Engine & Tranny Installation

Hey Guys (Newbie)

I'll be ready within a month or so to finally install my engine & tranny into my ' 66 Convertible ~
THE TROUBLE IS I DON'T KNOW THE BEST WAY 2 DO THAT

Questions Please:

1. Do I bolt the tranny to the engine while its on my garage floor ?

2. Or do I drop the engine in the bay first and then hook-up the tranny from underneath ?

3. If I hook-up the tranny to the engine while on my garage floor do I have to cut-out any part of the front radiator support in order to get the engine and the tranny into the car ?

4. Are there any pictures or forums out there that can show me just what's the BEST WAY to do this ?

Thanks Guys
GOD BLESS


Schooner

The easiest way I have found to install the engine and tranny is to install them as one unit. You shouldn't have to cut anything but you'll probably want to have a buddy help guide the engine and tranny in. Set the boom as high and close to the hoist itself and you shouldn't have any problems.

Originally Posted by blue65stang289

The easiest way I have found to install the engine and tranny is to install them as one unit. You shouldn't have to cut anything but you'll probably want to have a buddy help guide the engine and tranny in. Set the boom as high and close to the hoist itself and you shouldn't have any problems.

Hi Blue65stang289

From what I was thinking; would it be a good idea to jack-up the front end as high as possible and roll the tranny engine underneth the car.

Then let the car down nice and easy with the engine hoist ?

Let me know what you think please.

Thanks again.
GOD BLESS

Schooner

I have done it both ways.
If you go the tranny hooked to the engine.
I found that I needed to jack the 66 front end up a bit.
It will clear the radiator support fine. But if you have a shock tower support I found i had to remove my valve covers the get clearance.

You didn't say what your engine combo is but if it was stock for the 66 mustang you can stuff it in from above without cutting anything...Its a little harder to install the engine with the trans attached due to the longer length but most people don't like installing the trans from below so its well worth the extra effort...Buy an engine tilter and you can tilt the engine on the necessary angle to clear the rad support and the firewall at the same time..As you ease the engine back into the car and down you can start to level the engine out till it sits on the mounts...

I haven't ever heard of lowering the car over the engine, but that's not to say that it can not be done. I would follow frdnut's advice as well. Basically it boils down to how comfortable you are installing it a specific way. I'm not saying that I'm a master of engine and tranny removal, but I prefer to pull and install them as one unit. Especially if your trying to do it by yourself.

In from the top with tranny attached.

This can be done with 2, but preferably 3.

1 working the hoist, 1 guiding the assembly in, and 1 underneath to push up on the tranny as you lower the engine down on the mounts.

He can put the trans mount botls in and then you can move the engine around a bit if you have the early style mounts. (Bolt straight down through the mount.)

With the later style mounts it is just a little more cumbersome, not much, just a bit as you have to line the motor mounts up and slide the bolts through.

With this process it takes about 15 minutes to install or remove the engine.

Originally Posted by forthman

I have done it both ways.
If you go the tranny hooked to the engine.
I found that I needed to jack the 66 front end up a bit.
It will clear the radiator support fine. But if you have a shock tower support I found i had to remove my valve covers the get clearance.

Hi Forthman

First of all: Thank You 4 your quick reply and interest in my '66 project.

At the present time my convert. has been sandblasted and is now in the restoration shop. They are cutting out all the rusty/rotten parts/panels,etc.

They will paint the car also.

My engine is a short block due to the fact I had it bored out 0.30 thousanths. I will remove the shock tower strut 4 sure as you recommended.

Questions Please:

1. Are you telling me I will have no problem getting my engine & tranny into the car without 2 much differculty ?

2. With me using my engine lift and my partner guiding the engine & tranny into the engine bay should be all the hands that I need ?

Whatever else you might share with me on this project will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You Guy
GOD BLESS

Schooner

The time I went with the tranny hooked up was as easy as it comes.
But I had 1 huy helping me guide it in.
Plus had the car jacked up in the front so the tranny tail would clear.
You will need to scoot the tranny tail as you go, or what we did is put in on an old blanket and pull from the rear to slide the tail under.
Now i was installing a 351w so it was a bit taller than a 289/302.
But needed to remove the valve covers to clear my shock tower brace easy.

Now do not put any fluids in the tranny as they will all come out the tail shaft when you go to install.

Oh I also found it easier to install that way by taking out the motor mounts till I had the tranny in the bay.
Then install the mounts while you still have the engine on the hook.

If you do not have a tower brace. Get one.
Helps a bunch in keeping the front end stable.

I did an engine install from the bottom 3 months ago. It much easier than I thought it would be, but that is because the front springs were not in the car and that allowed me to set the front of the car almost on the floor. You have to remove the cross member and steering linkage. I bolted the trans and motor mounts to the engine, set the engine trans. combo on a wheel dolly so I could roll under the engine bay. I put a jack on each side under the frame and lowered it over the engine. Then I installed the portion of the motor mount that connects to the frame and raised the car a little to connect the two parts of the motor mounts together, raised the back of the trans up in to the tunnel and that was it.