Engine and trans removal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Engine and trans removal
I will be pulling my 72 350 and trans (m-20). Is it recomended to pull engine and trans together or pul the engine and then the trans. Not sure hou much trouble the linkage will give me.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Pulling the motor and trans together from the side can be a pain in the butt even if the hood is removed. Going in from the front requires the hood to be removed and even then you have a lot of weight stretched way out on front hovering over a fiberglass nose and fenders.
Any other car or truck, yes, both from the front.
Your vette, I agree with Roger. Pull one, then the other.
Any other car or truck, yes, both from the front.
Your vette, I agree with Roger. Pull one, then the other.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Marty and I pulled his motor and tranny out together, hood off, left front wheel off and car on jack stands. It was very easy that way, if you have help there is no reason to even bump anything on the way out. Going back in should be the same
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Orange massachusettes
Marty and I pulled his motor and tranny out together, hood off, left front wheel off and car on jack stands. It was very easy that way, if you have help there is no reason to even bump anything on the way out. Going back in should be the same
I pulled motor and trans together and re-instaled sameway. No problems. 
I pulled motor and trans together and re-instaled sameway. No problems.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nv.
Are you going to be working on the trans???
If your rebuilding both, pull them together.
If not, you can easily get the engine out without even pulling the radiator or shroud.
Just pull the water pump and balancer and it will clear.
You will have to support the trans while the engine is out.
If you don't have any reason to pull the trans, I say DON'T.
If your rebuilding both, pull them together.
If not, you can easily get the engine out without even pulling the radiator or shroud.
Just pull the water pump and balancer and it will clear.
You will have to support the trans while the engine is out.
If you don't have any reason to pull the trans, I say DON'T.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Canton MI
How?
Just curious, I would tend to just pull the motor out, based on everyone's comments and the fact that the trans doesn't need work.
My question...to leave the tranny in the car (muncie), is it easier to unbolt the bellhousing from the block (right at the firewall) or is there another way (unbolt the tranny from the bellhousing)? I can't picture it so please don't let me hear about it if I'm off here... Just looking for a step-by-step of divorcing the tranny from the motor on a 4-speed car. Thanks!
My question...to leave the tranny in the car (muncie), is it easier to unbolt the bellhousing from the block (right at the firewall) or is there another way (unbolt the tranny from the bellhousing)? I can't picture it so please don't let me hear about it if I'm off here... Just looking for a step-by-step of divorcing the tranny from the motor on a 4-speed car. Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
I left the Muncie and bell housing in the car. It wasn't too bad going back in. You need an engine leveler and little patients lining the input shaft up.
If I were to do it again I would probably pull both the engine and trans together.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 713
Likes: 1
From: plymouth mass
Here is my two cents worth on this subject: The last time I had my engine out I removed the trans first and re-installed it once the engine was back in the car. I might add, that I was able to remove and install the engine with the radiator and dreaded shroud in place. One more thing, the bell housing was on the engine during these operations. I saved myself some problems by test fitting the trans to the bell housing/clutch assembly before installing the engine.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 291
Likes: 6
From: Delray Beach FL
The only way you are going to get the engine out from the front is a lift with a very long arm or a hoist from the ceiling. Pulling it from the side was no problem. Once the motor is up just pull the lift towards the front of the car.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Unlisted
Ya need a long boom to get it from the front.
And a hell of a lot easier from the front. I pulled both out togeather yet I had the rad out before pull. Found it easier to get rad back due to I could stand in the empty hole.
And a hell of a lot easier from the front. I pulled both out togeather yet I had the rad out before pull. Found it easier to get rad back due to I could stand in the empty hole.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
I usually pull the left wheel, throw some jackstands and pull both at the same time. Its a PITA to line up the input shaft when you do them seperate. When I dropped the 454/M20 in my 70, they both went in at once with the radiator and core support out of the car. When I pulled the 350/T-10 from my white 75, I pulled the radiator and support and pulled both at once. When I installed that motor in my black 75 with out a tranny, I left the radiator in.
When you pull the core support and radiator, you get WAY more room. You can really see just how far back the motor sits from the nose in this pic.
When you pull the core support and radiator, you get WAY more room. You can really see just how far back the motor sits from the nose in this pic.
Last edited by Fastguy; Oct 19, 2007 at 10:56 PM.
