So, anyone have any tips on dropping an engine into a camaro with the transmission still attached? I can't seem to get the final inch installed.

 

Dirtbik3r,

I fought like heck with my sons engine/tanny combo for quite a while. Ended up removing the shorty header from the Pass Side and it darn near put itself right in onto the mounts!

Don't know if you're installing with the headers...but my son's WOULD NOT go in with the passenger side on!

I had no problem getting the header on after the Motor was in place.

Kurt

 

AWWw... i didn't want to hear that. I am going to be doing this swap here soon.. i plan on having the headers and the tranny still attached.


Was the stuff on passanger side that got in the way? because i am going to have all that removed. (heater/AC)

 

84RIceEater,

NO, it wasn't the heater & A/C area stuff. The Passenger side header pointed more directly downward and rearward (probably to avoid being too close to the starter). The Driver Side was a bit further forward. Because the pass side was kinda shooting straight(ish)down it hit the K-Member BEFORE the tranny was low enough to clear the tunnel. It actually HIT the protrusion at the back of the K-Member where the lower control arm's rear bolt is.

I was not able to find, beg, borrow, rent, or steal a load leveler. I don't actually believe that it would have made a difference. Once I removed the header it dropped right into place. I then bolted up the Driver side motor mount and tipped the engine a little away from the passenger side and the header cleared with no problem!

It would have been nice to install & tighten the header bolts around the #8 & #6 cylinder while it was out! Since you have apparently removed the A/C stuff yours should be a breeze!

Although I've replaced several motors (in a variety of cars) that was the first 3rd Gen Camaro I ever did. Maybe there's another way but I sure couldn't figure it out. I also had some cheapo headers..... maybe another brand would be designed differently......

I did install mine with a BUNCH of stuff already in place...The A/C & Alternator Brackets really helped me have something to grab and pull on.. The Torque arm mount made it impossible to smash the tail of the tranny onto the concrete and made it much easier to install than it would have been in the car.

Sincerely,
Kurt

 

hmm.... my problem is with the motor mount adn transmission sline lighning up. The headers are off and no accesories are on it. Do I have to drop it in on a bigger slant?

 

I don't really understand that sentence.

My son and I did have our vehicle on jack stands. It wasn't too high but the wheels were off the ground. We did use a fairly steep angle maybe 30+ degrees? If you don't have one of those load leveler attachments that actually let you change the angle of attack in the middle of the lift you MIGHT need to have the car off the ground a little.

Kurt

 

haha, wrote that when I just woke up. Sorry for the spelling errors. I didn't read it it before I posted it. by sline I meant "spline" and by lighning, I meant "lining."

 

my dad and i just put a 350 im my firebird last week....we put it in with no tranny and no headers....went in like it was magic....

it took all of 20 min to get the headers on...and maybe an hour to get the tranny and all that stuff mounted up...

but tha was just us...using a chain fall no fance cherry picker...

anyway...good luck with ur swap

 

It's a mix of being creative on the chain and being brave..

Here's mine pulled out with everything but the distributor and plenum..
(Radiator and condensor were removed, but I don't think the condensor would have mattered.)


Kevin D.

 

Load leveler worked wonders, In my iroc it slid right out. No headers full accessories, a/c. Front of the Car was a little off the ground.

Tilted probably more then 30 *.

 

Load Levelers are for wusses. You just need 3 people. One to work the hoist, one to guide, and one to pull down on the tranny.

You cannot put the motor in with headers on.

 

Did it by myself... woulda been real difficult w/o a load leveler...

Hell with 3 guys you dont even need a hoist

 

Pretty hard to put on the Tranny-2-Engine Bolts on when u just pull the motor and put it back in?

 

it not hard to put the bolts back in...u just need the rite tools...u cant put them in with just a deep socket and a rachet...maybe im just used to working on 2 much fwd stuff and body panels...now some of thoses can be a real b*tch...just my thought...

 

which route would be easiest way? tranny w/ motor on and headers.. or pull just motor and put back in w/ headerS?


Make sence?

 

84RIceEater,
It's a lot easier to hold a header up while you're trying to thread the bolts in than it is the tranny. IMPO - It is more difficult to install the Tranny from under the vehicle. But (as someone just mentioned) with a good selection of good tools it's not really a big deal. The tranny shops do it everyday! I would still prefer to put the combo in together if I had the engine out. BUT.... My own experience (post above) tells me to skip the headers and put them on after the engine is in place.

IMPO - If I had a Manual Shift, I would NEVER put the Tranny in later if I could put both in at one time... that is a MAJOR PITA getting everything lined up outside would be a major time saver - IMPO.

Sincerely,
Kurt

 

I got my lt1 in with everything attached except the drivers header. Tried with everything attached, but then decided I'd have so much more room without that header. I decided that one because there was more room on that side. Once I got the engine in, I had to remove the brake booster and move the master cylinder aside and take that valve cover off to get the header in, but it was pretty easy, the brake booster is only held by 4 nuts inside the vehicle, and it was loose to remove the clutch and brake pedals to replace them with automatic pedals anyhow. It simply would not go in with the headers on it; it was really close, but not close enough.

 

that engine looks familiar!!

 

All you need is you...no one else I do it all the time by myself no load leveler nothing but the y-pipe removed

 

Yeah but i'm not a cool as you, Superman!

You can do it solo with the tranny attached?

I swapped my tranny 3 times by myself, with just a 3 ton jack and a board. Ummm, i mean i just bench pressed it up there with one hand.

 

I bet Ronnie Coleman could... lol, I got the engine in last week, ill post up some pics and the procedure i used tomorrow.