Help On Engine Drop In Please!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Something is not right in your bellhousing area.
Maybe I got lucky but 2 of us dropped the engine in with a chainblock , hood on , dizzy/wiper motor out.
Trans lined up easy without special bolts mentioned ( to lazy to make them) but would not sit into place with the engine mounts on engine.Put mounts on frame and it fitted straight up.
With car in air on stands no problems getting headers in from underneath after engine fitted.
Maybe I got lucky but 2 of us dropped the engine in with a chainblock , hood on , dizzy/wiper motor out.
Trans lined up easy without special bolts mentioned ( to lazy to make them) but would not sit into place with the engine mounts on engine.Put mounts on frame and it fitted straight up.
With car in air on stands no problems getting headers in from underneath after engine fitted.
Last edited by rodj; Apr 13, 2006 at 09:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Geneseo Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06
the car ran before the engine was removed. the tranny jas just sat there. I can move it up and down on the jack ok. So i dont know what could be wrong. I think its a matter of geometry, getting these three dimensional objects to line up. Sometimes the angle of attack is correct and you get a smooth landing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
walk from one side of the car to the other at least three times and ''eyeball'' the gap between the trans bell and the back of the block, side vs side vs top.
its very much like riding a bicycle--''impossible'' until suddenly,IT WORKS.
look all around engine for some dumb little thing in the road.
its very much like riding a bicycle--''impossible'' until suddenly,IT WORKS.
look all around engine for some dumb little thing in the road.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Geneseo Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06
OK
Just for future reference purposes, if anyone searches on this thread. as was suggested earlier, the gap between the three mounting pads on the tranny and the gap between the flex plate and the engine mounting face were wrong. the TC despite all my efforts and that of my GM certified tech neighbor can not get the TC to slide back all the way.so we just have to pull the tranny and get that fixed. i dont know why it wont go back. possibly could have been damaged somehow. so in the meantime im going to install the engine.
my usual luck
and thanks to everyone
mark
Just for future reference purposes, if anyone searches on this thread. as was suggested earlier, the gap between the three mounting pads on the tranny and the gap between the flex plate and the engine mounting face were wrong. the TC despite all my efforts and that of my GM certified tech neighbor can not get the TC to slide back all the way.so we just have to pull the tranny and get that fixed. i dont know why it wont go back. possibly could have been damaged somehow. so in the meantime im going to install the engine.
my usual luck
and thanks to everyone
mark
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Originally Posted by dock351
OK
Just for future reference purposes, if anyone searches on this thread. as was suggested earlier, the gap between the three mounting pads on the tranny and the gap between the flex plate and the engine mounting face were wrong. the TC despite all my efforts and that of my GM certified tech neighbor can not get the TC to slide back all the way.so we just have to pull the tranny and get that fixed. i dont know why it wont go back. possibly could have been damaged somehow. so in the meantime im going to install the engine.
my usual luck
and thanks to everyone
mark
Just for future reference purposes, if anyone searches on this thread. as was suggested earlier, the gap between the three mounting pads on the tranny and the gap between the flex plate and the engine mounting face were wrong. the TC despite all my efforts and that of my GM certified tech neighbor can not get the TC to slide back all the way.so we just have to pull the tranny and get that fixed. i dont know why it wont go back. possibly could have been damaged somehow. so in the meantime im going to install the engine.
my usual luck
and thanks to everyone
mark
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Geneseo Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06
i have no doubt that you are right. Took it out of the vette today, dropped the exhaust, etc. Whole job took maybe 15 minutes...and then we dropped the engine in within less than 10 minutes. Now if only the tranny had not suddenly become an issue...or had i made it one.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Don't beat yourself up over it. It happens sometimes. I didn't post it to sound like the voice of doom, but it is a bit easier to check while the trans is out. Once it hits my trans bench, I can have a pump out in 15 minutes, open it up and rebuild it in 30 more minutes and have it back together in less than an hour and a half. Not that big of a deal. It could be much worse.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
There are 2 sets of splines on the input shaft that are easily seen. Converter slips on these very easily. If you look at the torque converter, you will see 2 notches. Thes notches must engage square tabs on the pump drive. If they do not slip in, the torque converter snout will push against the fragile pump drive and snap it while the trans is snugged down. It makes a small clic sound when it breaks. You may or may not have snapped it. If any doubt remove and inspect. As I mentioned, no big deal really, if you are familiar with transmissions. Hopefully luck is on your side.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Pete is giving you good advice about inspecting the pump. My guess is you did not break it. THe reason i say this is once the pump breaks the trany slides right up into place, just no pump for the trany once you start the motor. If you tried to pull the trany to the motor with a bolt and the TC was not fuly in then you mght have cracked the front pump gears so I would do as Pete stated and pull the front pump for inspection.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Geneseo Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06
Thanks....i could only get the TC to fit up to the two notches at the end of the snout. there was over an inch for it to slide back further.
No matter what we did, we never could get it to slide back any further. even with it out, we couldnt get it on, so on its way to the shop tomorrow. I suspect when they get it, they will slide it right on! Sort of hope so..But at any rate, im taking no chances and having both the TC and tranny examined carefully. I will post the results here.
No matter what we did, we never could get it to slide back any further. even with it out, we couldnt get it on, so on its way to the shop tomorrow. I suspect when they get it, they will slide it right on! Sort of hope so..But at any rate, im taking no chances and having both the TC and tranny examined carefully. I will post the results here.
Last edited by dock351; Apr 16, 2006 at 01:11 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Originally Posted by dock351
Thanks....i could only get the TC to fit up to the two notches at the end of the snout. there was over an inch for it to slide back further.
No matter what we did, we never could get it to slide back any further. even with it out, we couldnt get it on, so on its way to the shop tomorrow. I suspect when they get it, they will slide it right on! Sort of hope so..But at any rate, im taking no chances and having both the TC and tranny examined carefully. I will post the results here.
No matter what we did, we never could get it to slide back any further. even with it out, we couldnt get it on, so on its way to the shop tomorrow. I suspect when they get it, they will slide it right on! Sort of hope so..But at any rate, im taking no chances and having both the TC and tranny examined carefully. I will post the results here.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Geneseo Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06
Turned out that the tranny pump and splines were fine...although they did find a band inside that was not quite right, replaced the seals..the TC splines were damaged and preventing it from sliding all the way back. replaced the TC. thanks, everyone.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
all of this removing motor mounts to drop in a motor...i've had the big block in and out 3 or 4 times for test fits...all with the mounts on the block and still went in like butter. maybe i was lucky?
and i hope my hoist can support the big block and trans as one unit.
and i hope my hoist can support the big block and trans as one unit.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Geneseo Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06
the engine is on the mounts. took all of 5 minutes to drop it in.
Now the trans has to go back on. i believe i have to get the 4 8mm bolts out on the end of the drive shaft u joints, to get the slip fit on the trans.
Of course, these are frozen on...
Now the trans has to go back on. i believe i have to get the 4 8mm bolts out on the end of the drive shaft u joints, to get the slip fit on the trans.
Of course, these are frozen on...