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Installed my rebuilt engine last night..

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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 09:22 AM
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Default Installed my rebuilt engine last night..

I finally got the 406 back from the rebuild. Installed it last night. Will post pics later..

Only ran into one problem during the install. I've installed engines before, but only with the engine and transmission together.. Never installed an engine before with the transmission in the car. The problem that I ran into was basically that when the flexplate enters the bellhousing of the tranny, it's at an angle that the engine mounts won't line up right because they are at an angle (in order to get the flywheel into the bellhousing).
I ended up disconnecting the engine mounts from the engine and connected engine and transmission and then lifted engine&transmission up as high as possible (restricted by the tunnel) and then re-installed the engine mounts and lowered the engine back down into the mounts.
It worked out great, but I'm sure that there is another solution to that issue.. Any input what I could've done instead?
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 09:28 AM
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I have no suggestions but GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW ENGINE !!!!!!
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by shoptek
I have no suggestions but GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW ENGINE !!!!!!
Thanks!! The machine work was done to extreme precision and it should hold up for a while now..
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
Thanks!! The machine work was done to extreme precision and it should hold up for a while now..
Been away for a while. What issues were u having w/engine ?

Hope to hear it runs strong again. Good luck
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 77TSi-meez
Been away for a while. What issues were u having w/engine ?

Hope to hear it runs strong again. Good luck
Well after 75 passes, all main bearings were spun and all rod bearings were shot. The engine was linebored and the crank was machined and oversized bearings used. Most parts were re-usable!!
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 09:59 AM
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Good to hear you could reuse most of it
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by 76custompaint
Good to hear you could reuse most of it
The engine has some really strong parts in it... Will see if the rebuild will make any difference in performance...
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
Thanks!! The machine work was done to extreme precision and it should hold up for a while now..
What did they do to freshen the engine up? I assume bearings and rings but did they need to remachine anything??
I always install the motor first and then install the trany.
Remember I was a pain about getting your crossmember modified for easy removal. It would make working on the engine so much easier.
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 10:15 AM
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The last time I installed an engine was a couple of years ago in a 1980. We did not remove the transmission with the engine. I do not recall it being any trouble. We may have loosed the trans mount and lifted the front of the transmission to meet the engine.

I just remember being under the car and tightening the bolts on the flexplate, don't remember any problems mating the two.
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
What did they do to freshen the engine up? I assume bearings and rings but did they need to remachine anything??
I always install the motor first and then install the trany.
Remember I was a pain about getting your crossmember modified for easy removal. It would make working on the engine so much easier.
all the bearings (main, rod and cam bearings) were shot. The block was cleaned and linebored. The crank was machined for oversized bearings.

I just refuse to do any fabrication myself.. I suck at it and I just don't have the time to drop the car off at a shop that can make the x-member removable.. I wish that I had a removable chromoly crossmember.. I also have to make it to several races and I don't want that my car will be down for too long. I have no idea how long it would take the shop to make a removable chromoly x-member and install it...
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by dgruenke
The last time I installed an engine was a couple of years ago in a 1980. We did not remove the transmission with the engine. I do not recall it being any trouble. We may have loosed the trans mount and lifted the front of the transmission to meet the engine.

I just remember being under the car and tightening the bolts on the flexplate, don't remember any problems mating the two.
Maybe I could've raised the tranny some more for it to mate with the engine without the engine mounts hitting the mount location on the car..
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
Maybe I could've raised the tranny some more for it to mate with the engine without the engine mounts hitting the mount location on the car..
That's the trick As long as you have the room between the tunnel and the tranny. Back when we did this on a regular basis, it was with the old muncie four speed. Not sure, but the Automatics may have less room????? I know one thing, With my Tremec TKO, There will be no rasing the tranny......Zero room there Another reason I choose to make the crossmember removable.

Good to see you are back on the road Olivier Are you going to bring it up to CI-7 this year?

Bullshark
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Bullshark
That's the trick As long as you have the room between the tunnel and the tranny. Back when we did this on a regular basis, it was with the old muncie four speed. Not sure, but the Automatics may have less room????? I know one thing, With my Tremec TKO, There will be no rasing the tranny......Zero room there Another reason I choose to make the crossmember removable.

