Hey guys I'm planning to pull the engine and tranny over the winter, Can you guys share your experience or wisdom. Any hints,tips, or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Should i pull the engine and tranny as one unit? If so, will a traditional engine hoist achieve that? How high of the ground? Thanks again for any input. :chevy

 

Oops, I guess you guys would like to know that it is a 1980 L-82 TH-350. :chevy

 

I thought you HAD to pull the engine and tranny out as one with a C3??

There was a thread not but a week ago about this. Might want to try searching the archives.

 

could be wrong but i dont think you have to pull them out together
its easier to take out at the same time.

 

I haven't pulled both but my guess is that to do so would probably require taking the radiator support out as well, and using a load-leveler. Pulling the motor was no big deal for my first time, it looks much scarier than it really is. Take as much off the motor as possible, have a clean work area, put items in bags and label them to avoid kicking them around the garage and losing them. I'm sure there's more people could add from their experiences. Here's mine

 

I came in from the side, over the fender. I pulled and installed as a motor/tranny. I pulled the radiator support for clearance.

 

I pulled engine and tranny seperately. First disconnect your battery at both posts. Then start unbolting your accessories (place the bolts you pull from each bracket in a baggy, inside the baggy put a piece of paper with what the bolts are for!
Mark all your hoses and wire with tags that tell you where they go.
Take a picture of your engine from several directions, so you can go back and verify how things are hooked up.
If you A/C still has a charge unbolt your compressor from the mount and wire it out of the way to the fenderwell.
Drain your cooling system, including your heater core (you can do this by disconnecting the hoses from the engine and draining them into a pan.
Remove you radiator and shroud, you can leave your evaporator in place.
After you have done everything you need to do under the car, jack the car up remove your front wheels and lower it on to jack stands so you won't have to lift the engine up as high.
Drain your oil from the pan! Also take the filter off and drain it too, then screw it back on for the lift.
Soak you exhaust bolts for several days with a rust buster of some kind.
If you can get the exhaust flange bolts off, you can leave the exhaust manifolds in place and try and remove them after you have the engine out (unless you headers or non-standard exhaust.)
After the engine is out, the tranny isn't really that hard to get out. But if you want to pull the two as a unit, get a lifting bar that will allow you to tilt the engine/tranny back far enough to clear everything.
You might have to lower the car frontend almost to the ground to get it up high enough to swing over the fender.
Leave yourself plenty of room to work on each side and in the front of the car.
That's all that comes to mind right now.
Good Luck!

 

My bit of my wisdom - At this moment mine is in the shop being done for me. After looking at it forever I decided to have it done. Didnt have the time or patience to deal with all the little prpblems that come up. Dropped it off last Fri. and on Mon. it was out. Should get it back next week all done. I hate to think on how long it would have taken me!

 

I have found it very easy to pull the engine and transmission together. You will want an adequate hoist and a load leveler is absolutely essential. A great book to buy, if you have never done this, is "How to Rebuild Your Small Block Chevy". Lots of notes, "how to" items, and advice on prepping and pulling the engine. Go slowly, have a helper who can check on things, and be patient.
Gary

 

Billman, Westminster Md. eh?? used to go to see Lionel train shows at the firehouse on top of the hill there, years ago...
at any rate, pulling the engine and tranny is a PIA, just 9 bolts and they are separated...3 on the converter, 6 on the bellhousing....no balance problems, easier than pulling the rad support, and NO ATF drainage from the tailshaft as when tilted, as necessary to get it up and out... and to do anything they have to be separated anyway....I just get the car up high as I can and go from there...slide tranny out on the floor....
even a stickshift would be easier,.... :D

 

One more experience - I pulled the Turbo 350 out first using a floor jack with the car on 4 jackstands, as high as possible. Held up the engine with a hydraulic jack and wood block under the oil pan. Then used a 2 x 4 between the back of the engine and the firewall so I could remove the hydraulic jack. Then rolled the car outside and used a conventional hoist over the front of the car to pull the engine. No need to pull the radiator or fan shroud this way. Reinsalled engine first and trans later.

 

That makes it a little easier, 4-speed cars have the crossmember welded in. Automatics are bolted in.