle to get the tranny to slide together very simply. Its a huge temesaver and its another tool you can buy...who doesnt like tools

I undo the radiator support and tilt it forward just because i have too many line going through it...run it forward to get the motor up, then push it back and down to slide forward...i raise and lower the car to get more room to tilt it

 

I pulled my big block from my 70 with the bellhousing attached. Supported the 4 speed and dropped it later. I also used a quickjack. When I reinstalled it I first made a removable crossmember as I changed to a tremec. I reinstalled the engine with trans attached. 2 people make it a lot easier and I would have been if I was 20 year’s younger. Removable cross member is a huge help

 

So did you have the car elevated on the quickjack when you pulled the engine? If you did, how did you position your hoist? My car is at the first lift height of the quickjack.

 

I had the quickjack on the lowest setting and pulled it from the side. Hood was removed. You can remove wheel or not. When I reinstalled engine I had car on a 4 post lift and also slid hoist from the side, wheel still mounted. I did remove radiator and shroud but left rad support in car

 

Well I don't have a 4 post lift, but I imagine you could have installed the same way that you removed. I've got the hood, front wheels, radiator, shroud and support removed. Just seems so difficult with this body. I've pulled quite a few engines, but never from a C3.

 

You will be fine with the quickjack or jackstands. Doing it without the trans attached is the easier route. This is my first R and R on a C3 not to mention a big block. Take your time.

 

Mine too on both C3 and big block...you are welcome to stop by as I live in Scottsdale, LOL... Thanks for the input.

 

I’m happy to lend a hand. I’m in north Phoenix near Cave Creek. You are also welcome to swing by anytime.

 

My name is John. 480-845-7888.

 

John
Ill give you a call

 

If you have a garage/driveway/concrete pad to support it, a gantry crane may be a much better solution.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-...ane-62510.html

You'll also need a place to store it when you are done.

 

I have been considering buying a gantry...seems like the best solution! Then I can sell it or store it...been looking at the Harbor Freight and for used.

 

Cool...will be nice to speak with you

 

You can often find a 25% off coupon at Harbor Freight. I've used my gantry crane a half-dozen times so far, so it has paid for itself.

 

LOL, I've been looking...no coupon in the last few weeks