Engine install advice wanted from CSX and KMP owners

[Specialk]

Sal,

The reason the bottom of the bell housing is chopped off is so it doesn't hang below the frame rails.

I install the engines without removing anything from the car. Removing the hood helps, but it's not necessary. The puke tank can stay in, just be careful. There is no way I would ever leave the transmission in place. It would probably take 15 minutes to remove the transmission, and I don't think you'll save 15 minutes by leaving it in. I think it would be tough getting the bellhousing over the 3" crossmember, but at the same time getting the input shaft perfectly into the clutch disk. I can usually get an engine and tranny in the car in under an hour if I can get the right guys helping me and this is with the engine and trans installed separately.

The engine in your car needs to be leveled side to side to make sure it's not in the car cocked.

I also found that it is easiest to install the rubber motor mounts on the chassis with the nuts on the studs a couple turns, then install the two mount to block bolts.

Anymore questions, ask away. I know who I'm going to ask when I need to find a Lightning motor!

[cobred]

Sal, ill be going to HRE Saturday if weather is good and ill ask Billy how he does it. Im sure he has done a few on previously finished cars and will know what can stay on and what must come off. You can always call him but I know he doesnt like calls during the work week.

[Power Surge]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I put the motor in today. Being the stubborn bastard that I am, I did it the way I planned to do it. It really wasn't all that bad...

A few observations in the install..

- the alternator did not need to be off the motor, but it sure would have made life easier.

- you can't drop the motor in with both mount on the chassis, because the pan is wider than the mounts.

- my bellhousing was not cut, but it sure HAS been bashed on something at one point. I will be cutting it down in the car once I can get it up on the lift.

- I need to figure out something different for my fuel line from the pump to the carb. It doesn't clear the steering shaft.

- I have no idea how the heck I'm going to install the driver's side header bolts or motor mount bolts. There's hardly any room on that side.

Basically I just jacked the trans up as far as it went, then slowly dropped the motor in place, while making sure the Lakewood block plate was over the crossmember. Yes, it was a close call, but it didn't see any harder than doing it any other way.

Oh, and the funniest thing was, with no engine in the car, it looks like there is tons of extra room in there. But once the motor is in the bay, it quickly fills up!!

Thanks to everyone, and I'm sure I'll have lots of other questions now that I have to figure out where everything hooks up to!