Install engine & tranny TOGETHER???

[Glennster]

I hear that installing the motor and tranny together is not too difficult. Can you guys give me some '' HOW TO '' tips on putting them in all at once?
My motor and tranny are together now, I hate the idea of putting them in separate, it seems like a lot more work and hassle...
THANKS!!

[6packCuda]

It's definitaly easier to put them both in together. You will have to get the front of the car up on some jack stands and make sure you have a buddy around to help guide it in. Other than that, it's pretty straight forward.

[Glennster]

How high would you jack up the front? I was thinking 6-8 inches, just enough to make easier to work from under the car.
 One guy told me to use a floor jack to hold up the tranny once you have the motor sitting in the motor mounts.....

[Chryco Psycho]

I generally install them together but from the bottom already bolted to the K frame

[Moparal]

I usually leave the hood on, have them both bolted together, have the car on 4 jack stands, but taller than 6/8 inches. I'm fatter than that. A floor jack to raise the back of the trans as you slide the assembly together. And sometimes it is easier to leave the engine mounts off untill you get the trans crossmember into place. Also I leave the pullies off, and on a big block I leave the water pump housing off. But have the tranny lines laying in place as with the headers going in around the same time as lowering.

[Glennster]

I'm putting a 340 in, I figure the small block should be more manageable...

[burdar]

I have a picture somewhere of it being done.  It's definatly easier to do from the bottom if you have the K-member out of the car.

The picture I have shows angle iron bolted to the front bumper mounts on the frame.  The angle iron is sticking out infront of the car by a couple feet.  A chain is strung through the ends of the iron and a cherry picker is used to lift the front of the car off the ground.  I've seen it where the back of the car was on stands...also, where the rear end was already bolted inplace.  Personally I'm going to have the rear end installed first.  I can just see my car falling off the stands if I tried it that way. 

[cowboy]

-
I'm gonna try this some day, - always have installed it together..

[the_engineers]

About halfway down on Page 28 is what burdar is talking about.

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=37642.405

[Glennster]

We dropped the whole mess in from the top, it went real good. The deep oil pan was almost a game stopper. It may not look close in the picture, but it really was........
 We had the front of the car up on some ramps, that really helped the guy under the car, it gave him some room to guide the tail into the tunnel.
Getting the header bolts started is a bit tricky, I've heard some stories about headers that fit real bad. I have to give it to the guys a HOOKER, the fit on these was GREAT!!!

[dodj]

Glad it went well! Looks nice
Is that another Challenger in the background? 

[bb71challenger]

That is the only way I have ever done it. I have almost always done it by myself too but that was when I didnt have a nicely painted firewall to worry about. I am glad it worked out for you.     My biggest fear has always been the engine dropping on the rad support as I am coming in with it so high in the air. Definitely a pucker factor going on with it going in over the top like that. I plan to do it CP's way next time, from underneath.
I cannot wait to hear your positive comments on the switch to the beefier small block combo. You are going to love that 340   

[Glennster]

dodj,
  That little car you noticed was a Plum Crazy 1970.....Numbers matching....Well, just look at the pictures!

That's Jim Stewart's car, he's the guy that has been kind  enough and generous enough to let me use his building, his tools, his experience and his time, so that I can live out a 30 year old dream. I've always wanted to have a tire toasting E body. THANKS to him, the dream will come true!



That's my 340 and Jim's Hot Rod!

[boydsdodge]

How I do it on my own is to jack the real of the car as high as my jack stand will alow.
That way my trans tunnel is in line with the top of the rad support.
It really is the easiest way I have done it.
Like 25 30 degrees.

[dodj]

  Very Nice