Pulling engine

[macdodd]

I'm going to put another 350 in my '69 C-10. Is it easier to pull both engine/trans or just engine. There is no air on it, and I might want to shove it out of the shop to clean the engine compartment and respray it black. I'll be removing the radiator for more access. Thanks for any comments,,,Bill

[kehstr]

They are not that easy to take out as one piece unless you take the radiator support out. I would say unbolt the trans, put a strap under, pull the motor, then take the trans out from the bottom.

[mike16]

Originally Posted by kehstr

They are not that easy to take out as one piece unless you take the radiator support out. I would say unbolt the trans, put a strap under, pull the motor, then take the trans out from the bottom.

x2

[toolboxchev]

I had to do it a few years back. All by myself. It took a little over 4 hours to remove the engine.

I did this by separating it from the transmission. Do not forget to push a rag into the torque converter hole to prevent the fluid from spilling out everywhere. Better yet use a plastic plug sized correctly for the hole.

[GASoline71]

I've only pulled or installed the engine and transmission together when I have had the entire front clip off of the vehicle. It can be done with the rad support there, but have a couple of strong buddies that can lift that transmission tail shaft up and over it as the unit is slid out with the hoist.

Gary

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I've only pulled or installed the engine and transmission together when I have had the entire front clip off of the vehicle. It can be done with the rad support there, but have a couple of strong buddies that can lift that transmission tail shaft up and over it as the unit is slid out with the hoist.

Gary

exactly why i say not to pull it all together without the radiator support off. Is the trans a manual or an automatic?

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by kehstr

exactly why i say not to pull it all together without the radiator support off. Is the trans a manual or an automatic?

Exactly why I said it can be done.

Is it the best way... no. But... its doable.

Gary

[macdodd]

Hey thanks for all the input. Its an automatic trans. We're doing it at my mechanic's shop,,,so we'll have all the "toys" to help with getting it out. I imagine I'll strap the trans up so I can roll it in and out of the shop to clean the motor area out to paint it. Also going to put a new steering box in, it has power steering, and its the original one,,its worn,,floats around some.

[New_70'C10]

If you have access to an engine leveler you can use with your cherry picker I would pull them both out together. It does take a bit of jockeying in and out but IMO it is much easier to work on and you spend less time on your back underneath your ride.

[Grumpy old man]

Split them , The sb weighs about 575 alone add the tranny weight and then use a cherry picker to pick it up and over the core support ? Why ? Your still going to have to lift the tranny tail to get it out and over the support and your just asking for scratches or worse with 725 lbs over your head and you'll need 2-3 people to move it .Bad Idea .

[REEDS 72]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Split them , The sb weighs about 575 alone add the tranny weight and then use a cherry picker to pick it up and over the core support ? Why ? Your still going to have to lift the tranny tail to get it out and over the support and your just asking for scratches or worse with 725 lbs over your head and you'll need 2-3 people to move it .Bad Idea .

x2

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by REEDS 72

x2

if you need the cub scout troop to help move an engine on a cherry picker you should not be messin with an engine change// imo

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by cdowns

if you need the cub scout troop to help move an engine on a cherry picker you should not be messin with an engine change// imo

The more the merrier ! All engine swaps here include Budweiser and usually something burning on the grill . But lifting over 700 lbs above your head on a "cherry picker" over the core support by yourself is just NOT SAFE .We were all young and overly ambitious at one time and we only became old men by doing it with the least risk as possible . Heck you want to be adventurous go use a tree limb and a 1,000 lb come along .

Sometimes you have to remember there are young men in here who have never pulled an engine let alone work a "cherry picker" by themselves .Think safety not bravado and live longer . It only takes one small mistake to have it land in your lap .we did a lot of things "back in the day " that wouldn't even be considered today .

[El Dorado Jim]

split them, much easier to get out and back in...

[cdowns]

I've always pulled both together as on unit and have never ever had to remove the radiator core support either// never ever needed anybody helping me just lifted it up with the cherry picker and wheeled it out all by myself

[hdpete98]

Originally Posted by cdowns

I've always pulled both together as on unit and have never ever had to remove the radiator core support either// never ever needed anybody helping me just lifted it up with the cherry picker and wheeled it out all by myself

Same for me.

