Churchkey has it right.
Putting motor back into car
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: Canton Georgia
Putting motor back into car
Man i am having some problems getting this engine back into this car. I am swapping a 87 l98 into an 86 c4 corvette. Both engines were in corvettes but for whatever reason we can not get it slide into the mounts right. We are putting it in from the side and have tried going from the header bolts and the plenum bolts.
We have gotten really close but we cannot figure out why it cant make it back those few inches to slide in. Are these motors different or something? It should just slide right in shouldn't it? It seems like its butting up against something. Do we have to take the trans out to get it back in the car?
We have gotten really close but we cannot figure out why it cant make it back those few inches to slide in. Are these motors different or something? It should just slide right in shouldn't it? It seems like its butting up against something. Do we have to take the trans out to get it back in the car?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 110
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Get 2 long 3/8 bolts, cut the heads off & saw a screwdriver slot in the cut end. Install them in the lower hole in each side of the block. You now have guide studs to help get things aligned.
If auto trans car insure the torque converter is engaged in the trans front pump. Spin the converter while pushing it back toward the trans.
If std shift car several things need checked. Clutch plate needs to be centered in pressure plate use an alignment tool.
Is the bellhousing on the engine or still on the trans? On the trans is better you will not have to deal with throw out bearing alignment.
Put trans in gear, if on jack stands apply e brake. When it gets close to mating rotate the crank with the balancer bolt to match the trans splines to the disc splines.
If auto trans car insure the torque converter is engaged in the trans front pump. Spin the converter while pushing it back toward the trans.
If std shift car several things need checked. Clutch plate needs to be centered in pressure plate use an alignment tool.
Is the bellhousing on the engine or still on the trans? On the trans is better you will not have to deal with throw out bearing alignment.
Put trans in gear, if on jack stands apply e brake. When it gets close to mating rotate the crank with the balancer bolt to match the trans splines to the disc splines.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 3
From: Conowingo Maryland
Othgers main want to chime in but I think 87 was the first yr for the 1pc main if that is the case you will ne to upgrage the flex plate. and bolts for it to go in. Others please chim in this just came form my memoery and sometimes it is not to great
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: Canton Georgia
Get 2 long 3/8 bolts, cut the heads off & saw a screwdriver slot in the cut end. Install them in the lower hole in each side of the block. You now have guide studs to help get things aligned.
If auto trans car insure the torque converter is engaged in the trans front pump. Spin the converter while pushing it back toward the trans.
If std shift car several things need checked. Clutch plate needs to be centered in pressure plate use an alignment tool.
Is the bellhousing on the engine or still on the trans? On the trans is better you will not have to deal with throw out bearing alignment.
Put trans in gear, if on jack stands apply e brake. When it gets close to mating rotate the crank with the balancer bolt to match the trans splines to the disc splines.
If auto trans car insure the torque converter is engaged in the trans front pump. Spin the converter while pushing it back toward the trans.
If std shift car several things need checked. Clutch plate needs to be centered in pressure plate use an alignment tool.
Is the bellhousing on the engine or still on the trans? On the trans is better you will not have to deal with throw out bearing alignment.
Put trans in gear, if on jack stands apply e brake. When it gets close to mating rotate the crank with the balancer bolt to match the trans splines to the disc splines.
Last edited by sansonic; Jan 1, 2014 at 05:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: Canton Georgia
I'd like to hear more about this if someone has the information.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
Getting a engine leveler like the one in the link below may help.. It allows you to get the engine at the perfect angle to slide onto the torque convertor and up aganst the bell housing....
...WW
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/otc-4305/overview/
...WWhttp://www.summitracing.com/parts/otc-4305/overview/
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 321
Likes: 2
From: Auburndale FL
My 87 is a 1 piece rear main seal.
I am not kidding when I say it litterally took 2 hours of lifting, dropping, lifting, aligning, dropping, and a freaking prybar and 2x4 to wedge my motor back in place.
It was similar situation with the tranny still in the car and the torque converter flex plate all mounted. We lifted the front of the tranny, angled the block, made sure everything was in alignment dropped the engine and had it bind on the motor mounts.
