My dad and I are finishing up an engine rebuild and getting ready to put the engine and transmission back in. When we pulled it out, we unbolted the bellhousing on the transmission, pulled the engine alone through the top, and dropped the transmission through the bottom. It worked okay, but the bolts were *really* a pain.

I've seen several posts here in the past that say they've pulled and dropped both the engine and transmission attached, and they say it's easier that way. I'm all for making it easier, but I've got a few concerns:

1. My guess is that, with the weight of the transmission on the back of the engine, the engine will be tilted at ~45 degrees going in, the back of the transmission angling down. This would mean that we would have to pull the engine especially high to clear the car. Factoring in the fact that the car will naturally be higher in the front due to the lack of weight, plus the length of the chains, plus the height of the engine and transmission at an angle, would an average cherry-picker go that high?

2. As the transmission would likely be going in at an angle... as we lower the whole assembly to let the engine into its home, wouldn't the back of the transmission want to hit the ground?

I'm just looking for some tips on how to do this. Of course, if dropping them in together is not the way to go and I'd be better off doing it separately, please let me know. I'm just looking for the best way to put them back in.

Thanks

BTW -- In case it makes any difference... The car is an '89 Camaro IROC-Z, the engine is a 5.7L 350 TPI, and the transmission is a four-speed automatic (700-R4).

 

it'll work and the angle all depends on how you rig it short chain on one end long chain on the other, ot move the attachment point around. i use floor jack under trans to lift it as i lower engine in

 

An adjustable tilter makes easy work of it.

50 bucks, or rent one.





Ron

 

I slid a rope up through the boom of the hoist and tied it to the tailshaft of the trans,then lifted the tailshaft and took the slack out of the rope and tied it to the handle of the hoist...As I lowered it into the car I let the rope out as needed...
Hope that makes sense..............