Almost time for the engine to go back in...Hints? Tips?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Almost time for the engine to go back in...Hints? Tips?
Ok guys and girls, my "new" motor is 90% assembled and should be ready to go back in the car within the week. Is it terribly hard to put the engine/trans in together, or does it actually simplify things? I took them out seperately, but would like to try them together if possible. The hood is off, so going from the front won't be a problem. Also, its been a while since I pulled the motor, and I've forgotten exactly how all the wiring was routed. I labeled all the bolts and other things of that nature, but didn't think to make a harness "map". My dad says once we get the motor in, all of that should fall into place, but if any of you have any pics of your removals/installs, I'm sure they would be helpful. Any other advice is appreciated! Thanks...
:cheers:
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 3
From: Chandler AZ
Re: Almost time for the engine to go back in...Hints? Tips? (85z51vette)
Going in from the front will be a problem... unless you have a hoist with an extraoridanary reach. I put my motor/tranny combo in from the front... with no front cover/impact beam. I had the hoist all the way up to the impact beam mount/crossbeam. Recommend you drop one side (bolt) from the carrier diff to frame mount when juggling everything into place. Makes it much easier when trying to align the 4 holes in the torque member :yesnod:
I just can't imagine my fat hands trying to reach transmission to motor bolts when the engine is installed on the mount... I know its been done... perhaps its easier... maybe I;m just "handicapped" :lol: :)
Don't worry too much about the wiring until after the motor is in. The harnesses lay on the back of the motor when criss-crossing to connection points. I put my motor in... before I repaired and rewrapped all my harnesses... shouldn't be a problem for you. Email me if you get into a bind. I'd be happy to help. :)
(edit)... FYI... notice all the wiring harnesses hanging above the drive side of car... this was a pic of the early days of "ground up rebuild".... ahhhhh the memories :D
[Modified by billreid1@***.net, 9:49 PM 3/20/2002]
I just can't imagine my fat hands trying to reach transmission to motor bolts when the engine is installed on the mount... I know its been done... perhaps its easier... maybe I;m just "handicapped" :lol: :)
Don't worry too much about the wiring until after the motor is in. The harnesses lay on the back of the motor when criss-crossing to connection points. I put my motor in... before I repaired and rewrapped all my harnesses... shouldn't be a problem for you. Email me if you get into a bind. I'd be happy to help. :)
(edit)... FYI... notice all the wiring harnesses hanging above the drive side of car... this was a pic of the early days of "ground up rebuild".... ahhhhh the memories :D
[Modified by billreid1@***.net, 9:49 PM 3/20/2002]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Re: Almost time for the engine to go back in...Hints? Tips? (billreid1@***.net)
Well, I pulled the motor from the front with just the hood removed, so hopefully I will be able to get it back in that way. I do remember it was very close though. The hoist I have has 4 or 5 different arm length adjustments. About the diff, you are saying to unbolt one side of it from the frame right? Just making sure I'm understanding everything. The wiring harness just kinda scares right now, because it just looks like such a mess strung out all over the place. :crazy: I think I'll do like you did and wait till its in. What about the ground wires that bolt to the back of the driver side head? Easy to get to while in the car? Oil PSI sender hookup?
BTW, my motor is .040 over, too. I was thinking about getting "357 L98" on my lisence plate. :yesnod:
BTW, my motor is .040 over, too. I was thinking about getting "357 L98" on my lisence plate. :yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 3
From: Chandler AZ
Re: Almost time for the engine to go back in...Hints? Tips? (85z51vette)
About the diff, you are saying to unbolt one side of it from the frame right?
The wiring harness just kinda scares right now, because it just looks like such a mess strung out all over the place. :crazy: I think I'll do like you did and wait till its in.
What about the ground wires that bolt to the back of the driver side head? Easy to get to while in the car? Oil PSI sender hookup?
BTW, my motor is .040 over, too. I was thinking about getting "357 L98" on my lisence plate. :yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
Re: Almost time for the engine to go back in...Hints? Tips? (85z51vette)
A good year passed before I started to re-install the rebuilt L98 that was out of mine. Didn't label anything, thought I would "finish the project quickly".
But sure enough, all the harnesses "remembered" their positions.
Ground straps: about 2 or 3 of those grounds sandwich between the block and bellhousing(upper left driver's side). Doesn't make a dif if they all get bolted to the block afterwards tho.
Any questions at all WILL get answered if ya post them here. The tech section WILL save you! It saved me. :cheers:
But sure enough, all the harnesses "remembered" their positions.
Ground straps: about 2 or 3 of those grounds sandwich between the block and bellhousing(upper left driver's side). Doesn't make a dif if they all get bolted to the block afterwards tho.
Any questions at all WILL get answered if ya post them here. The tech section WILL save you! It saved me. :cheers:
