C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

tips on removing the engine and tranny?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 04:46 PM
  #1  
another-user's Avatar
another-user
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
Default tips on removing the engine and tranny?

im going to be pulling the engine and tranny as a unit this weekend. was planning on only pulling the motor, but after looking at those bellhousing bolts... i like having knuckles.

i have the radiator and fan shroud out, planning on pulling the support, and will have the hood off. i also have an engine hoist and will be going in from the side.

the biggest question i have right now is, how much of a tilt will i need on the motor/tranny? i dont have a load leveler, so ill just be shortening the front chain. im thinking i can have a floor jack under the tranny to control how much of an angle i have, until im ready to let it free hang. this is going to be in a 69 with a 350, only power brakes.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 05:07 PM
  #2  
FKING1's Avatar
FKING1
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Default

Of course the drive shaft must be disconnected.
You have everything else OK.
The angle is about 45* or so.
Don't think you need to take out the rad support.
Worked for me on my 70 L46.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 05:23 PM
  #3  
Kevin_73's Avatar
Kevin_73
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 4
From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Default

If you don't drain the transmission make sure you secure the slip yolk, otherwise when you tilt it enough to raise it through the engine compartment the yolk will most assuredly fall out at the worst possible time and your transmission will be drained whether you wanted it to be or not.

Just use some bailing wire to hold the yolk in place.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 05:25 PM
  #4  
another-user's Avatar
another-user
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
Default

theres no C clip or anything on that yoke? kinda figured that was held in by something.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 05:31 PM
  #5  
69427's Avatar
69427
Tech Contributor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,914
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Default

I've taken my bigblock out with the trans on it about a dozen times (yes, a dozen). Never pulled the radiator or shroud. As long as the crank pulley was removed everything cleared. I would expect that you would have similar clearances depending on the shape of the shroud.

A load leveler saves a lot of headache. They're not expensive, and it will more than pay for itself in time savings.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 06:02 PM
  #6  
Gordonm's Avatar
Gordonm
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Default

Originally Posted by another-user
theres no C clip or anything on that yoke? kinda figured that was held in by something.
No it just slides in and slides out on its own at the worst possible time. Draining about 14,000 quarts of fluid all over everything.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 06:14 PM
  #7  
another-user's Avatar
another-user
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
Default

i left my crank pulley and water pump on, ill pull both if i run into problems.

would the 3/4 ton load leveler from harbor freight work ok? its rated at well over the weight of both the motor and tranny, but its also harbor freight.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 07:11 PM
  #8  
69vettester's Avatar
69vettester
Pro
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: FL.
Default

Originally Posted by another-user
i left my crank pulley and water pump on, ill pull both if i run into problems.

would the 3/4 ton load leveler from harbor freight work ok? its rated at well over the weight of both the motor and tranny, but its also harbor freight.
I used a harbor freight leveler. It was clunky , but did what it was suppose to do, change the angle of the engine to where I needed it to be.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 18, 2011 | 08:20 PM
  #9  
longbros's Avatar
longbros
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Default

I just did this with my 70, pulled the engine and 4spd out as a unit. I did not remove the radiator or core support. I did not remove the water pump or vibration damper. It came right out with no problems. I did drain the engine oil and transmission oil. I did use a load leveler, a cheap one like you are talking about, no problems. I positioned the engine lift on the left side of the car and removed the left front wheel. I had the rear of the car raised on jack stands a couple of notches up. The front was on jack stands, not extended, so the car was tiled down in the front. It was a snap! The transmission never touched the ground. Take it easy, have a helper or two, and go slow.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2011 | 11:49 AM
  #10  
Ben Lurkin's Avatar
Ben Lurkin
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,557
Likes: 9
From: Oquirrh Mountains
St. Jude Donor '09
Default

Originally Posted by another-user
i left my crank pulley and water pump on, ill pull both if i run into problems.

would the 3/4 ton load leveler from harbor freight work ok? its rated at well over the weight of both the motor and tranny, but its also harbor freight.
I've read about more than one of those Harbor Freight specials breaking and dropping the engine on the core support.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To tips on removing the engine and tranny?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:47 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE