conway62

I have to remove the Big Block in my 71 conv. and had a few questions.
1. Do I have to remove the hood and radiator?
2. Do I have to remove the transmission with it or is it better to seperate it. I have a muncie M21 in the car now.

Thanks in advance... :banghead:

77Dream

1. Definatly remove the hood, and I think you would have a hard time getting a big block out without hitting the rad.

2. If you dont want to remove the tranny then leave it in, it will be alot easier.


:cheers:

conway62

If I leave the tranny in, can I leave the bell housing also or remove it with the engine.

dath

I agree, although, you may be able to get it out without removing the radiator. If you think it's to tight, it probably is. Another option may be to remove the water pump to give you the added clearance... Definitely don't remove the tranny as well unless you need to, in which case you will certainly need to pull the radiator.

:cheers:

38 ford

I just pulled mine yesterday. Removed hood, removed radiator and mount as a unit, removed fan and pulley . Pulled it with automatic trans still hooked up. Just be sure to use a load levelor on your hoist and it isn't a problem at all.

midwest-vette

You can just unbolt the bellhousing and leave it in as well. There are bolts around the perimeter of the housing, kind of hard to get to because of the firewall and time consuming with a straight wrench but if the tranny doesn't need to come out I wouldn't remove it.
I agree to remove the hood as well as the radiator to free up some extra room.

conway62

Im still not clear on what gets removed if the transmission stays in the car. My repair manual only talks about automatics. If I unbolt the bell housing, dies the flywheel and clutch assembly get removed with the engine? Can someone who has removed a big block chime in and let me know what they did.

conway62

Has no one done this with a big block? I cant be the first...... :smash:

Big Fish

1. Certainly remove the radiator to prevent damage, and the hood too.

2. The clutch will come out with the engine, you will need a clutch alignment tool for installation whether the trans is in or out of the car.

3. You will probably want to have the exhaust manifolds off as well to free up a little more space

Big blocks really should not be much different then small blocks except for a little more clearance needed, especially towards the front. You may want to remove the water pump even if the radiator is out.

The Dude

My experience is with small blocks, but this tip may help:

Strip the engine down to the short block before you even start thinking about pulling it. You will have a lot more clearance if you lift the block with the all the external bolt-ons removed. (Both to work and to lift and jiggle, if you know what I mean.) Put it back the same way--just the short block. Then bolt everything else on while it's in the car.

conway62

Thanks for the replies, I think I got it now.
Much appreciated.