Installing a engine from under a car?

[cudaken]

 I was just reading the post "Got Hemi?"and showed a 426 going in to a Charger.

Some asked him why he did not install the engine from under the Charger? I have heard of doing that way but never seen it done before on any older Mopars.

Anyone having any PIC they could share? Hope this last engine will stay in the Charger for sometime. But knowing something new is good.


                   Cuda Ken

[bull]

Ken,

I asked the same question in the General Q&A section and someone posted a few pictures there but the way the guy was doing it didn't look very professional, or safe. http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,552.0.html

All I know is you have to have a way to hoist the car up off the floor and slide the engine and trans underneath. The engine and trans are already bolted to the K-member and then you either jack the assembly up to the car or lower the car down over it and bolt the K-member in place. It's faster and there's less danger of scratching the paint. I was planning on using a lift to raise the car up about three feet and then a transmission jack to jack the engine, trans and K-member up to the car. I would think a transmission jack would work best because of all the adjustments they have to change the angle of the load.

[hotrod98]

I've always installed my motors from below. I'm fortunate enough to have a lift in my shop at home and it just makes sense to use it since it reduces the chance of scratching the car or worse yet damaging the car. I attach the exhaust manifolds or headers beforehand and the transmission and trans x-mbr are already in place as well. The control arms and all of the rest of the steering are already in place. After lowering the car down over the motor, I just align the k-member to the frame, install the bolts and slide under and slide the trans x-mbr bolts into place. I then raise the car and finish hooking everything up. It's a lot easier than the old way.

[41husk]

I can see it being easier with a lift but without a lift I would think it would be tougher.

[cudaken]

 Bull, I just happen to find the post on my own. If you not redoing the front end at a the same time, I think you will waste time. If no headers, then I would do the over the front way. But headers, man they where a pain in the a-s on my Charger and DFS68 Charger and he had way better headers than me.

On DFS68, it would have been the way to go. Front was apart and installed before engine was dropped in.

I posted this on Bulls thread. Why do so many people take off the support gear, PS, Alt, wiring before they pull there engines and not install before they drop in the car?

I bet when done at the factory all the wiring was on the engine when they went in.

                                       Cuda Ken, time to clean the pool fliter again.

[Afflyer]

I watched that special on Kenny Wayne Sheppard's "Xtreme Lee" a while back and they showed that bringing up the engine on the K-frame from underneath is the best way to install an engine.  Especially one as monstrous as what he had installed!

Bradley 

[cudaken]

 Hum, bigger than this?

[cudaken]

 Would not want to try the new Lee in a turn. Give me 1320 in a straight line he can kiss my yank ass when I slow down.

If I had painted her B-5 Blue, I call her General Grant. We ani't for gitting? Hope not or we half to kick your ass again.

Funny, not a Dukes fan at all, but yet mine was used on TV as a sort of a Look a like for the 01 Charger.


Cuda Ken, full of Cam 2 again.

[bull]

Bull, I just happen to find the post on my own. If you not redoing the front end at a the same time, I think you will waste time. If no headers, then I would do the over the front way. But headers, man they where a pain in the a-s on my Charger and DFS68 Charger and he had way better headers than me.

On DFS68, it would have been the way to go. Front was apart and installed before engine was dropped in.

I posted this on Bulls thread. Why do so many people take off the support gear, PS, Alt, wiring before they pull there engines and not install before they drop in the car?

I bet when done at the factory all the wiring was on the engine when they went in.

                                                          Cuda Ken, time to clean the pool fliter again.

I will most likely be rebuilding the front end at the same time. It needs it so I might as well get 'er done.

[41husk]

post some pictures of the process I would like to see how it is done.

[69hemi]

Here is a picture from Restorations By Julius' web page.  The arrows point to the motor on the cart and the hoist. 

I have helped people do it this was and it is easier than going in from the top.  A couple of things to get right is to make sure you can get the car high enough.  If you don't have a hoist then the car will be at an angle.  You need to get the car high enough to clear the motor and trans at the same angle.  The car needs to have a cradle to hold the K frame and a support for the tranny tailshaft and needs to hold them at the proper angle to the car.  If you have the ceiling space I have used a chain hoist to raise the car then you just slide the motor, trans and K frame under, lower the car and bolt it together. 

I would have loved to have done it that was but I don't have the ceiling height to pull it off.

[hemihead]

When all the Chargers were built that is the way the engines were installed.To do it at home be very , very careful.

[dodgecharger-fan]

engine dolly from Safeway. ?