is it better to install the engine and trans together or the motor then put the trans in from the bottom? i need to get my old motor and trans out then put in my SBC because my dad is complaining about it. and i dont have my trans yet...

 

neone?

 

Some people prefer to do it one way, some prefer the other.

 

is putting the trans in from the bottom more of a pain in the ****?

 

I rather pull the tranny seperately becuase I have small hands and I can reach the bellhousing from above. Makes pulling the engine much quicker and reinstall is infinitely easier- no worrying about a swinging tranny smashing your cowl/windshield or bashing your firewall. I did my install by myself in my driveway actually.

I've never pulled the tranny from the bottom (side), but you'd have to get the car fairly high, I'm not sure if jackstands will cut it. Not sure what tranny you got, but autos are heavy and hard to manuver when under a car so a dolly is a good idea.

 

And I prefer pulling them together. Especially if both are being replaced. I've done it both ways, and the bell housing bolts were a royal pain when leaving the transmission in (and I don't have that big of hands). The only "issue" with pulling both is firewall clearance for the lifting chain - it needs to be toward the back of the engine to balance the assembly. If you have a floor jack to lift the transmission as the engine is pulled/stabbed, that isn't as much of an issue.

 

this is more of an installantion issue. im going to pull the old stuff together but i need to put my motor in and the trans in later

 

Depends alot on what tools you have, and the space you are working in, how much of a tolerance you have for working in a transmission fluid or gear lube bath, and stuff like that....

For me, it's always easier to do them separately. That's because I usually use a chain fall or a come-along or something like that, that can't move front to rear easily. With a wheeled cherry-picker, the best way might change.

But there's no one always-correct answer for everybody.

 

oh trust me ive had oil baths gas baths brake fluid baths lol i have no problem with messy jobs.
i think im going to install my motor and put the trans in later
thanks guys!

 

There is no right or wrong way. I've done it both ways and I think I prefer to seperate the tranny from the engine. The main reason why is that it is more difficult to squeeze the engine in with the tranny attached. It requires a large engine lift and full control over the engine pitch and roll angles. I have pulled small block and big blocks in and out of my engine bay many times. The only time I damaged anything was with the tranny attached. I broke the wiper motor cover when the big block dropped suddenly.

 

I do them separately, personally. There's no A/C or other plumbing blocking access to the bellhousing bolts from the top, and I have a transmission jack which makes removing and reinstalling the transmission so much easier.

I also don't really trust the ability of my chain block, cherry picker or engine stand to support the weight of both at the same time anyway.