[68basket]

for me the best way is all together i dont care if all the front core support is still on the vehicle or not. I use a really nice engine leveler and it makes it an easy 1 man job

[Mmorgan32]

I have pulled many engines, never split them. It's not easy getting the tranny out on your back and u have to jack the truck up pretty high. I pulled my engine alone with tranny attached I just bought a leveler from summit it's like $50 I only took out the radiator and took off the fan

[cooperhw]

I prefer to keep em together so I don't have to re-stab em later.
We each have our own preference, but either way will work. As you are doing the job "at your mechanics" shop, I would suggest to do it how he prefers as he's probably done more that a few.
One day you too will have "your preference".

[jdw]

If for whatever reason you want the trans out, pull them both. If not, leave it in there. They're both doable, and they both have issues. You've gotta support the trans if leave it in, so if you're gonna be pushing it around the shop in the off hours you may want to just pull it all so you can set it aside without it flopping around in there. Also, I don't like doing the torque converter bolts from underneath.

[Money_pit]

Pull them together and be through with it. I usually don't even use the leveler. It's harder it seems to wiggle that stuff back together with the dowels on the block and the engine mounts. It's all simply preference pick a way go with it. If you don't like that way lesson learned. I like to clean the tranny and put new seals front and back while it's out too. Either way have fun good luck

[HO455]

This question revolves around the equipment your using to lift the engine. Low dollar Harbor Freight style NO! Quality picker with lots of height and long, wide set legs or a an A frame style with a good chain fall. YES! Go the first path and things will go wrong at some point. It may be minor or major but it will happen.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by HO455

This question revolves around the equipment your using to lift the engine. Low dollar Harbor Freight style NO! Quality picker with lots of height and long, wide set legs or a an A frame style with a good chain fall. YES! Go the first path and things will go wrong at some point. It may be minor or major but it will happen.

I've been using my Harbor Freight cherry picker for over 20 years without incident, and I don't own any small blocks. And I usually pull with the trans. And I used it (with the board-sourced blueprints) to remove the cab and bed too!

They may make cheaper ones than what I have, I don't know, but the legs are as wide as the wheels allow and they're plenty long.

What are you suggesting will happen? Will a weld break or the cylinder fail or what's the risk? I can -afford- a new hoist, I just don't have any issues with my old one... yet!

[HO455]

I too have a HF cherry picker I purchased back in the late 80's that has been used to pull and install dozens of motors most of which were Pontiacs. The safety issue was to the OP's query about pulling the engine with the transmission still married to the engine. Those cherry pickers are rated for that amount of weight but the boom length will be too short at that weight. So then you pull the boom out far enough to get enough height for the lift and then the back wheels will come off the ground. Just pulling a 550 + pound Pontiac engine from my lowered GTO is difficult with my old HF picker. The job requires more height than the boom will give at the rated weight. I have in the past pulled the engine with the boom fully extended at the 500 setting and stood on the picker while jacking it up and and got the engine out without issue. Lowering the engine after it is clear of the car a different story and I have a crushed oil pan to show for it. Due to the change of leverage when lowering the engine as it gets closer to the ground the back of the picker will come off the ground and drop the engine. My post was lazy as I didn't explain the issue with pulling the engine and tranny together with the wrong equipment. For which I now apologize to the group.

[68bowtie]

since we're on the topic of engine hoist safety and using another individual's tools, i thought i would share a recent near miss a couple weeks ago. i sold a 402/th400 combo on craigslist. used my hoist to load it into my truck. the guy wanted me to load it in his expedition (no joke). he was local so i offered instead to deliver it for him. i asked if he had a hoist (he said yes) so i didn't need to worry about loading mine beside the engine. well i got to his house, backed in nice and tight next to his camaro, and we worked on setting up the pick. there were lots of red flags like he didn't know how to use his hoist, it was old, and the wheels didn't turn well. but it was late and it was mostly his deal at this point (20/20 hind sight). as i began to lift the engine/trans, just as the oil pan left my truck bed... BOOM! one of the outer hoist wheels (way out front) exploded into a mess of ball bearings. i got lucky it went that quickly, the engine simply setted back onto my truck. driving home i thought about the various things that could have happened if it failed after i drove my truck out from underneath.