Engine & Trans. install
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Forrest City Ar
Engine & Trans. install
I know there is two schools of thought on this subject. Together & seperate. I pulled the old set out together and would like to go back in with the new package together, but I'm a beginner and going in may be harder than coming out. would it be easier if I drop the new crossmember for the 2004r? all suggestions welcome
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
The Last engine I did was on a 1967 pontiac lemans, I found it very easy to put the engine in with the trans already installed since a vette has such a long engine bay my vote is to connect the trans first then install
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 3
From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
I use a spreader bar with the lift, much easier to control. 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
on all cars normally i think its easier to put them in together but with my vet i dont do it that way. i have done it seperately twice and both times i put trans in first then the engine. wiggle here and a wiggle there and its not that hard. cause the nose is so long i find it too hard together.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Orange Park Florida
LONG as you been around man, I surprised you say that....
most trannies are about a yard long from bell flange to output, and even IF no fluids to worry over, that damn shaft is down at an angle that in most cars will not allow the engine enough forward to clear the rad support, and in our sharks, that means we have to move the a/c cond coil too....disconnect the thing....PIA....if not, the angle of the dangle says we need jack the car about 2' in the air to keep from wedging the tailshaft on the ground.....
BTDT with other cars, and honestly I would never consider it with the vette....anyway, It's easier to just drop the BH off the engine in about 20 minits and save the effort.....starter coming off anyway, now much is it to release a converter?? or pop those 4 tranny bolts....
maybe we get used to doing things our own way, but I can't see what you doing as easier....
most trannies are about a yard long from bell flange to output, and even IF no fluids to worry over, that damn shaft is down at an angle that in most cars will not allow the engine enough forward to clear the rad support, and in our sharks, that means we have to move the a/c cond coil too....disconnect the thing....PIA....if not, the angle of the dangle says we need jack the car about 2' in the air to keep from wedging the tailshaft on the ground.....
BTDT with other cars, and honestly I would never consider it with the vette....anyway, It's easier to just drop the BH off the engine in about 20 minits and save the effort.....starter coming off anyway, now much is it to release a converter?? or pop those 4 tranny bolts....
maybe we get used to doing things our own way, but I can't see what you doing as easier....
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
LONG as you been around man, I surprised you say that....
most trannies are about a yard long from bell flange to output, and even IF no fluids to worry over, that damn shaft is down at an angle that in most cars will not allow the engine enough forward to clear the rad support, and in our sharks, that means we have to move the a/c cond coil too....disconnect the thing....PIA....if not, the angle of the dangle says we need jack the car about 2' in the air to keep from wedging the tailshaft on the ground.....
BTDT with other cars, and honestly I would never consider it with the vette....anyway, It's easier to just drop the BH off the engine in about 20 minits and save the effort.....starter coming off anyway, now much is it to release a converter?? or pop those 4 tranny bolts....
maybe we get used to doing things our own way, but I can't see what you doing as easier....
most trannies are about a yard long from bell flange to output, and even IF no fluids to worry over, that damn shaft is down at an angle that in most cars will not allow the engine enough forward to clear the rad support, and in our sharks, that means we have to move the a/c cond coil too....disconnect the thing....PIA....if not, the angle of the dangle says we need jack the car about 2' in the air to keep from wedging the tailshaft on the ground.....
BTDT with other cars, and honestly I would never consider it with the vette....anyway, It's easier to just drop the BH off the engine in about 20 minits and save the effort.....starter coming off anyway, now much is it to release a converter?? or pop those 4 tranny bolts....
maybe we get used to doing things our own way, but I can't see what you doing as easier....
from the trolley you see it on here to resting on the mounts in the car - 15 minutes. - 3 people - 1 on hoist - 1 above guiding and levelling - 1 below to ensure tranny sits on mount.
You could get the motor in the car in 15 or even less, but you arent getting the tranny slipped in, through the clutch disc and throwout bearing, aligned and bolted together in that time from under the car.
Last week we installed the motor below into a friends 65 bel-air..from the time we had it hanging from the hoist - to sitting on the mounts...30 minutes (only because we forgot to fish in the drivers side headers and had to lift it back up) same 3 people same stations. The big block was installed with the TH400 attached.... it took us longer to attach the tranny outside the car than it took us to get it sitting on the mounts once we started lifting
You MUST have the leveller for it to be as easy as this...just shove your slip yoke into the tranny and there wont be any leaks.
Frankly, I will NEVER pull an engine tranny separate again if I have anything to say about it.
Last edited by fauxrs2; Apr 15, 2008 at 05:24 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I've also got it down to science separated. To even speed up things because I did it so often I went to header studs and quick disconnect lines off the tranny for the oil cooler
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Yes in both cases the radiator was out...but not the A/C stuff which mounts to the front of the core support and not to the radiator...
I have done the vette (engine/tranny together) with the rad in...yes its tight - just dont have the balancer mounted and you can do it...and IIRC i didnt have the water pump mounted that time either... in any case I'm much rather install a water pump than try to mate engine and tranny under the car.
The bel- air we could have done with the rad in, if we didnt have that gi-normous pully already mounted to the balancer...
I have done the vette (engine/tranny together) with the rad in...yes its tight - just dont have the balancer mounted and you can do it...and IIRC i didnt have the water pump mounted that time either... in any case I'm much rather install a water pump than try to mate engine and tranny under the car.
The bel- air we could have done with the rad in, if we didnt have that gi-normous pully already mounted to the balancer...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Okay now add in the time to put the hood back on and align it. +plus you take the chance of chipping the paint dorking with the hood.
I've also got it down to science separated. To even speed up things because I did it so often I went to header studs and quick disconnect lines off the tranny for the oil cooler
I've also got it down to science separated. To even speed up things because I did it so often I went to header studs and quick disconnect lines off the tranny for the oil cooler
And I will happily concede that if the criteria is, nothing can be removed from the car except the engine.. then apart is the only way
Last edited by fauxrs2; Apr 15, 2008 at 05:50 PM.
