Engine removal opinions needed

[Jeffrey S.]

Hello all! Time has come to finally remove the engine in my '69 (small block, automatic trans.) for rebuild. I would like your opinions on whether to remove both the engine and transmission as a unit or just the engine. The service manual says to remove both but others here locally have advised to take out just the engine and leave the trans alone. No work is necessary on the transmission except perhaps a cleanup and, if the trans is out, new insulation in the tunnel area. Thanks as always for you advise!
Jeff

[Edward J.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

Jeff, With a automatic trans I would leave in place, as it not easy to not deal with the bulk of the weight and overall length of the assy. my last C3 engine removel was on a 80 last summer for a cust. and found leaving the trans. in place and supported with a floor jack with a lock of wood on the pan. Some of the trans bell housing can be cleaned by lowering the floor jack after removel.

[Paul J.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

I've always left automatic transmissions in place and removed the engine separately. No need making more work. The only time that have I removed them together is when they both needed to come out.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

Thanks for your responses. I'm inclined to leave it in except for 2 issues. First, with transmission left in place, it will be difficult to move the car around since a floor jack would need to be left in place to support it. Second, it seems that it will be much more difficult to mate the engine to the transmission. Any thoughts?
Jeff

[William C.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

fab a support under the trans to hold it up, with the engine out, mating an auto trans is easier, because you can use a couple of studs screwed into the block to align with the bolt holes in the trans. The converter doesn't have to bolt up until after the engine is mated.

[Edward J.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

Jeff rolling the car around with the engine removed may create a problem, depending on how far you need to move. as far as the mating the engine back up to transmisson is generally not a problem. Take you time and keeping the gap between engine and trans the same from top to bottom. Its a little easier for me as I do this stuff for a living. and know all the tricks.

If you have a big enough engine lift assy. and long enough arms to extend over the fender to remove the engine and trans as a assembly go for it. be warned that it will need to have enough lift on the hyd. piston of the lift to clear the fender. because the transmisson will be hanging lower than the engine because of the weight of tranmisson.you'll want to be sure the engine lift is a heavy duty type and can support the weight of both.

Jeff, If you need some phone technical assitance putting the engine in or takeng out let me know I can give you my phone no. to my shop be happy to talk to you.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

Bill, what concerns me is not getting the bolts to line up but getting the spline to properly mate to the trans without damaging anything. Edward, the engine hoist I have will lift one ton so I think that is covered. I will have to check how high it will lift, as you suggest.
Jeff

[Edward J.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

Jeff if your car is a automatic no spline to worry about. unless you need to pull the torque convertor. that is splined ,and should not be moved outward because the transmisson front pump has to be fully engaged to its ears of the pump. if not damage can occur to pump assy.

[Mike E.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

Jeff --
Most of the time with an automatic you leave the torque converter connected to the transmission and unbolt it from the flex-plate. If you remove the torque converter with the engine you will very likey create a big mess on your garage floor don't ask how I know, its only a mistake you make once when your a 16 year old kid that doesn't RTFM. There isn't really a spline to mate up.

Mike

[Thomas H.]

Re: Engine removal opinions needed

Edward, the engine hoist I have will lift one ton so I think that is covered. I will have to check how high it will lift, as you suggest.
Jeff

The C3's have a very long nose and require the boom of the hoist to be extended pretty far. Your hoist may be rated for 1 ton with the boom retracted. Verify the lifting capacity with the boom extended. Lifting a small block out you should be ok, but double check the boom reach and extended load capacity before the lifting party starts.

Tom