I am pulling my 454 out of my 73 this weekend to replace it with a roller 454 "fun" engine. Any tricks getting it out??

 

well no tricks....but takes lots of digital photos of every aspect of the engine area including all vaccuum routings fittings linkages....wiring harnesses....and every wire you take off label it and use transparent tape to tape the labeling to the wire, make sure no one gets under that engine ever ,no fingers, no body parts.....have lots of baggies and a sharpie and any bolt you can not immediately put back on the engine or bracket stick in a baggie thats labeled.... your organizational ability will be challenged here but i think you have the professional background to handle the organization...but the memory part will get the better of you, so take lots of pictures ....have fun and show us pics...remember safety first

 

It may seem silly but pics of everything BEFORE you pull it off.

It made my installation much easier.

The pics dont forget, I did

 

Safety first as Bob already told! I was just few months ago lifting up the engine first time by myself. It wasn't that tricky... Below is a pic of engine up from the engine bay. I took out the heads and intake manifold first, but it might be easier to keep them on. You might get better balance for the engine thatway. I used waterpump bolts and headbolts to lift up the engine. I had to use a big shim plates below the lifting point not to make any harm for the head deck while lifting. Otherwise it was guite straight forward thing to do. Mine is a small block, but I think there shouldn't be big differencies between lifting SB or BB...

 

The pictures will come in handy later. Alternator wiring, distributor orientation, vacuum hoses etc, everything you can think of.

I removed my hood, radiator and core support too. Don't forget to unbolt the one ground wire on front the passenger side.

 

The drivers side bellhousing bolt, second one up from the bottom is a little tough to get to on my car so I bought a wrench and heated it and bent it a little so its easier to turn that bolt with.

 

Thanks for the GOOD advice guys! I would not have thought to take pictures. Believe you me I will take plenty! You guys are GREAT!

 

If you have a 4 spd., it is easier to reinstall if you remove the eng & trans together, then reconnect the tranny outside of the car. Not sure about a auto trans. I removed the intake man. and used a rear and front bolt hole in the head on both sides to make a 4 point harness. You can use different holes and chain lengths to get the engine to balance. The beast is heavy, but a good lift will get it out.
Important!!! Check your new motor mounts before installing. The listing for my 69 weren't correct. and the engine sat high in the front and the fan would hit the shroud. I had to take the old mounts in for a comparison inorder to get the correct new.

 

Remove it and send it to me, will pay for shipping

 

I have a 73 and have pulled the 454 too many times. Obviuously take off all externals - alt., PS pump. fan and water pump A/C etc to start. Pull the dist. and carb and get all hoses off the engine. Then hit the starter - MARK THE WIRES AS YOU TAKE THEM OFF.

Take off the exhaust manifolds before pulling. Some pull with them on. The clearance is TIGHT and one swing with the manifold on and you wipe out either the A/C & heater box or hook the PB booster. I know from experience.

The hoist has to be from the side to clear the fender height. Take off the front tires and put jack stand under the frame so the rotor is about 3" off the floor on both sides.

When you start pulling, go slow. If there is resistance STOP and find out why. Good luck and holler if you have trouble.

Oh the drivers bell housing bolts are tough. Use either a ratcheding wrench or a long handled one. Good luck and remember these things are heavy so make sure the hoist bolts, attatchment to the block and the hoist itself are tight. Have the engine stand ready so you can get the thing off the hoist and on the stand ASAP. You don't need an 800 pound gorilla swinging in the air.

JP