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best method for motor/trans instal in a 65?

65-408

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I believe I took them out together, but it wasn't pretty, there was a bunch of scraping and banging... I'm sure I could have been more careful, but am wondering what is the preffered method, together or apart?
 
Together, jack the rear end as high as you can get it and make sure your engine hoist has a decent length chain and load leveler. I think Dne' has a post with pictures when she installed the drivetrain in her '67.
 
Jacking the rear end and the load leveler is key. One person below the car to guide the tailshaft of the trans and another operating the cherry picker.
 
Yep, what was said above. It only takes 2 people (*) to install the engine w/ the tranny installed. Might need to remove the shifter and keep the plug in the output end of the transmission if it has the fluids in it.



*note* unless it's Shag, then it takes 6 :ecit
 
together it is, thanks for the heads up on jacking the rear, seems so obvious, but wouldn't have done it...
 
"silverblueBP" said:
*note* unless it's Shag, then it takes 6 :ecit

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

COULDN'T RESIST !!!
 
Another vote for together, I do not think a leveler is necessary though. I have installed mine a handful of times with out a leveler, just offset the hook in the chain.
 
I've always done it with the front on ramps, install the engine/trans/headers as one piece and gradually backed the car up as we slid the engine in.
 
"gotstang" said:
I've always done it with the front on ramps, install the engine/trans/headers as one piece and gradually backed the car up as we slid the engine in.

Is this a rear engine car? :lol Sounds backwards of the way it should be.
 
I have never installed with the engine and tranny together. I always do it by myself though so i put in the motor and it is nothing to heft the tranny in place from the bottom.
 
Together with the load leveler is the preferred method.

DSC04668.jpg


And the back in the air helps a lot. I cheated and used a 4 post lift to get the back up. Put some towels over the shock towers just in case.

DSC04675.jpg


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new.jpg
 
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"Fast68back" said:
Pretty damn impressive Jake, you did it with the export brace installed.

Yes sir, went right in without a hitch. Even left the Hipo manifolds on. Now getting the motor mount bolts in were another story. They took a little persuasion. Having a friend with an awesome personal home garage is a plus.

I did all the prep work (sand blasting painting, wiring etc..,) at my place. Then moved the car to his to use the lift for the motor / trans install, brake work, fuel lines etc... Hardest part of the whole thing, was pushing / walking my car to my friends house to do the install. Traveled about 3 blocks, with one pain in the ass hill.
 
FWIW, I've done it both ways on mustangs (probably 5-6 times), and now I only do it separated. No big interference issues from export brace, steering, manifolds, or getting the engine mounts to line up when you do it separated. Not that hard to hook up the trans & engine IMO, and the trans is easily lifted with a floor jack and the plywood piece referenced in the post.

Now, I've done some BMWs, and there it is much easier to drop them together- but the assembly is much more complicated and difficult to do in the car with the BMW.

I just don't find that much advantage in effort or time for a mustang, though.
 
Sluggo and I had planned on installing mine as an assembly, but I did not have enough chain or a leveler with my rental hoist, so it had to come apart.
 

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I don't like to use a jack to install the tranny. I cant feel it go in so I fight it more with the jack. Lethals garage setup is nice. All that I have is a bunch of redneck engineered crap to work with.
 
"buening" said:
Is this a rear engine car? :lol Sounds backwards of the way it should be.
Jeez, I'm a retread today.... I knew Jake's picture looked farmiliar somehow, took a while to dawn on me that I explained it completely bass-ackwardly.
 
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