What a freakin day
I decided to try and put my NOM 454 in my 68 by myself with the trans bolted to it, without removing the radiator support. I did decide to remove the radiator, but didn't feel like messing with the support.

So....I get the motor and trans bolted up, get the motor on the hoist and jacked up high enough to clear the fender. I go to move the motor into position, and the one jack stand is in the way. Grab the jack and move the stand. OK...everything looks good. Move the motor into position over the engine compartment and start to lower it. At this point I need to tilt it back so I can ease the trans into the tunnel.

This is where things go bad

I start to crank the load leveler to tilt the motor back and BAM!!!
The load leveler breaks and sends the whole tail straight down!!!
Now here I stand, by myself, looking at a motor and trans that is now hanging by just the front 2 chains of the load leveler
Needless to say I'm starting to question the wisdom of doing this alone.

So I grab my ratchet strap and rig up something just to stop it from coming completely off and crushing the car. Luckily I had a Motorcycle jack, and two other floor jacks, so I sit the tail housing on the motorcycle jack, and use that like a dolly to roll the trans back as I lowered the motor.
After a ton of little moves(lower motor,move trans,check ratchet strap...repeat a 100 times) I managed to get the motor down and at the right angle in the engine compartment. Another 100 little moves later and I'm lining up the drive shaft(no I didn't remove it either). I finally get the drive shaft and trans lined up enough to work the drive shaft part way on to the trans splines. A little more lowering and persuading and bingo!!!!! Slide the motor mount bolts in, and the two trans mount bolts.........motor in
All in all 4 hours start to finish.

Unfortunately I was so worried about the motor falling, I didn't stop to take pics till after the motor was in and safe.

Since there was no one else there to celebrate with,(and my wife has no idea what a big process this was) I figured I'd post the story here.

 

I just raised my bottle of Coors Light towards the computer screen just for you! Congrats on not wrecking anything!JMSVETTE

 

Jim Beam and I say congrats on a job well done

 

I was holding my breath while I read!
All's well that ends well!!!
Regards,
Alan

PS: It's probably much better that there are no pictures. Bubba would use them in the book he's writing.
No, I'm not implying you're Bubba.

 

Thanks Guys
Much as it really sucked, I was EXTREMLY lucky that when the leveler broke it was over the engine bay, and the motor was high enough that the trans tail swung down and missed everything. The motor and trans never hit a thing, it was just hanging straight up and down. I hadn't even filled the trans case yet, so no gear lube even leaked.

 

Yeah that is QUITE the task.....Stabbing a BB/Tranny combo in one piece......I did the same thing....left the core support in...it was so freakin tight it wasn't even funny..... Like 1/4" between the balance and the core support..... AND I had another buddy helping...I couldn't imagine doing it alone..... Here is to you...


FWIW....

Today I installed my freshly rebuilt T400 in from the bottom(engine still in) by myself....No tranny jack either....Just a floor jack...and I couldn't even put the tranny up on the jack until the tranny was positioned up in the tunnel...

Talk about a PITA....I started at 8:30 am....I had it running by 3pm.......Definetly would have been easier with some help....

 

It's a good thing you were able to think/act quickly. Congrats on the install.

 

Congrats on the install I'd raise a beer also, but I'm out....

Good thing you didn't damage anything, or worse yet, get hurt

 

Yup...about 1/4"

 

I have a whole story about droping a engine in on a dirt floor I understand your victory

 

You will probably have help on the rest of the job when you don't really need it, just my luck.

 

Dangling a motor-trans combo at the extreme angle over the car freaks the shinola out of me. I prefer to do it separately. Much more straight forward.

Glad to hear everything worked out.

 

Would you mind posting the name/manufacturer of the part that broke so I can stay away from it? bout to do the same and will buy a better leveler, and hopefully have my 1 friend to help. thanx, mj

 

I'll get a lot of hairy eyeballs for this, but the leveler was from Harbour freight. I know I know....you get what you pay for, but I had gotten it a while ago, and it always worked fine. I'm sure the hard angle had something to do with it. The motor was only the short block, no heads or acc. and the trans is a muncie 4sp, so not a lot of weight really, and I figured I'd use it since I had it already. Needless to say, I won't make that mistake again.

 

You have a lot of guts attempting that yourself, a lot more than me. I read Spinadog's thread least year about installing a BB with the core support in place, using 3 guys and a case of beer. Discretion being the better part of valor, I opted to remove the core support and save the beer until after the motor and tranny mounts were in. Those cheap engine levelers are scary. I was watching a TV show where a guy is struggling while using one with a tiny crank handle. On the other hand, I have seen pictures of some really heavy duty ones...just don't know who sells them. Probably worth the money, right? Can you imagine if you had squished your front clip? The corvette god was looking out for you, my friend. I think I'll go fix myself another Havana Club and Coke and toast your good fortune.

 

I had one brake on my years ago.MADE IN CHINA.I will never use a load leveler again.Went back to the old school method.floor jack under the trans tail and lower,pump.lower.pump.the chain link accually broke at the weld.I inspected it closely the link was never really fully welded and looked good on the outside but never penetrated.

 

jack and coke for me!!.....glad it's over.....

 

Wow! I'm glad it turned out well. I definitely understand the feeling when the leveler popped. Celebrating with you! David

 

I don't drink too much but I'll pop a beer too ya!!! I've been there.
Now the $1000 question, what make or where did you get that engine leveler?????

 

The 'better leveler': http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

OTC 4305 1500 lb. Engine Load Leveler


In fact, this leveler is excellent and easily did the angle necessary to shimmy the motor in.

update: and it's a relative bargain right now at $59 with free shipping.