Hey guys, I'm going to be dropping my engine, and trans in this weekend. I always done the installs in the past separate/one at a time. But a couple of people told its easier to install both at the same time. What are your opinions, suggestions, tips, etc? My engine is already on a stand, trans is on a dolly/cart. My engine hoist has a adjuster bar to tilt up or down.

i have always put the tranny on the engine before hand, then put them in the car together. i find that way easier my self.

Do I need to elevate the front end so the end of trans does not hit floor, as its alot longer attached engine/trans?

when i did mine...i had the car up on 4 jack stands so the tail of the tranny wouldent hit the floor and so i could hook everything up under the car after it was in. im pretty sure the tranny would hit the floor if the car is not jacked up.

Ok!
Is this a one man job or do I need a helper?

i always had my ol man help me..it can be a pain in the azz by yourself trying to get it in yes..the hardest part by yourself is getting the motor lined up with the motor mounts. remember there is alot of weight there.

I have done it both ways; I think that bolting the tranny to the engine first, then installing them as a pair is easier in the long run. I have had problems getting the tranny up into the tunnel and on to the pins and then getting the first tranny/engine bolt in.

One tip is to put a hydraulic jack on the floor under the car. When installing the engine/tranny, guide the back end of the tranny onto this jack. The jack must be sitting fore and aft direction. From this point on, the back of the tranny will rest on the jack. You can adjust the heigth of the back of the tranny to help install the whole package.

ok,
is there any concern with weight issue since there is only 6 bolts holding the trans/engine together minus the pins. Like could they seperate, the cowl crack etc?

the torque your engine creates probably puts more stress on those bolts than the weight of the tranny ever could. I pull and install them in one piece whenever possible. I'm afraid this time I'm going to have to go two piece though... can't use jack stands, or a jack to roll under the tranny. UNFORTUNATELY the ONLY place I have to do the install is on a brick patio, with spaces between the bricks :[ so I'm going to have to go ghetto style, and roll the car instead of the engine hoist. talk about a BEOTCH!!!
anyway, if you can get it off the ground so the tail shaft will clear, go with doc's suggestion on the floor jack, you'll be a LOT happier than if you tried to install the engine and tranny seperately

Great thanks for all the info. everyone.

Why don't you make it easy on yourself and lay down a couple sheets of plywood board?

I've been thinking of that.... I wonder how thick it would have to be

1/2 " is fine over a somewhat solid underlayment

that sounds easy enough... now I just have to get the plywood AND the hoist :P LOL
I thought of just getting a cheap chain hoist from harbor freight and attaching it to my wifes gazebo :P