Engine Installation - Motor only or entire driveline???

[militaryjeep]

Basics:
1986 Suburban K2500 350 "M" code Federal emissions, Originally TH400 and 208 Transfer

I bought this super clean rig with the remnants of the take out engine in the back.
Was all a bunch of mismatched worthless stuff.

I located a take out 1985 crate engine that only had 10,000 miles on it but
low compression on 2 cylinders. Turns out it had 2 burned valves.
Got that all back together and located all the bracketry and smog equipment
required to stay legal in Kalifornia.
Upgrading to a 4L80E mated to the rebuilt 208 transfer.

Now the burning question:
Do I install the engine by itself and then lift the trans/transfer up from underneath
or bolt it all together and slam the whole thing in one shot?

I have a forlift and a heavy duty tiltable engine sling. I have used this setup
for changing the powerplants on Humvee's but they were designed for the motor,
trans and transfer to come out together.

I was thinking to pull the front core support, radiator and AC condenser and slip
the whole thing in, I have the motor all built up on the stand all the way
including the stock header type exhaust manifolds.

Anybody attempted this before? My guess is that is how it went in the chassis
at the factory but they may not have had the body married to the frame at
that point on the assembly line.

Looking for advice!!

 

[Shorty81]

Welcome from the Buckeye State. I've never pulled or dropped in engine with transmission and transfer attached.

 

[waterpirate]

Hi and welcome! That is going to be really hard to get into place as 1 unit, why kill yourself? Tranny first then transfer case then engine.
Eric

 

[75gmck25]

If you have the radiator out of the way, and the fan off the engine, you can drop the engine in at an angle, turn it horizontal, and slide it back to mate it to the transfer case. It’s not a difficult job. I did not remove the core support, and had the exhaust manifolds installed, and had plenty of space.

You need one of the adjustable balance bars to attach to the engine hoist so you can easily change the angle as you lower it.

bruce

 

[Snoots]

I'm not sure I'd trust the bellhousing holding all that unsupported weight.

 

[SirRobyn0]

If it were me I'd install one or the other first then the other, if that makes sense. I have heard of people removing and installing them as a unit in a square body, but it does require stripping the front clip so you have a straight shoot in. To me the idea of removing the entire front clip to around having to bolt the engine and tranny together in the vehicle just seems crazy.

 

[Octane]

Ive always done two units together but would never try it with a transfer case attached.But I have always worked alone though

 

[militaryjeep]

I'm not sure I'd trust the bellhousing holding all that unsupported weight.

Interesting thought.... The Humvee uses the same transmission and a 218 transfer and I have never had a problem with that.

 

[82sbshortbed]

They pulled my sbc and transmission together. Seemed easier to me but, I didn't do the work. My hoist didn't have a problem unloading them together.

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[militaryjeep]

To me the idea of removing the entire front clip to around having to bolt the engine and tranny together in the vehicle just seems crazy.

Good point

 

[militaryjeep]

You need one of the adjustable balance bars to attach to the engine hoist so you can easily change the angle as you lower it.

bruce

I have an engine sling unit with a crank handle on it, you can tip the motor and transmission from almost pointing straight down to almost horizontal.
In the humvee I get the whole power plant at a 45 degree angle and lower the transmission/transfer into the engine compartment, then put a floor jack on the output of the transfer and start pushing the whole unit in
while leveling it out. Takes about 10 minutes to get the entire unit into the engine compartment.

 

[Snoots]

Interesting thought.... The Humvee uses the same transmission and a 218 transfer and I have never had a problem with that.

I'm just sayin' that I wouldn't trust the weight of the tranny and x-fer case hanging off the back of the motor. That's just me.

 

[Catbox]

My 17 year old son pulled a 454 and 4L80 out of a 2wd truck together.

It was helpful there was no radiator, condensor, or fan in the way.
That is 1,000lbs hanging off a tire chain...

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You must be registered for see images attach

 

[militaryjeep]

My 17 year old son pulled a 454 and 4L80 out of a 2wd truck together.

It was helpful there was no radiator, condensor, or fan in the way.
That is 1,000lbs hanging off a tire chain...

Awesome!!

 

[Camar068]

I did a 5.3/4l6e/NP208 all at once with the front stripped down. Don't make any massive jolts and you should fine....and is actually very easy to do. Way easier than doing each at a time.