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I have a pretty basic question -
We pulled the old motor out of the 74 this weekend. We did not remove the transmission. We did have to flex the trasmission up a bit to get the flywheel/clutch assembly to fully clear the bellhousing.
My question is whats the easiest way to drop the new motor back in without removing the transmission? Is there a quick trick to it? I really am not looking forward to fighting to get the input shaft lined up correctly as its sitting right now.. haha. Especailly since we had to use the cherry picker on the side of the car. Even extended out all the way it wasn't long enough to reach the motor correctly.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Originally Posted by Kevins77
IMy question is whats the easiest way to drop the new motor back in without removing the transmission? Is there a quick trick to it? I really am not looking forward to fighting to get the input shaft lined up correctly as its sitting right now..
You only have 2 choices:
1. You wiggle the new motor in the same way you wiggled the old one out. No "trick" to it. You rock it, push it, wiggle it, raise it and lower it until it engages and slides in.
2. You pull the tranny and install the engine/tranny as one piece.
I could not imagine trying to mate the engine/tranny with it still in the car. It'll be much easier to just remove the tranny. Now that you've got the engine out, it's simple to take the tranny out.
I've done 4-5 engine-tranny swaps and every time, I don't mate the tranny up until the motor is in the car.
Bring motor in from above and bring tranny in from below. Motor goes in first, then tranny mates up to it. Easy as pie-everytime, right?!? Well maybe a few swear words
You'll need to secure the motor on the mounts and in a position which will allow the tranny to make a proper alignment to slip in. The manual tranny's clutch alignment makes it more difficult than with an auto, but it can be done.
That being said, its much easier to mate up out of the car, but more perilous to install both together IMHO.
i still say that it's easier to remove the six screws and two bolts that attach the radiator support, pull the support, blast all the rust, repaint and reinstall than it is to wrestle the engine-trans in and out with the support in place. but i work alone, and that could make a difference.
If it was me, I would pull the tranny. I would also replace the front seal and clutch. Although I'm not sure if that M21 has a front seal? Maybe someone else can clarify