Pull motor alone or with tranny?

[62lwbc10]

Hi I'm about to do a motor swap and I have a th350 in the truck that is perfect. Only replacing motor. Can I just pull the motor and leave tranny in and then put new motor in? Or would you pull motor and tranny as one and install as one unit as well? Seems reasonable to leave tranny in and avoid a big mess but maybe it will be too tough to line up new motor with tranny this way ? Thanks

[Kim57]

I've done it both ways. It just depended on the situation at the time.
If you leave the trans in the truck be sure and unbolt the torque converter from the fly wheel or you will run the risk of breaking the trans pump.
Kim

[Sethmark]

Every time I do the job, I swear pulling just the engine is faster. It isn't. Always less work in the end to pull the whole thing. Just remember the th350 will spill out the output shaft.

[62lwbc10]

Thanks Kim that was my idea, to unbolt the torque converted from flex plate and then pull motor. I had a guy tell me it will be tougher to line up the tranny with new motor this way. Still, I'd have to remove shifter, tranny coolant lines, dipstick etc, lose fluid etc to pull tranny. Can you help me understand what other considerations there are when making the decision to pull the tranny or not? Thanks , mark

[OrrieG]

Only difficulty is making sure the torque converter stays is place while you horse the engine in and doesn't move forward enough to rotate away from the three places it needs to engage. Don't forget to support the front of the transmission! It is not that difficult, on my truck is is the only way to do it and I had my engine in and out probably 5-6 times during the initial fabrication.

[62lwbc10]

Seth thanks so you support pullin motor and tranny together ?

[62lwbc10]

That's a good point Orrie what would you do ?

[Sethmark]

Yeah. It's just easier.... And frankly, it's 2 cooler lines, the vacuum line, kick down cable and speedo. Not that big a deal. Much easier to reassemble out of the truck.

[62lwbc10]

Fair enough thanks.

[Posted]

I just did it. Pull both together!

[mr48chev]

It all depends on if you need to work on the trans or not. I've done it both ways but if I wasn't going to work on the trans outside of maybe changing the front seal (which is a good idea) I'd unbolt it from the trans after unbolting the converter and pushing it back in the pump. I usually put something across from frame rail to frame rail under the pan to support the trans pretty close to it's normal position. Anything from a piece of angle iron with a bolt through each end that goes up in a hole in the frame that is already there to a 2x4 set up to do the same. I have run a chain under the trans to do it too.

When you put it in take two longer (4 or 5 inch or what you have as long as they are a couple inches longer than the bellhousing bolts and slip them through the bottom two holes in the bellhousing and when you set the engine back down in the engine compartment line it up and screw those bolts in to the matching holes in the block. finger tight is good. Then just slide the engine back in place, bolt up the four regular bolts, swap out the two long ones for the regular bolts and no fighting and cussing and no listening to the wife fuss while she holds the engine in place so you can put the bolts in. It works even better when you are trying to stab an automatic from under the truck.

[Mike_The_Grad]

I pulled both. Only because they were filthy and basically unrecognizable. And frame rails were caked with oil/dirt/grime. Only good thing was no rust! But lots of time on my back with a scraper and wrenches. But you will be glad you did it because I replace filter and pan gasket on tranny, cost me $8. And I didn't even have to lay on my back. Proof is in the pictures...night and day difference. And this is the same day after one power washing its completely different. Here is also as it sits today...

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
Kim