Installing the FE in a car

[unclewill]

On the GM products I have worked on in the past, the engine/trans combo was designed to be installed as a unit.  Is this true with the Fords as well?  I have a 427 side oiler/RUG-AJ going into a '69 Fairlane Cobra and I'm unsure if I should assemble the whole enchilada first or install the engine with clutch and bellhousing then add the trans from underneath.  I'm leaving most of the peripherals off of the engine to save weight but with cast iron heads this combo isn't what I'd call light.  I do have a ceiling mounted hoist at 10'.  What do you think?

[ScotiaFE]

If the option is there I prefer to do the whole enchilada together.
Have fun.

[66FAIRLANE]

Me too. Headers and all. I leave off the carb and alternator but that's about it. Helps if you jack up the rear.

[unclewill]

Headers too...interesting.  I was planning on laying the headers in place then bolt up once the motor is in.

[fastback 427]

What headers do you have? Not all can be installed like that, but sure saves aggrevation and skinned knuckels and special wrenches and small head header bolts and..........

[jayb]

As long as the header tubes don't go around the front suspension points, you can put the engine in with at least one header side installed, usually the driver's side.  Drop it into place so it is still several inches off the mounts,  then put the passenger side into place from underneath and bolt it to the engine before dropping the engine the rest of the way down on the mounts.

[unclewill]

I haven't purchased the headers yet but the only ones I've found are for my application are Doug's Headers.  Does anyone have experience with their products?  I love the install photos BTW, soon I'll have some to add!

[427LX]

Just be careful and make sure your hoist is rolling on level ground plus have a couple of helpers. That is a bunch of weight.

[cammerfe]

One more vote here for installing as much of the engine/trans and peripherals in one piece as possible. Long iron manifolds and TL can be installed on the engine when you're working on a '63 F100.

KS

[66FAIRLANE]

Headers too...interesting.  I was planning on laying the headers in place then bolt up once the motor is in.

Mine are probably a little different to others you have seen   

[My427stang]

Mustang, but here's another "with the headers" guy if you can

[FordEver]

67-70 Mustangs, do you guys remove the crosssmember  under the eng for installing the eng/trans combo ?

[My427stang]

Yes, and unbolt the idler arm from the frame and let it fall, as well as turn the wheel so the PS valve and pitman arm is outboard of the frame.

[plovett]

I've always done it the other way, that is I install the engine by itself, with the transmission already bolted up.  I seem to be in the minority though, so maybe I need to try it as a unit.

I lower the engine in, and if I have one piece headers, I try to lay them under the engine as it comes to rest.  Then I bolt up flexplate to the convertor and after that work on the headers.  With multi-piece headers I drop the engine all the way in and then snake the header tubes into place.  Motor mounts are last as I remember it.  You want to be able to nudge things up until the end.

I may not being dong it the best way, but it can be done this way.  This is in a '67 Cougar.

paulie

[My427stang]

Paulie, nothing wrong with your way, except that I have been inside drinking Crown and Diet Coke hours while you are still tightening header bolts