This is the second time that the BB has been out of my 72 and needing to go back in within a week. The first time, it was all the way in, lined up right, and it was then I realized my flexplate was drilled wrong........

Anyways, going back in with it again, and it's being a *total* PITA. I'm just using a chain that is connect on opposite end corners of the intake manifold. It seems that the engine side of the mounts always seems to want to come apart on the passenger side if I bump it at all. Also, I have the headers sitting down in the engine compartment where they will need to be when all is said and done, and they kind of get in the way on the drivers side too.

Can anyone offer any tips for this? I've searched around on here and found that an engine load leveler may become my new best friend. One thing that I did notice last night is that it was not level side to side, or front to back, which was probably causing all of my grief. Well that and the fact that I have an asphalt driveway......having that much weight up on the hoist causes the wheels to dig in at certain places and makes it a real fun time to try to move it after that........I'm so ready to move to a place with a "real garage". :yes:

If anyone can offer some helpful tips, I'd appreciate it. I worked on it for 2.5 hours last night and finally got fed up enough with it that I just left it alone for the night.

Also - is it normal to have to tip the rear of the engine a good amount down once it's inside the engine bay in order to get the flexplate to sit inside of the front of the housing for the transmission? I was always trying to get that down inside of there first, and then get the mounts lined up afterwords. Am I going about this all wrong.....?

you should have a jack under the tranny, holding it up in front. I mean up, clear up against the firewall. install the engine, trying to get it aligned with the bellhousing first, get a couple of the lower bolts in the bellhousing, them lower the engine onto the mounts.

You shouldn't be working alone here, got a buddy that could help?

I use a load leveler and go and adjust off all four corners till it sits level. Then lift tilt lower and level and its in. Almost that easy with the tranny on it. Auto or stick makes little difference.:yes:

you should have a jack under the tranny, holding it up in front. I mean up, clear up against the firewall. install the engine, trying to get it aligned with the bellhousing first, get a couple of the lower bolts in the bellhousing, them lower the engine onto the mounts.

You shouldn't be working alone here, got a buddy that could help?

Yup, I've got a jack under the front of the tranny, and it's pushed up against the firewall as far as it will go. I'll try getting it lined up with the tranny and doing the lower bolts first, never thought of that. I do have help as well, but it's help that is just as inexperienced at this as I am. ;)

I use a load leveler and go and adjust off all four corners till it sits level. Then lift tilt lower and level and its in. Almost that easy with the tranny on it. Auto or stick makes little difference.:yes:

I'm heading out to buy a leveler right now. Hopefully that makes a difference!!!!!!

Thanks for the advice guys. If I don't get rained out today, I'll update this thread with good news later hopefully.

Definitely jack the front of the tranny up till it hits the fire wall.

I had a leveler and it was nice although I dont really remember need to mess with it much.

I could see the headers making it hard to get the motor mount bolts in. If you think they will be an issue take them out, not that hard to get in after.

My only issue was the converter wasnt fully seated so I had to pull it back out for a minute.

I could see the headers making it hard to get the motor mount bolts in. If you think they will be an issue take them out, not that hard to get in after.

My only issue was the converter wasnt fully seated so I had to pull it back out for a minute.

I thought about pulling the header out, but it seems that it may be a PITA to get in once the engine is seated down there. If not, I'm definitely going to do that.

I too made the converter mistake when it was going back in the first time. I couldn't understand why the engine and trans were lined up just right and it would just not push together enough to get the bolts in. I felt kinda bad after taking it off and realizing what was going on :)

I guess it happens to us all.

I'm spoiled and have a car lift, and a hydraulic/air 6ft' transmission jack, so I always remove the transmission prior to engine removal. I made me an engine lift plate out of 3/8" flat steel, and welded a 3" diameter 1/4" loop in the center of it, and drilled 4 holes to mount it to the intake manifold where the carb sets. It keeps the engines pretty well centered when lifting. I use a chain and have a swivel joint on it, makes rotating the engine very easy during R&R. I've currently have 3 different sets of holes drilled in it for different enines. I've used it on everything from a Ford "Y" block, 460 Ford, and of course my 454. It works great.

Well, the mission is finally completed!

2 things I learned tonight are:

1. Use a leveler. It's a life saver.
2. Make for *dang* sure your torque converter is pressed on all the way. The first 2 times I tried to sit the engine down in there it would not go all the way up to the trans, and it was due to the TC not being fully pushed onto the shaft of the transmission. I felt it hit that first section when I was pushing it on, and then gave some pressure until it "clicked" over to the second section. I thought it was all the way on. I was wrong :) Pushed it all the way on, and things fell into place magically :)

Tomorrow, the rest of the easy stuff!