GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR> Engine Install Problems...
 

Ok...it is in...almost. The engine just won't slide the last 1/4 inch to meet up with the bellhousing. It is on both motormounts (well on one, and 1/4 away from being on the other) and I just can't get it good. My best bud and I pushed for 1.5 hours today and 2 hours yesterday in the hot Texas sun trying to get it together. Any ideas??? I can't wait to have my car back. I got to do the TB mod, got my header good and on there, and removed my P/S, so it will be a completly new car whenever I can get it runnin again!!

what happened to your motor? sorry, havent been around. Well, what i did, and you really shouldnt do, is lube the shit out of the input shaft or whatever its called, and got it as close as i could, which was exactly 1/4in from the bellhousing, and eeeaassseee it together with the trans bolts. I did one, eased it, and then went to the complete diagonal and did that one, then did another one, went across did that one, and just did that for a while until it was nice and tight, like a charm it went together. My guess is that it is one of those lil studs on the motor/trans thats holding you up? Good luck man.

Roy, did u get a motor for your car?

Re: GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR> Engine Install Problems...
 

Yeah, its a bitch. It should slide in with a properly lubed pilot bearing, and the *perfect* angles. Just wiggle everything like hell, jack up on the tranny, whatever it takes. This, coupled with getting the a/c compressor out of the way, always takes the most time for me on R&R's.

It shouldn't have to be forced together. Only one of the engines I have done (of 5) required bolts to cinch it together.

Crap, I'm trying to remember, I had the same issue. I think it was just hung up on one of the sleeves for the bolts. I assume you used a clutch tool to line up your clutch correctly..

yeah, make sure the clutch is aligned, that would throw everything off. I have done eh, roughly six or seven total engine swaps, two being Rx7s, mine was the toughest and the only that needed to be "forced" together as well. I would use that as a LAST resort, and make sure EVERYTHING is lubed up like a mo fo before you do it. Good luck

Damn right, i went and got one from "CMC U-Pull-It" up there in N.Augusta, i think it was like 140 bucks or some shit, good compression, 90PSI front and rear, and held it pretty good. When i got the motor in it smoked like a mo fo, stoped for a while, and i sold the car. Later i found out the coolant seal went out on the buyer of the car, eh, that car is bad luck. :D we need to get together sometime, i have an 86base thats pretty quick for what it is, sorry to get off topic.

Why would I need to realign the clutch? I pulled the engine to work on the header studs that I yanked out on accident. I am pretty sure that the sleeves are bit off. Man....1/4 inch and an afternoon away from my baby bein back on the road...:(

Make sure that the engine and transmission are at the same angle. You can do this by making sure that the gap between the engine and bellhousing are about the same at the top and bottom. You can use a floor jack under the transmission to adjust the angle. I have found that it goes easier if the transmission is is upward slightly. With the radiator removed you can stand in the engine bay and lift the engine from the front and push it towards the transmission. It might also help to rotate the engine back and forth while pushing it rearward.
Good Luck

The engine and tranny are at the same level. Like I said, the gap is 1/4 incah all the way around the two. I will screw with it some more tomorrow. Man, my back is KILLING me.....


Heavy ass engine....;)

Ummmm... if it is really ONLY 1/4", I would use the bolts to GENTLY pull it together. a couple turns on each side at a time, keeping it as straight as possible (even gap) all the way around.

Brad

Make sure the transmission is in a gear. When the engine is offered up to the transmission, have your buddy get a 19mm ratchet and socket and turn the front pulley bolt back and forth. That should help align the splines on the transmission and clutch. Prior to doing any of the above, get a carpenters level and lay it on the transmission shaft. Now try to get the engine on the same plane as the transmission shaft, with the engine just hanging on the hoist without you influencing the engines position. Make sense? If nothing else do the part about the transmission in gear and the buddy turning the pulley bolt back and forth as you shove the engine towards the transmission. I know you can do it. I've yet to have help mating the engine and transmission and the only really difficult time was when I was being hard headed and trying to force it together by shear will. Won't work like that.

Thanks for the info guys, but I fear it is in vain. My mom kicked me out of the house today, and is supposedly towing my rex to the junk yard!!!!:eek: I am fighting it though. She has no legal claims on the car, so if she toutches it, my girlfried's father is a cop, and he said, just to report it stolen. It will really piss her off when she can't make one of those more-important-than-her-son meetings. Oh well, I can always start saving for a TII...

hey if its any help now, I found disconnecting the tranny from the drive shaft so that it could float on the tranny jack helped me line everything up.

So, next time I will put the tranny in gear, and se the 19mm socket to do this. SonikRat said he can get the engine back on in 5 minutes that way. It took me 6 hours trying to do it the hard way...

yeah, if it isnt in gear then the tranny input shaft is almost impossible to line up w/ the clutch. you should be able to get it in w/out the 19mm socket as long as you shake it around a bit, but if not then turn the pulley slowly w/ the socket