Removing 350 and SM465 from 1970 C10

[mattfranklin]

I'm trying to take engine and tranny out out together. I thought I had read in Hot Rod that it could be done "easily" as long at the tilt was high enough. But the tranny seems to be just a little too tall and deep to slide between the cab floor and the tranny cross-member, regardless of engine angle.

I then tried to pull the top housing of the tranny to give more clearance. I'm pretty sure I removed the shifter with the tranny in neutral, but the cover is not coming off. I hesitate to pull too hard. My only manual tranny experience was with a Jeep with a T90C (30+ years ago) and that was pretty easy to separate the cover.

I assume my 4 speed is an SM465 because it has a casting number of 3901131.

Any suggestions how to proceed? Is this possible or should I just cut my losses and pull the tranny out through the back?

[Theboatandcarman]

I separated mine because you have to tilt it way too much for comfort. Just pulled it forward and unbolt and did it separately. Any chance you're getting rid of transmission?

[mattfranklin]

Keeping the tranny. Yup, I had the load-leveler set for max tilt and that wasn't enough. I think I'll split the two.

[rustrunner]

Dump the trans out the bottom, and then remove engine. I don't think there is any way to bring them out together.

However, saw where people have taken the x-member out and then bolted it back in on reinstall. Not my first choice.

[mattfranklin]

Thanks. That's what I wound up doing. Pretty quick after splitting things at the bell housing.

I wonder what the guys at Hot Rod were talking about. Maybe they had the SM420? Or maybe it was Car Craft. ;-) They say the memory is the first thing to go...