Engine and Transmission before or after body drop?

[Donald H.]

This is for my 1960 restoration. How big a deal is it to put the engine and transmission in after the body and chassis are back together?

We have ordered a complete front end from Sermersheim, so there will be a lot of work to do in the engine bay area, i.e. new holes for wiring harness, VR, Rad support, nose bracing, etc.

The fellow doing my finish body work and painting wants to do all that with the engine out, and he would prefer not to lift the body once it is fitted (doors, etc.) and painted to put the engine and transmission in.

This is my first restoration, but it sure would seem easier to put the engine, transmission, and driveshaft on the chassis without the body in the way. But it also make sense that being able to get the work done in the engine bay with the engine there would be a lot easier.

What to do

Thanks,
Don

[David S.]

[Donald H.]

Re: Engine and Transmission before or after body drop?

So when you say body work. Are you also recommending painting, then pulling the body off to install the engine and transmission?

Have you done this without any damage to paint or body work?

Thanks,

Don

[Joe R.]

Re: Engine and Transmission before or after body drop?

This is for my 1960 restoration. How big a deal is it to put the engine and transmission in after the body and chassis are back together?

We have ordered a complete front end from Sermersheim, so there will be a lot of work to do in the engine bay area, i.e. new holes for wiring harness, VR, Rad support, nose bracing, etc.

The fellow doing my finish body work and painting wants to do all that with the engine out, and he would prefer not to lift the body once it is fitted (doors, etc.) and painted to put the engine and transmission in.

This is my first restoration, but it sure would seem easier to put the engine, transmission, and driveshaft on the chassis without the body in the way. But it also make sense that being able to get the work done in the engine bay with the engine there would be a lot easier.

What to do

Thanks,
Don

Don,

I think you would want the engine and transmission installed prior to the final body drop. Isn't that the order shown in the AIM? Here's a body drop video for you (scroll down to "'67 Corvette body drop"):

http://www.michiganncrs.org/page1/page1.html

Joe

[Paul J.]

Re: Engine and Transmission before or after body drop?

This is for my 1960 restoration. How big a deal is it to put the engine and transmission in after the body and chassis are back together?

We have ordered a complete front end from Sermersheim, so there will be a lot of work to do in the engine bay area, i.e. new holes for wiring harness, VR, Rad support, nose bracing, etc.

The fellow doing my finish body work and painting wants to do all that with the engine out, and he would prefer not to lift the body once it is fitted (doors, etc.) and painted to put the engine and transmission in.

This is my first restoration, but it sure would seem easier to put the engine, transmission, and driveshaft on the chassis without the body in the way. But it also make sense that being able to get the work done in the engine bay with the engine there would be a lot easier.

What to do

Thanks,
Don

Don,

Fit the new front end onto the body with it on the frame, engine out. You're using the frame as a jig. Put the holes in the new clip where they were in the old one. You don't need the engine in, you just need to measure where the holes are and duplicate it. After the body work is done, lift the body, restore the frame, and install the engine. Paint the body while it's off. Then install the body to the frame and finish it.

Paul

[Stephen L.]

Re: Engine and Transmission before or after body drop?

Complete all the bodywork/fitting etc to the point where you are ready to paint, with the body on the frame. Install/bolt a tie bar in the door openings (between hinge and latch striker points) to make the body rigid. Remove the body from the frame, place on a dolly and complete the paint and buffing.

Meanwhile, clean/paint the frame and running gear engine etc. Reassemble frame and running gear, engine etc.

At this point, all the "dirty" work should be complete.

Drop the finished body onto the finished chassis and complete assy of interior, bumpers, doors, hood, etc.

Note: when doing the body drop, alignment is much easier if you install some long guide bolts loosely in the rear body mounts to keep the body and frame aligned as you set it down. Do this with a "nose up", attitude to start. The body will go on like a "clamshell" closing, with the long bolts keeping it aligned.

Take it out for a spin around the neighborhood.

[Bob B.]

Re: Engine and Transmission before or after body drop?

Don,

If you have the body off, there is no question that you put the engine and tranny in the frame before body drop. There's no risk of scratching either firewall or body paint that way.

Also, if you have rebuilt your engine, you should run it in the frame before body drop, run in the cam, and check for leaks. Problems may be unlikely, but the last thing you want is for a freeze plug to leak or find something else that needs to be addressed after the body is on!

Bob