Eng/tranny install question.

[Sendero]

I have the 440 engine and 727 tranny ready to be put back in a 70 . I was thinking of attaching both engine and tranny THEN putting the whole assembly in at once. Is this the right way to go? Any gotchas like not being able to clear the tranny hump because of the overall length...?

[Ghoste]

It will likely interfere with the trans tunnel AND the rad cradle. 

[Blue Pentastar]

That is how I did it in my 69 but it is tight and you have to have an adjustable engine sling. Without one I would not attempt it around good paint. I bought mine from Northern tool best money I spent in a long time not directly for car parts.


Mike

[RD]

you can do it, you just have to raise the front of your car and put it on jackstands.  make sure you do not have your trans x-member in and also have your motor/trans at a 50 degree or so angle as you put it in the car.

have your engine and trans above the engine bay before you raise the car and put it on jackstands though or you will have a difficult time having the trans clear the rad. support.

of course, if you had an engine leveller it would make this entire process so much easier.

[palindromes]

I installed a 383 w/727 attached into my '68 yesterday.  I had planned on having some friends over to help, but had a wild hair & decided to do it solo.  This was the 1 & only time I've ever installed a motor, so here's my advice for what it's worth...

• Agree with RD...you don't need a leveler but can see how it could help.  The hoist was attached to my motor about an inch forward of the carb bores & that gave me the perfect angle...your CG may be different from mine so that may not help (50degrees sounds about right to me too).  Before the tailshaft touched the floor, I put a piece of 2x4 down for it to slide on...If I had a leveler I wouldn't have had to do this
• I didn't raise mine on jackstands but will next time(makes it easier to get under there & install the tranny xmember).  If you're skinny like me you can barely get by.  Oh, and make sure the (tranny) motor mount fits in the cross member before you crawl under the car...I had to trim off some of the excess rubber crap they dip them in to get it to fit.
• Make sure the crank pulleys are removed from the crank dampener.  Water pump is ok, but I'd take the pulleys off it too.
• Tape some cardboard around the top of the bell housing.  That seemed to be the biggest potential scratch zone.
• I bolted the motor mounts to the k-member very loosely which helped a lot.
• Leave the exhaust off.  If you're using headers you may need to lift/tilt the motor to get them on(like I will), but I'd save that for after the motor is at least in the engine compartment.

I'd definitely go with installing both motor & tranny.  Good luck!