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Moving forward in my LONG term resto project I am prepping to remount my rebuilt 350 & 4-speed back onto the refinished chassis (body-off).
I'll be working solo with a chain hoist hanging from a beam in the ceiling and the frame on roller dollies.
I request input/recommendations on the best way to accomplish this...
I'm thinking of installing the new clutch & pressure plate, then the original bell housing onto the engine. Then hoist all that into position and sesure the two engine mounts, After that, I'll hoist the transmission into place and and secure it to the bell housing and the mid-body crossmember.
Does that sound like the best/least difficult way to go????
Additionally, I've read about having to check the bell housing or scatter shield for proper concentric and parallel alignment. Granted, this was mostly connected with installing 5+ speed transmissions so I thought I'd ask if it's really necessary when re-installing the original bell housing and Muncie 4-speed????
Regarding concentric alignment of the bell housing to the block, while it is true the Muncie is much more forgiving when it comes to the alignment, it’s best practices to check/correct while you are in there. Not hard to do. All it takes is a set of offset dowels and a dial indicator/support.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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If your frame is off put in a removable transmission mount now or you will hate yourself so bad later you may not ever talk to your future self again.....then, if you are using a chain fall, put it in all at once. It's easier to get the tranny on an engine while it's on the floor than while suspended and not being at the correct angle
Regarding concentric alignment of the bell housing to the block, while it is true the Muncie is much more forgiving when it comes to the alignment, it’s best practices to check/correct while you are in there. Not hard to do. All it takes is a set of offset dowels and a dial indicator/support.
Okay, I'll try to mount the engine and trans as a single unit, assuming I can get them together first.
As for the alignment check, contentric was OK at .008" TIR without having to use offset dowels. However, the flywheel to bell housing's transmission mounting surface parallelism check showed a TIR of .007". I'd have to play with shims to reduce that down to .002" if I was going with a "modern" trans, but I think (hope) what I presently have will be OK for my old Muncie.
My OCD would force me to take the bellhousing to a machine shop and face it to bring the parallelism to within 0.001” but that’s me. I read a post where a 1961 Impala manual was referenced, stating that parallelism was 0.010” max so you are probably ok with what you have.
My OCD would force me to take the bellhousing to a machine shop and face it to bring the parallelism to within 0.001” but that’s me. I read a post where a 1961 Impala manual was referenced, stating that parallelism was 0.010” max so you are probably ok with what you have.
Good thing I only have a VERY, VERY mild case of OCD...
Originally Posted by Rescue Rogers
My original shims from GM are priceless
Only original GM shims I have are for aligning the wheels and I don't think they would've helped here...