Engine install
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 250
Likes: 34
From: Jackson SC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,495
Likes: 1,163
From: Northern Wisconsin
Dumb question here, but I thought most, if not all C3's had a fixed frame crossmember for the transmission mount. I don't see how you can install an entire engine/transmission assy if the crossmember is not removable.
Last edited by ClothSeats; Aug 14, 2020 at 08:34 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 281
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Installing the radiator is something I did get help with. I covered the radiator with cardboard to prevent damage to the fins during installation and it went in without much difficulty.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 281
From: Scottsdale Arizona
When I did mine as an assembly, I used an engine leveler with the engine and transmission at an angle. As I lowered it I slowly leveled it as I guided the tail of the transmission into the transmission tunnel. Once it was further in I had the engine just above it’s mounts. At that point the transmission mount was very close to the mounting bracket on the crossmember. From there it was easy to lower the engine into the motor mounts and put the bolts in and get under the car and lift the transmission a little to install the exhaust pipe bracket and then put the bolts into the transmission. From start to finish it took less than 1 hour.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,495
Likes: 1,163
From: Northern Wisconsin
When I did mine as an assembly, I used an engine leveler with the engine and transmission at an angle. As I lowered it I slowly leveled it as I guided the tail of the transmission into the transmission tunnel. Once it was further in I had the engine just above it’s mounts. At that point the transmission mount was very close to the mounting bracket on the crossmember. From there it was easy to lower the engine into the motor mounts and put the bolts in and get under the car and lift the transmission a little to install the exhaust pipe bracket and then put the bolts into the transmission. From start to finish it took less than 1 hour.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 651
From: Thunder Bay
Just for fun I'll present a dissenting opinion. I tried to install my engine and transmission as a unit many years ago and gave up. I simply couldn't get the car high enough in my garage, nor could I get enough travel in my engine hoist to make everything work. Since then I have always installed the engine first, then the transmission. Admittedly that is much easier with the Tremec than it was with the automatics.
As for the radiator installation, I put the rad shroud in place in front of the engine, slip the rad in, bolt them up, and then install the fan blade.
As for the radiator installation, I put the rad shroud in place in front of the engine, slip the rad in, bolt them up, and then install the fan blade.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,364
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
It drops in as an assembled unit in less than 10 minutes, working by yourself. I just use a tranny jack to get the tranny tailhousing up over the fixed crossmember as the assembly drops in, with the car sitting on the ground. Here is one I did not long ago with a Tremec tranny on it, which is bigger and longer than the stock Muncie. Engine goes in with all accessories pre-mounted, and this one has a supercharger on it, too:
Engine in the car and on the engine mounts. Just under 10 minutes:
Lars
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 651
From: Thunder Bay
It drops in as an assembled unit in less than 10 minutes, working by yourself. I just use a tranny jack to get the tranny tailhousing up over the fixed crossmember as the assembly drops in, with the car sitting on the ground. Here is one I did not long ago with a Tremec tranny on it, which is bigger and longer than the stock Muncie. Engine goes in with all accessories pre-mounted, and this one has a supercharger on it, too:
Engine in the car and on the engine mounts. Just under 10 minutes:
Lars
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,747
Likes: 713
From: Lafayette Louisiana
After doing some digging, I decided to pull my 327 & Muncie out of my 68 together by myself.
I jacked up the rear some and took the wheels off the front and lowered to get an angle to make it easier to remove. Load leveler and 2 ton Harbor Freight engine lift (to get the reach needed from the side) did the trick.
One reason I pulled together is I needed to do some Muncie work plus I could not figure out a good way to support Muncie or the 327 if you pulled them separate.
Hope this helps. Some great videos out there too.
I jacked up the rear some and took the wheels off the front and lowered to get an angle to make it easier to remove. Load leveler and 2 ton Harbor Freight engine lift (to get the reach needed from the side) did the trick.
One reason I pulled together is I needed to do some Muncie work plus I could not figure out a good way to support Muncie or the 327 if you pulled them separate.
Hope this helps. Some great videos out there too.