Engine swap time frame?

[Displaced_Txn]

So I'm getting another K5 blazer to work on instead of my current mess of a 77 k5.   Only down side is the better one that I am picking up this weekend is minus the motor. How long would it take me to pull the sbc400 (engine only) out of my 77 and get it bolted up into the new to me 76. Only big difference when swaping the engines will be the 77 is an anuto and the 76 has the sm465 trans( which was the trans i really wanted org).

Only downside is I have a limited amout of time to get the engine out of the 77 and into the 76 and get the 76 sent off to get scrapped, and will be only able to use hand tools to pull the engine out. 

So after the long story about how long am I looking at to get engine pulled out and at least bolted into the 76?

[rich weyand]

Back in the day, couple guys, hand tools and a rented engine hoist, we would swap engines between vehicles in less than a day.  That was 2WD, though.  Not sure you can get the engine mounted onto a stick without pulling the tranny and transfer case, and that's a PITA.

[Displaced_Txn]

well the main thing is that the engine is pulled out of the 77 and either just set into the 76 or fully bolted up into it.

[thirsty]

Make sure you have an externally balance flywheel for your 400.

[rich weyand]

well the main thing is that the engine is pulled out of the 77 and either just set into the 76 or fully bolted up into it.

Getting the engine out of the 77 should take a little more than an hour if you're all set up with the hoist and all.  Not much to it, assuming bolts aren't rusted.  So soak bolts in Silikroil starting a week before.  If the trans and transfer case are out of the 76, or at least slid back, dropping the engine in should be about the same.

[Blazin]

Engine swap in a 4x4 is way easier than a 2wd. No need to jack it up. Dropping the actual engine onto the mounts, and up to the trans is about the same for bellhousing as it is for an automatic no matter if it 2wd, or 4x4. You don't need to pull or slide the trans back at all.
If you have all the tools you need, and a means to lift the motor it should be out of one, into the other and running if 4 to 8 hours.
I have pulled motors before that everything went well and they were still warm to the touch from running. Had them dropped in the other rig in 3 or 4 hours.

[Irish_Alley]

txn how much time you have left?

[rich weyand]

Engine swap in a 4x4 is way easier than a 2wd. No need to jack it up. Dropping the actual engine onto the mounts, and up to the trans is about the same for bellhousing as it is for an automatic no matter if it 2wd, or 4x4. You don't need to pull or slide the trans back at all.
If you have all the tools you need, and a means to lift the motor it should be out of one, into the other and running if 4 to 8 hours.
I have pulled motors before that everything went well and they were still warm to the touch from running. Had them dropped in the other rig in 3 or 4 hours.

I was just worried about getting the engine lined up with the tranny input shaft into the clutch and crank bushing.

[Displaced_Txn]

Going to pick up the 76 either Friday afternoon or early Saturday. But time frame is to try to have it done before Sunday mid day as I have to be at work that night.  Just sucks being away from my garage etc in Arkansas.  Main thing problem is being in the middle of town and having easy complaining neighbors to call the city on me.

[74k20]

Think about what you are going to install as a "unit" or individually.  I find the t-case to be a bit of a heavy hassle pain.  It's ackward heavy and un-balanced to use a floor jack.  Also don't think there is room to remove motor/trans/and t-case together.  I've always removed the t-case 1st, and left the trans (t350) attached to the motor.  NOT saying this is best, but I usually do my installs and removals by myself (with help of my kid/wife once and awhile to control the engine hoist).

[Displaced_Txn]

trans, transfrer cases are staying in the vehicles they are currently in, just taking the sbc 400 out of the 77 and putting it into the 76.

[Captkaos]

Have you ever swapped a motor in one of these before?  Swapped in anything?  If you have, it is pretty straight forward.  You should be able to get it pulled out and back in the new one in less than 3 hours.  Make sure you keep anything connected to the current motor example the exhaust just in case you have issues...

[Displaced_Txn]

I have about 10 years ago but that was just putting the motor into the truck not removing and re installing. Other than that got real good at pulling the trans and transfer case out of my old 97 cummins as that thing ate trans on a 4 month basis. Or should I just scrap the idea of swaping in the 400 and finding the small required parts to do the swap and look around for a 350 to throw in there?

[Captkaos]

If your 400 runs I would swap it, but you will need a flywheel for it to go in front of a manual.

[Displaced_Txn]

400 runs good, no smoke or anything  all stock as down to the valve covers and quadrajet carb on it.
did find this on jegs though.
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/601255/10002/-1?parentProductId=1221208

Sorry for some of the dumb questions have been doing diesel for 10 years and had 1 gas truck in that whole time frame in which motor stayed stock and everything else was suspension work.