Pulling my sbc this weekend

[hpcgmc]

I've got a buyer for my worn out 283, so I'm pulling the motor this weekend. The plan is to work on front suspension, disc brakes and power steering this winter, before installing a crate or rebuilt 350 next spring.

I haven't pulled a motor in a long time. The last time i pulled a sbc was in about 1983 when a mechanic friend helped me install this 283 in this truck.

Any suggestions on where to start and any tricks that will make it easier?

I've got an engine hoist, a load leveler, a friend and a bunch of tools and hope to get the engine out of the truck on Saturday. I plan on removing the radiator and the hood, but leaving grill and fenders in place. I'm leaving the stock 4 speed manual in the truck.

Any ideas or suggestions appreciated!

[bbcmudtruck]

Its pretty straight forward! I pulled my motor last weekend, installed all new gaskets, painted the engine bay, replaced all missing bolts and re-installed it inside of a day and a half. You need to let all the fluid out of the motor, oil and coolant. You don't really need to pull the radiator unless you just want to. Pull the distributor, spark plugs, exhaust, and power steering if equipped. Be sure to use a jack stand to support the trans or at least use some heavy wire and wire it up to the firewall somewhere. Thats pretty much it! Hook it up to the cherry picker and jerk that sucker out of the there.

[Longhorn 70]

Does the 4 speed have the crossmember mount for the bell housing? If so, you're in luck. That should hold the front of the trans in place.

Do pull the radiator. It will give more room to pull the engine forward to clear the clutch. I've always pulled the engine and trans together with manuals. Don't forget to remove the clutch linkage, drive shaft and shifter (if pulling trans with it). PLUS you'll want to replace the rubber for the mounts on the bell housing. You can clean, and paint the trans while it's out.

[c20pickup]

longhorn is right. trying to realign a manual trans input shaft to the clutch is a major pain in the rear! i just swapped a 6.5 diesel motor from my 92 chevy (it has the nv4500) and i left the trans in place, big mistake. its only a few extra bolts to pull the trans out. well worth the time, instead of trying to wrestle it back into spot. with an auotmatic id leaev it in there because you just have three t/c bolts, but trying to realgn the input shaft is a pain in the butt, it can be done however, up to you.

[hpcgmc]

Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll leave the trans in place, since I don't have much room to store it. I might pull the trans right before installing the new motor to clean it up and mount it to the engine for install. I have a crossmember at the front of the trans, so that should support it. I'll also pull the radiator to avoid damaging it. Plus, I'll have it boiled out before installing the new engine.

[NC_John]

I'm starting teardown to pull mine out right now too.

[hpcgmc]

Ok guys, dumb question- I'm starting disassembling for pulling the engine tomorrow. I'm still planning on leaving the transmission in the truck.

Do I remove the bolts holding the bellhousing to the engine, as opposed to the bolts holding the bellhousing to the transmission? The bellhousing looks to be resting on the crossmember, so it will support the transmission if I remove the engine and leave the trans in place.

I plan to start removing bolts from the bellhousing/engine tomorrow morning - is this the right direction?

Thanks!

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by hpcgmc

Ok guys, dumb question- I'm starting disassembling for pulling the engine tomorrow. I'm still planning on leaving the transmission in the truck.

Do I remove the bolts holding the bellhousing to the engine, as opposed to the bolts holding the bellhousing to the transmission? The bellhousing looks to be resting on the crossmember, so it will support the transmission if I remove the engine and leave the trans in place.

I plan to start removing bolts from the bellhousing/engine tomorrow morning - is this the right direction?

Thanks!

Mine came out Thursday night so this is fresh advice.....It is going to be way easier for you to leave the transmission on the engine and remove it when its out of the truck- just put it in the bed. The transmission bolts to the bellhousing (my Saginaw had four bolts), the bellhousing bolts to the block (maybe 6 bolts). There is a lot of room under our trucks to work but it is still going to be a major pain in the buttocks to get everything lined up and torqued properly in place.

While mine is out I've degreased and scrubbed it spotless and am going to get all the seals/gaskets changed so I don't have a leaky transmission behind a dry engine.

[hpcgmc]

NC John, does your truck have the crossmember at the front of the trans, right under the bellhousing? Was it a problem getting the trans to clear that crossmember? Did you have to remove that crossmember?

Thanks!

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by hpcgmc

NC John, does your truck have the crossmember at the front of the trans, right under the bellhousing? Was it a problem getting the trans to clear that crossmember? Did you have to remove that crossmember?

Thanks!

yes, yes, no and no! but I removed the rad support so it was a straight shot out.

[Longhorn 70]

How did it go? Did you get the new power plant fired up?

[hpcgmc]

I pulled the engine and left the trans in the truck, resting on the cross member. Engine came out easily. No new motor yet. Winter project is to do power steering and disc brakes, then get a motor to install in the spring. I'm kind of looking for a 73-87 truck for brake and power steering parts, if I can find one with the 4 speed overdrive trans.

[zeldman]

Take your time and do it right the first time. Pay attention to details, when you have nothing else to do then clean, clean, clean.... Its the little things that will make your truck stand out. It is yours, fix it up the way you want it.

[Longhorn 70]

Originally Posted by hpcgmc

I pulled the engine and left the trans in the truck, resting on the cross member. Engine came out easily. No new motor yet.

Glad you got it out. Now clean and as zeldman said, take your time getting it ready to put back together.

[Elliot949]

Man I hate to see someone replace a original 283 with a 350...

[SKELLY4x4]

Bbc!

[70's luvr]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Man I hate to see someone replace a original 283 with a 350...

283 wasn't original anyway.

[cali72]

Originally Posted by hpcgmc

I pulled the engine and left the trans in the truck, resting on the cross member. Engine came out easily. No new motor yet. Winter project is to do power steering and disc brakes, then get a motor to install in the spring. I'm kind of looking for a 73-87 truck for brake and power steering parts, if I can find one with the 4 speed overdrive trans.

Where at in nor cal are you? I've got an 86 with all those parts, it's a complete truck runs and drives I'll make a deal on. I'm in yuba city.

[hpcgmc]

Cali72, I'm not far from you in Auburn. I will pm you