Im giong to be puttin a new small block in my 71 chevelle. I was wondering what the most efficient way is to remove everything and put back in. I will be using a chain block attached to my cieling. I was wondering if it is easier to remove the engine with the tranny attatched. Or leave the tranny in the car and just pull the engine wiht the bellhousing. I am more concerned with putting it back in. I had a really hard time bench pressing the transmission into place and would rather not have to do it again if i can just put it all together outside the car. Im not sure how hard it woudl be to install all together with only the chain block. If i just left the tranny in the car is it difficult to get it to line up and slide into the bellhousing when dropping in just the engine? doing that would let me leave my shifter and driveshaft hooked up. im open to any tips, thanks

it will be much easier to just pull the trans AND bellhousing off from beneath the car prior in seperate pieces, to pulling the motor. when pulling everything at once, it is a real pain in the rump having clearence without jacking the car up then moving it backand getting the angle you need on the assembly to get enough clearance, since your block and tackle is probably affixed to a stationary point.
for reinstallation, it is even easier to put them back in, in components instead of a whole unit.
the motor with the clutch assy is all you should put down through the engine bay. and make sure that the clutch is properly aligned before installation. (test fit the tranny in the clutch assy and pilot bushing, you won't need the bell attached for this test)

I installed my big block and trans as a unit and it went in fine. The front end was jacked up high enough that the trans cleared the firewall and the floor with ease. It's a LOT easier to mate the engine to the trans outside the car than from under it. The one caveat is that you are using a fixed chain fall rather than an engine hoist and that won't allow you to move the engine around much as you install it. You may want to consider renting a hoist.

Tom

I prefer to put them in all put together. This allows me to install and torque all the bell housing screws much easier than when it is in the car. And, the need to bench press and align a transmission is gone. The suggestion about using a movable hoist is a good one.

If the trans doesn't have to come out I would leave it in. It's not hard to line up the engine and trans. When sliding the engine back in you may have turn the crank slightly by hand to get the splins on the trans input shaft to line up with the clutch. Then it should slide right on. I've done a couple big blocks that way. A leveler to attach to your chainfall would be a good idea too. Getting the engine at the right angle, trans or not, sure makes it easier.

With the engine and trans separated---
upon reinstallation of the engine, I use a couple of 3-4" bolts (placed where they can be removed after snugging) in the rear of the motor.

When you get close, it is easier to tilt/align for that last inch wihout getting separated again.