this is my biggest recommendation. It is WAY easier moving the engine around without worrying about the mount clearing stuff.

 

I actually just did this last night. I dropped the stripped keg in and mounted it. Then crawled under the car and lifted the transmission into place. Just took a couple hours.

 

1st gear.

 

LOL - you make this sound painless. Not sure if I should be relieved... or jealous!
So you dropped the engine straight in THEN muscled the TX up and on to it?

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

I got under the car, rolled the tranny on to my chest and lifted with my hands at the bell housing and supported the back with my knees.

 

Your a beast lol

 

It is actually not as heavy as you would think in that position.

 

Keep in mind the car is only this far off the ground. I am lifting less Thant 12"

Edit: pic didn't upload. Stand by

Edit2:

 

Your a skinny beast, my big a$$ wouldn't fit, i'd need the rear jacked up too lol

 

exactly how i've done it. and keep the drive shaft stuck in the tranny so fluid don't run out.

 

I usually do it with the tranny drained. I still put a rubber glove over the tail shaft and zip-tie it on to catch any left overs.

I am not that skinny. 6'0" 240 lbs.

 

i did it this way ONE time with a turbo trans, never again. ever. i had to get a friend to help me lift it so that i could slide under it and put in the bench pressing position.. yes i am 6,4 210 lbs. on the lean side.

 

After having the transaxle + Kamann Giha - engine, come down and rest on my chest while trying to lift out the transaxle from underneath, I'm a bit hesitant to try the full-manual method. (I was able to hold up the transaxle +car with one hand and re-position the supports with the other, but there was the initial idea of a car sitting on me. 1971)

I used the jack from my 74 Rx3 under the tranny as I found the turns easier to control precise up and down positions when aligning the motor.

 

^^^ HOLLY CRAP!!!! Almost the same exact thing happened to me about a month ago.

I had my 72 ghia up on ramps with the car in gear. It was in gear to keep it from rolling. I didn't think about without the compression of the engine holding the clutch the car could roll freely. Immediately after I pulled the engine out of the bell housing the car rolled off the ramps and on to me. Unfortunately the Karmann is low and I was on my knees; and when it rolled off the ramps my knees formed a wedge between the ground and the rear bumper. I pushed it up the ramps and let the engine fall.

Fortunately VW's don't weigh ****; and I can push it up a set of ramps. Shoot I'm doing some front end work on it right now..... My jack stands are a couple of plastic 5 gallon pails.

 

I install all of my engines as complete as possible. Much easier to assemble when the engine is at your fingertips. There's plenty of room to work, especially with a 12A so clearance shouldn't be an issue. I install a tiny amount of grease on the input shaft to ease its mating with the disc and pilot bearing.

Having a load leveler for your engine hoist is very helpful and be prepared to use a floor jack to manipulate the height of the transmission if need be.

I install the engine with the front support mounted in place if its going in with the trans. If not, it can be left off fr more wiggle room. Just a matter of preference there. Otherwise its not a complicated task at all. When you're done you'll feel like a lot of the process was overthought. I had my RX-8's engine out and back in the car and running in one evening after work. Had a set of hands to help me but the whole process was much easier the second time around. You'll find yourself getting good at this pretty quickly.

 

Thanks Dave - good pointers. So tempting to mount up most of the accessories on a hanging motor!
RX8 keg in an evening?! impressed!!

Stu Aull
80GS(s)
Alaska