Dropping the engine

[nsmall]

Hey out there E-body Buddies.

So my car is getting closer and closer to finally getting a new paint job. I have a friend who's a Mopar guy who's been rebuilding engines for years in the area I live in Southern California.   He has a lift and his preferred way to take out an engine and transmission is to drop it out the bottom along with the K frame and the rest of the suspension.

I'm building a roller to mount on the front bumper bracket area (thanks Bursar aka Darren for the advice)

 I have another friend who thinks that I'm making a major mistake by dropping out the K frame as I'm going to misaligned everything when I put it back together. I'm going to have my friend who's the expert on pulling engines put the K frame and suspension back in with the engine.

So my question is, should I be worried that the car won't be put back together correctly and drive straight like it does now? Also is 6 inches above stock height a good place to put the car when it's on the roller as I'm torn between two painters and they're both about 5 feet 10 inches tall?   I guess what I'm trying to ask is what is the typical height  that most people put their car at when putting it on a roller?

As always, thanks a lot for your advice.

[rUNCHARGER]

Dropping everything out the bottom is the best especially if you're doing a colour change and have to paint the frame rails etc. You don't want the body too low for paint because he has to get under the rockers to get good coverage.
You'll need a wheel alignment when it all goes back together but you should check bushings and moving front end parts anyway.

Sheldon

[1 Wild R/T]

The guy who's concerned probably has a GM background... The front stub on F bodies can be a PITA.. Mopar K members are pretty easy... As mentioned get an alignment when your done...

[AMXguy]

I always pull the K member to restore it.  it's an easy job and you can do a better job.

The problem with  pulling it with the  engine is you're going to need some type of jig or dolly.   I've never tried it but I see no way around building something specifically to do it .

Watch them do it on GYC and you'll see what I mean.

[1 Wild R/T]

I always pull the K member to restore it.  it's an easy job and you can do a better job.

The problem with  pulling it with the  engine is you're going to need some type of jig or dolly.   I've never tried it but I see no way around building something specifically to do it .

Watch them do it on GYC and you'll see what I mean.

Yeah, my special jig is a harbor freight furniture dolly under the K member with a couple 2x4's to set the level.....

[blown motor]

Out and in from the bottom has been done many times. It works.

[anlauto]

Watch them do it on GYC and you'll see what I mean.

   there's a role model 

[dodj]

Yeah, my special jig is a harbor freight furniture dolly under the K member with a couple 2x4's to set the level.....

Hmmm. Sounds exotic. Kind of like my floor jack transmission lifting jig. lol.

[js29no]

  there's a role model 

     

[nsmall]

Hello.  I'm the original poster.  Obviously I need to talk to my painter to determine the exact height he wants the car.   But is having the car set 6 inches higher than stock a good idea to have the the car set at as I am doing a color change so the pinch welds are going to have to be painted?

[anlauto]

You can see the height I put my cars at...nobody complains

[nsmall]

Alan, what height would that be at as I do see photos but I can't tell if it's 6 inches above stock high or 3 inches?

Thanks,

Neil

[anlauto]

I don't have any here at my shop to measure, but I would guess the pinch weld is 12"-14" off the ground ?

[twalker]

Hey Neil, here's what I built for mine FWIW.  As said earlier, an alignment is a given - but can be done at home.

[Chryco Psycho]

I also always drop them out from the bottom far better way to do it