We have the engine back together but we can't get the engine and transmission aligned. The guy that always puts the engine back in the car isn't here but I have a couple of friends to help.
We just can't get the transmission to mate with the engine. The engine is setting pretty level on the hoist and they look like they are both at the correct height but they won't slide together.

Any suggestions?

 

Need some muscle to get it on, might have to jerk it around as well as spinning that input shaft on the tranny, once its on thread a bolt in one of the mounting holes so it stays then go from there.

 

Try putting your driveshaft in and spinning it, it will help the teeth align.

 

^ never thought of that

 

loosen the trans mounting bolts so that you can pivot the trans up.(careful on that,ok?)
OR take the rubber mounts off the engine so it can slide into the trans.Then afterwards jack the engine up a bit and replace the mounts.
This is the problem that you get into when both are not pulled at the same time.

 

Thanks for the input guys. This is my 4th rebuild and we have never pulled the transmission along with the engine. It sure seemed easier to get them aligned when somebody else was doing the alignment.
My bf and I just returned from an autumn fair so I'll try your suggestions tomorrow.

 

you need to align the clutch plate correctly
.. if you cant find a clutch align tool then you can make a tool ( for a s4/5 T spline )
using a 10mm 3/8 drive socket , a 3/8 socket extension bar.. and a ( IIRC 17mm 1/2 inch socket )

you make a slider by fitting the large drive socket over the extension bar,, and put the 10mm socket on the end

the small socket should centre in the middle of the crank perfectly
,, and if you use the larger socket as a slider it will centre into the spline perfectly and allow things to line up
( pressure plate bolts must be loose to realign the plate )

[ NB,, select the 1/2 inch socket that interfere fits perfectly inside your clutch disk spline.. IIRC it is a 17mm ]

 

I always put the engine in with the Drivers engine mount Slightly Loose. I then get the tran into the area of the clutch make sure its sorta in. I take a wrench and Pry up on the tranny standing in front of the engine so the trans lifts up and it will slip right on most of the time.. Always make sure clutch is aligned

 

Thanks bumpstart, I've never heard of anybody using that method. A clutch alignment tool came with the clutch assembly so I'm pretty sure it is aligned OK. I have a friend that is a Ford technician who usually puts the engine back in the 7 but he isn't available until later this week.
Thanks for the input. Great idea.

 

When I installed my motor a load leveler on the hoist helped a lot, you can use it to fine tune the angle the motor sits at. If it's just a little off it'll make things difficult. Once you get it started in wiggling the motor will help, too.

 

I had the wife work the hoist and the load leveler, sometimes with very loud instruction, and I really just muscled it together. Though I put my engine and tranny together with the rubber motor mounts completely off until I mate them, then I lift the combo and install the mounts. This method only took the wife and I about 20-30 minutes. Hope this helps.
Justin

 

+1 for engine leveler. It will make it so much easier.

 

#1) jack up the transmission until it is pushing on the top of the transmission tunnel.
#2) slide the engine onto the transmission input shaft.
#3) use the starter long bolt through the bottom transmission hole under the starter.
#4) use the old long bolt from that same hole and put it in the right bottom bellhousing hole.
#5) put the transmission into gear, any gear.
#6) align the engine to transmission so that the flywheel teeth match the angle of the bellhousing face.
#7) get a 19mm long socket and rotate the e-shaft back and forth while applying pressure to the engine block rocking it side to side and pressing it against the transmission. if your clutch is aligned properly it shouldn't take much to get it to pop into place.

now swap your bolts with the proper ones and cinch them down evenly then tighten them all.

this process usually takes about 15 minutes and always works for me.

 

Thanks for the advice about the engine leveler, I'll see if anybody has one.

Thanks for the check list Ben. I'll follow your steps and I'll let you know if I make any progress.

 

We used the ideas that you guys gave and pretty much went by Ben's list. It took a few minutes but it eventually started to slipped in. I attached a few bolts and cranked it right in.
I think the major thing we were doing wrong was not raising the transmission up. We were trying to keep both parts level.

thanks guys

I should have it running (AGAIN) in a couple of days.