Prepairing to swap out engine and trans in 85 bird. Is it feasable to pull off the front end (bumper, radiator support, ect., not fenders) to gain easy access removing and installing engine and trans assembly. I have pulled out a 305 with trans attached from the top but it was very tight getting it out. I would like to use tlc with installing new engine/trans assembly. Any recomadations on pulling front end hardware or not? Thanks.

Mine has been modified for easy removal but I always pull the nose off when I pull the engine. I can pull the complete nose off in about 5 minutes. Although an engine hoist can be used from the side of the car, it's hard to pull an engine forward from the side. The only way the engine hoist can reach the engine from the front is to remove the nose.

You can't remove the rad support although removing the rad itself is just a safety step to keep from damaging it.

Not even possible to so.

The nose & fenders will unbolt, but the inner fender wheels/strut tower mounts & radiator wall are part of the subframe & welded in place.

Sounds like pulling the nose and of-corse the radiator is my best bet. A person low to the ground such as I, has a hard time reaching into the engine chamber from the front. I have a lot of mods to do to the engine after install to get things changed over from previous engine. Thanks all for the help.

Does your hoist have a small boom? I just finished up my swap and i was able to do it from the front, I pulled the chin spoiler off just in case. I unbolted the trans from the engine and removed it from the bottom tho.

I use a typical folding engine crane similar to this.



There are non folding, larger versions that will fit past the nose and reach the engine but most people will typically have this type of folding crane version.