pulling engine

[73SWBBB]

Can I leave the transmission in this truck? It looks as though the front of it is only held up by the engine itself. First timer here. 73 swb 74. turbo 400

[Grim 82]

Keep a jack or a stand under it. If you need to move the truck without the motor in it you can use a ratcheting tie-down strap to the frame to hold up the trans.

[73SWBBB]

Thanks. Ill have to give that a shot.

[Lt.Del]

take a wire and tie it to one of the bell housing bolt holes and tie the other end to a hood hinge or something similar.  No problem.

Also, since you are a first timer, when putting engine back in, ensure your torque converter is in the trans all the way.  That is very important so you blow out your trans pump. Turn your converter several times clockwise while pushing in on the converter to ensure it is seated.  Do this prior to bolting the converter to the flex plate.

[bigchevyc30]

what i learned is you are not to be able to put ur fingers behind the torque converter when its in all the way. when i put mine in i didnt but lucky for me it was lined up with the tranny pump so it didnt break it.

[1979C20]

When you open your hood, there are 2 posts under each corner of the windshield. They are a saftty mearure, but quite strong as they are to stop the hood to go flying through the windshield in a front end crash. With a jack lifting the tranny up, take a chain, hook one end to one post, go under the bellhousong  or run a bolt through the chain and into the bellhousing with a nut on the back side in the 2 lower bellhousong bolt holes, then run the chain back to the other post and hook it.

[73SWBBB]

oh man, some of you guys are obviously seasoned at this. This is my first full size truck to pull the motor out of and its nice being an old truck with not much crap in the way. I've only done a couple S-10's and a few hondas. I have the heads off the truck as I was hoping I was only going to have to do the heads but i found some sweet gouges in two cylinder walls so im going to yank it. Think I can get it out with the hood still on?

[kmcbride74]

2 things, from experience in just going through this...

1) Why do you want to leave the tranny in?  I found it much easier to pull it along with the motor and then just put both back in bolted together properly.

2) Leaving the hood on, I would pull the hood and the front clip to pull the motor and tranny all in one shot.

Just my $0.02...

[Lt.Del]

take the hood off.  I couldn't even imagine doing it w/ the hood on.  I use a pulley that goes directly over the engine and lifts it straight out...impossible w/ hood in place.  I don't know what kind of system you use.
Mark the hood prior to removal---i use chaulk and outline the hinge on the hood so putting it back is easier to line up. 

[1979C20]

Pull the hood. But, outline the hinges as Sgt said. You can use a scratch awl and scratch the outline or chalk or paint marker, etc. also, if you pull the tranny too, I dont think you have to remove the whole front clip, but you can leave fenders and inner fenders in place. But make sure you disconnect any tranny lines and the drive shaft. And dont forget to unbolt the tranny from the crossmember. You might have to remove the crossmember, but i dont know.

[Grim 82]

Pull the hood, leave the trans.

[1979C20]

Pull the hood, leave the trans.

Personally, I agree. Mainly because thats what I did, but it was a lot easier to pull the engine alone.

[kmcbride74]

personal preference there I suppose.  Getting to the bell housing bolts can be a real pain, especially if the truck has emissions and cruise.  I found it much easier to pull both at the same time on mine and split them once out.

[Lt.Del]

getting to the bellhousing bolts is a pain, especially the ones at the 3:00 and 9:00 position....long extension and swivel on ratchet, but, it can be a little easier once you remove radiator and attach your chain to lift and unhook engine mounts, loosen trans crossmember and with a few angle adjustments with the chain, you can get to the bolts a little easier.  I usually leave trans in place when replacing engine as well.  Just easier.  Can always just drop the trans later.

marking hinge line up....

[bigchevyc30]

when i replaced my motor i pulled the motor with the trans. i had the hood off but nothing else. left the cros member in place and just had to make sure u dont snag the e-brake cable but ypurs might be different as mine goes right infront of the cross member just about half way up the tranny ruber bushing so. to get it back in  you have to have a person under the truck to make sure you dont snag it going back in if you put it in with the tranny on