Engine Installation
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: College Station Texas
Engine Installation
O.K. - I've just spent 6 hours trying to reinstall my rebuilt 350 engine into my 1970 convertible. I can't get the manual transmission to mate up with the engine. I get within about 1/2" (the length of the tip of the input shaft) of the transmission mating with the bell housing but no further.
Any tips would be helpful.
thanks in advance.
Any tips would be helpful.
thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Use the alignment tool to make sure everything is lined up. Then when you get to that 1/2 inch point, depress the clutch (or move the clutch fork like the clutch was being depressed) and it should slide in the rest of the way. You might also try rotating the tranny slightly with it in gear to make sure the teeth align. Don't tighten the bolts to pull it on.
If it's a new transmission, you got the correct number of teeth on the shaft, right?
Good luck
If it's a new transmission, you got the correct number of teeth on the shaft, right?
Good luck
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: College Station Texas
Its the original transmission.
My guess is the input shaft is not going into the pilot bearing.
I used an alignment tool to line up the clutch and pilot bearing.
I've tried everything except depressing the clutch. What does that do that allows the engine to go the rest of the way? Do I need to reconnect the clutch pedal or am I able to depress the clutch fork from under the car?
thanks. again.
My guess is the input shaft is not going into the pilot bearing.
I used an alignment tool to line up the clutch and pilot bearing.
I've tried everything except depressing the clutch. What does that do that allows the engine to go the rest of the way? Do I need to reconnect the clutch pedal or am I able to depress the clutch fork from under the car?
thanks. again.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Just installed my new LT-1 yesterday. We put a jack under the tranny and jacked it up a few inchs then lowered the motor. It took two of us and a long pry bar that we put between the motor and cross member & used it to push the engine back. After a few trys it went in. Just like "butter" G/L 
PS the key is a buddy to help.
PS the key is a buddy to help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
Just installed my new LT-1 yesterday. We put a jack under the tranny and jacked it up a few inchs then lowered the motor. It took two of us and a long pry bar that we put between the motor and cross member & used it to push the engine back. After a few trys it went in. Just like "butter" G/L
PS the key is a buddy to help.
PS the key is a buddy to help.
I just did this last week. A jack under the trans is often the fix. It allows you to easily move the trans up and down and side to side to get the location you need.Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
Make sure the bellhousing is indexed to zero.(Longshot) And while you're there, put studs in the bell with some locktite. This will make it much easier to hold the trans in place while you work the trans into position.
Having someone depress the clutch allows the disc to release, and you will then have true alignment.
The plastic alignment tools only get you so far. I keep a used input shaft around to get perfect alignment of the disc and pilot.
Having someone depress the clutch allows the disc to release, and you will then have true alignment.
The plastic alignment tools only get you so far. I keep a used input shaft around to get perfect alignment of the disc and pilot.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: College Station Texas
Three more hours at it and still no success - and this is with helpers who have been there before. We get within about 1 1/2 inches from the transmission and engine mating and then no more progress.
I have a concern that my clutch disk is installed backwards. There's no markings that say flywheel side or anything like that. There is a dab of yellow paint on one side. The only visible difference I can detect from each side is that the center hub that accepts the transmission shaft is a little longer on one side.
thanks.
I have a concern that my clutch disk is installed backwards. There's no markings that say flywheel side or anything like that. There is a dab of yellow paint on one side. The only visible difference I can detect from each side is that the center hub that accepts the transmission shaft is a little longer on one side.
thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
I went thru this about a year ago.
I had the trans in and out twice a day for a week, by myself.
The plastic clutch tool is not accurate enough to easily slid the trans in, sometimes you get lucky.
I had a friend and his wife come over. She pushed the clutch in and we wiggled the trans. It was in in 30 seconds.
The springs on the disc need to be on the side of the pressure plate.
When you push the clutch in, it frees the disc to move around and find the right spot.
Hope this helps.
Terry
I had the trans in and out twice a day for a week, by myself.
The plastic clutch tool is not accurate enough to easily slid the trans in, sometimes you get lucky.
I had a friend and his wife come over. She pushed the clutch in and we wiggled the trans. It was in in 30 seconds.
The springs on the disc need to be on the side of the pressure plate.
When you push the clutch in, it frees the disc to move around and find the right spot.
Hope this helps.
Terry
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: College Station Texas
There's no discernable difference in the way the springs look on either side of my clutch disk. The only difference is the shaft that slides onto the input shaft is a little longer on one side.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
I don't think this would make a 1 1/2 in. difference. Just curious - did you try the pilot bushing/bearing on the shaft before you installed it?
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
From: Kernersville North Carolina
g/l
i had the same prob...come to find out the shop that cleaned the engine and supplied the new parts never removed the old bearing...so i ended up with 2 bearing in...removed the new one and it went in fine and works great! i used the plastic tool only
i had the same prob...come to find out the shop that cleaned the engine and supplied the new parts never removed the old bearing...so i ended up with 2 bearing in...removed the new one and it went in fine and works great! i used the plastic tool only
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Nice Lake Ontario
Let us know how you make out !