Good to see you are back on the road Olivier Are you going to bring it up to CI-7 this year?

Bullshark
I'm planning on bringing the '68 again to the Cruise In unless it breaks down for whatever reason...
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 11:16 AM
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Hey Oliver, I just place a jack under the tranny and raise it up a bit so they line up. It takes 1 hour 45 minutes for me to get the motor out of the car and onto a stand, about an hour more to get it reinstalled, including hooking exhaust and accessories up. I think I am going to pull my 406 and re-ring and bearing it, the shortblock has 14,000 miles on it and 140 passes so it's probably a good time. What bearings/rings did you use? I am looking at the ZGS gapless rings from C&A and the duroshield coated bearings from federal mogul.

Glad you got it back together.

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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by VETDRMS
Hey Oliver, I just place a jack under the tranny and raise it up a bit so they line up. It takes 1 hour 45 minutes for me to get the motor out of the car and onto a stand, about an hour more to get it reinstalled, including hooking exhaust and accessories up. I think I am going to pull my 406 and re-ring and bearing it, the shortblock has 14,000 miles on it and 140 passes so it's probably a good time. What bearings/rings did you use? I am looking at the ZGS gapless rings from C&A and the duroshield coated bearings from federal mogul.

Glad you got it back together.

I don't know what bearings they used.. I'm sure that it's good stuff because it was expensvie
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 12:31 PM
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Vetdrms, got it correct, I just put the car on i'ts wheels, and stick a floor jack under the tranny....now, an easier way to handle tranny on the floor jack is to drill/tap a 3/8-16 hole in the round cup/base of the floor jack, and take a 2x6-8 about a foot long, center drill and counter sink that, and screw it down with some surplus bolt, hell with all them tranny straps and assorted BS....tranny sits on board, and everyone is happy....

I just jack up tranny to meet engine, I have NEVER had the luxury of one of those engine balance thingys to change the pitch of the engine, I just use the hook over the chain, tie the damn thing down, and block off with 3/8 bolts hell with it...

pick engine up and look for a decent but not excessive tilt down in rear....that's it....

MY only real problem is pulling trannies, hate this exhaust problem through the cross support, wish I had side pipes, except driving and getting out....so guess it's a deal with the devil there, damned if and damned don't....

GENE
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by mrvette
Vetdrms, got it correct, I just put the car on i'ts wheels, and stick a floor jack under the tranny....now, an easier way to handle tranny on the floor jack is to drill/tap a 3/8-16 hole in the round cup/base of the floor jack, and take a 2x6-8 about a foot long, center drill and counter sink that, and screw it down with some surplus bolt, hell with all them tranny straps and assorted BS....tranny sits on board, and everyone is happy....

I just jack up tranny to meet engine, I have NEVER had the luxury of one of those engine balance thingys to change the pitch of the engine, I just use the hook over the chain, tie the damn thing down, and block off with 3/8 bolts hell with it...

pick engine up and look for a decent but not excessive tilt down in rear....that's it....

MY only real problem is pulling trannies, hate this exhaust problem through the cross support, wish I had side pipes, except driving and getting out....so guess it's a deal with the devil there, damned if and damned don't....

GENE
Easy fix for the exhaust problem.. SIDEPIPES
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 12:36 PM
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Gene: I had a tubular crossmember built so the tranny can be removed without removing the exhaust. It also allowed for better routing of the exhaust.
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by GrandSportC3

I just refuse to do any fabrication myself.. I suck at it and I just don't have the time to drop the car off at a shop that can make the x-member removable.. I wish that I had a removable chromoly crossmember.. I also have to make it to several races and I don't want that my car will be down for too long. I have no idea how long it would take the shop to make a removable chromoly x-member and install it...
I bet if you got some accurate measurements, SOMEONE on this forum could make one up for you. As for getting the old one out...



(it's kinda like your dremmel, only bigger )
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Old Feb 22, 2006 | 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Grinchia
I bet if you got some accurate measurements, SOMEONE on this forum could make one up for you. As for getting the old one out...



(it's kinda like your dremmel, only bigger )
It's not about making the crossmember. It's about removing mine and making the removable one work. My crossmember is welded in and it will take fabrication to make a bolt on x-member work!
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