After a lot of frustration we finally just got medieval on the bastage and it dropped right into place.
Best of luck.....
I am not kidding when I say it litterally took 2 hours of lifting, dropping, lifting, aligning, dropping, and a freaking prybar and 2x4 to wedge my motor back in place.
It was similar situation with the tranny still in the car and the torque converter flex plate all mounted. We lifted the front of the tranny, angled the block, made sure everything was in alignment dropped the engine and had it bind on the motor mounts.
After a lot of frustration we finally just got medieval on the bastage and it dropped right into place.
Best of luck.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: Canton Georgia
My 87 is a 1 piece rear main seal.
I am not kidding when I say it litterally took 2 hours of lifting, dropping, lifting, aligning, dropping, and a freaking prybar and 2x4 to wedge my motor back in place.
It was similar situation with the tranny still in the car and the torque converter flex plate all mounted. We lifted the front of the tranny, angled the block, made sure everything was in alignment dropped the engine and had it bind on the motor mounts.
After a lot of frustration we finally just got medieval on the bastage and it dropped right into place.
Best of luck.....
I am not kidding when I say it litterally took 2 hours of lifting, dropping, lifting, aligning, dropping, and a freaking prybar and 2x4 to wedge my motor back in place.
It was similar situation with the tranny still in the car and the torque converter flex plate all mounted. We lifted the front of the tranny, angled the block, made sure everything was in alignment dropped the engine and had it bind on the motor mounts.
After a lot of frustration we finally just got medieval on the bastage and it dropped right into place.
Best of luck.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: Canton Georgia
The trans is sitting in the car. Okay we are going to try and take the trans out now that would be awesome if it makes it that much easier.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Just get the motor into the motor mounts, put the bolts through the mounts and don't tighten them down, this way you can still rock the motor back and forth to help with the Tranny install.
I have pulled/installed my Tranny a bunch of times from underneath by myself. Just make sure you have a swivel set of 9/16 and 1/2 sockets.
Good luck and let us know the results.
Vic
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
Just a suggestion in case you forgot, while the motor is out, replace the front seal on the transmission. These are cheap and tend to leak after the motor has been removed and replaced, or after being banged against a few times from trying to install a motor.It only takes a few minites to put one in........WW
....WW
Last edited by WW7; Jan 3, 2014 at 01:39 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,763
Likes: 1,676
From: Summerville SC
If you still have issues, look at the dowels on the back of the block where they slide into the bell housing. Put a dab of grease on them and that might help. They need to be almost perfect for that last inch to go in.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 337
From: Adelaide South Australia
Last time I was wrestling with my engine I wondered if it would be easier to loosely bolt the engine mounts to the frame, drop the engine onto them (and into the trans) and put the 3 bolts into the block from underneath ?
Please try it coz I'm dying to know if it works !
Please try it coz I'm dying to know if it works !
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 253
Likes: 12
From: Ogden Utah
I rebuilt my 94 and Installed it from under the car with no engine hoist and all by myself.
heads, flywheel and pan were not installed at the time but I was able to install it with a floor jack with the car on jack stands. Not for the faint of heart. that being said if you drop the back of the tranny down all will be well in engineville!
heads, flywheel and pan were not installed at the time but I was able to install it with a floor jack with the car on jack stands. Not for the faint of heart. that being said if you drop the back of the tranny down all will be well in engineville!
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Man i am having some problems getting this engine back into this car. I am swapping a 87 l98 into an 86 c4 corvette. Both engines were in corvettes but for whatever reason we can not get it slide into the mounts right. We are putting it in from the side and have tried going from the header bolts and the plenum bolts.
We have gotten really close but we cannot figure out why it cant make it back those few inches to slide in. Are these motors different or something? It should just slide right in shouldn't it? It seems like its butting up against something. Do we have to take the trans out to get it back in the car?
We have gotten really close but we cannot figure out why it cant make it back those few inches to slide in. Are these motors different or something? It should just slide right in shouldn't it? It seems like its butting up against something. Do we have to take the trans out to get it back in the car?