Author Topic: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:  (Read 4986 times)

Offline Stewart G Griffin

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3324
RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« on: May 24, 2009, 10:37:06 pm »
Do you have any tips (yes---it's about that time) as far as lining up the engine and trans when putting the engine back in the chassis?

i know, i've done this about the 3 times with no real problems, but for some reason i'm having a little trouble with it now.

i must confess that i'm using a stock gm car jack to support the transmission under the converter which you probably shouldn't do but i did it the last 3 times and....................etc.

The trans is rotated a little to one side but still "in-phase" with the engine;  i just can't get the dowels to line up with the holes in the trans.

Should i get a transmission jack?  i know, they don't cost much but i was thinking that if i could do it without it then why bother?  Since it will be used only infrequently.


Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 13333
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2009, 11:43:41 pm »
I've used a ratch-a-strap. ran across frame to frame under the bell housing on the trany, put the motor in and if the trany needs to go up you just give it a click or too and what not.
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline fitz

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2085
Re: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2009, 07:02:48 am »
Try to loosen up the tranny mount bolts on the crossmember to give you some more wiggle room.

Offline VileZambonie

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19183
Re: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2009, 12:20:13 pm »
Do not jack it up by the converter!

Spreading the clam shell for the motor mount slightly will help give you a little more room to move things around. Patience, a pry bar, and  block of wood with a floor jack under the trans pan will help.
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline eventhorizon66

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1909
Re: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2009, 12:35:51 pm »
Do not jack it up by the converter!

Wow, I read through this thread and didn't catch that.  :o  Potentially dangerous and bad for the trans.  I used a thick piece of plywood to spread the load and jacked up under the trans pan.
'85 C10 SWB 350 700R4 TKO600

Offline Stewart G Griffin

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3324
Re: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2009, 04:37:01 pm »
i kind of figured you were not supposed to that.

So if i use a 2X4 or plywood, this won't damage the pan or the gasket?

i might just go ahead and get the trans jack.

Offline VileZambonie

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19183
Re: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2009, 05:34:56 pm »
A floor jack and block of wood under the trans pan is fine.
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline Stowburb

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 68
Re: RE: LINING UP THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION:
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2009, 09:44:07 am »
I use 2 LONG bolts with the head cut off them and grind to a rounded point and run them finger tight into the block and line them up with the holes in the bell housing and it all just slides together very easy!