A few engine swap questions

[jonzcustomshop]

I am going to change engines in my 63 and 64.
the 63's engine is pretty tired, but still runs.
the 64 has a good engine.
they are both 230/250 6's.
*the entire front sheet metal will be off both the trucks for the swap*

#1 is it easier to remove and reinstall the one bolt in the center of the side mount, or the 3 around the perimeter?

#2 the exhaust manifold on the 64 is cracked. Can the motor be pulled with the exhaust and intake off the motor, and just pulled to the side?

#3 is the intake connected to the exhaust manifold? It kind of looks that way under the carb..

#4 would the best method at the rear be to unbolt the bellhousing from the motor, and leave the bellhousing and tranny connected and in the frame

thanks for any tips.

[aggie91]

It has been awhile since I did this, but I will try to the best I remember.

#1 - Yes, remove the ONE bolt in the center of the engine mount.

#2 - I always pulled the intake/exhaust off and out of the truck. But I think that it could be laid to the side since you have the front clip off of the truck. You could use the steering column to tie it off out of the way.

#3 - IIRC, they are bolted together from underneath. Should come off as one assembly.

#4 - It can be done. To me it makes stabbing the input shaft into the clutch a little more difficult but not impossible. It is more work, but I alway pulled the whole thing out trans and all. But that is more work...I am much more wiser now...
I would pull it loose at the bellhousing and not mess with the trans if all that is working good.

Good luck with it. From what I have seen here with your other work, you should not have a problem.

[padresag]

if you have the sheet metal off, pull the eng and trans,- drop the d/s first though.
drop the exh pipe off from the manifold(more than likel needs a new donut anyway. you can then pull the exh off in frame or after removed. it may seemm like more work, but actually makes thing more simpler

[64GMCHorsepower]

1. Yep, just do the one center bolt......neither one is easy though I don't think....

2. I always left them on, and just disconnected the exhaust at the donut by the frame...

3. Take out the whole thing......it's a lot easier to mate up the tranny to the engine outside the truck, plus you only have to fight with 2 bolts on the mount that way instead of 10 on the bellhousing.....

[jonzcustomshop]

If I pull the engine and trans as a unit, what about the shifter? does it come off, or do you try to snake it through?

[aggie91]

Is it a 4 speed with the floor shift? - shift lever may come out of the top, not sure here....

Or a 3 speed ont he column? - Must remove all of the linkage...

[jonzcustomshop]

oh, they are both the 4 on the floor.

[jonzcustomshop]

any other ideas on the engine and 4 spd trans out as 1 unit? I start on this today...

[Chevy Fleetside]

You have to pull the shifter out first. Might be a plate bolted to the top of the tranny. Sometimes the stick is bolted together at the trans also. When you pull the floor pan off it will easier to see. Probably the rubber boot will need to come off also.

[padresag]

I thing that you just press down on that metal cap and twist it to release it(top of the tranny where the stick comes out) and remove the shifter

[Captainfab]

I would leave the trans and bellhousing in the truck. IMO it's going to be a PITA to get the trans past the bellhousing crossmember. I've R&R'd engines with the manual trans in the vehicle and it's easier than pulling the whole works if you don't need to.

[jonzcustomshop]

well I went with capt. fabs suggestion, got both engines out and in today.
having all the sheet metal out of the way for the swap is the way to go.

[LILRED66]

No pics???

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by LILRED66

No pics???

I was thinking about that about midway through the swap....

my excuse is I didn't want to get the camera dirty

BTW thanks everyone for the tips.
I left the manifolds attached, I have a 292 in the yard that I think has a good exhaust manifold , that way i can leave the 64 running, tired, but running.