engine and drivetrain 5 speed won't fit!

[JordanBbradley]

Ok, 

  So i'm on the tail end of swapping a 245 in to my 73' and i can't get it to fit! I'm getting stuck while raising the tranny up to pressure plate, I get the trans flush with the tunnel, but the input shaft needs an additional inch or so to mate up. Im thinking I need to physically move the engine(tilt it down?), but i'm not sure how. Dear lord someone help me. BTW i live in Houston if any locals want to come poke fun at me/video it for youtube/watch me get crushed by a falling transmission. 

[zinz]

Without the weight of the transmission, the engine can rock forward on it's nose (gotta be careful the fan doesn't poke the radiator)  

 

Get a jack under the pulley/harmonic balancer and give it some nose-high attitude which would likely get you enough clearance at the bellhousing.

 

Ed

[M3M3]

did you dent the trans tunnel on the top left side and around the slave cyl like you are supposed to?

 

and as stated, tilt the engine down a little.  not a lot as you don't want to rip the engine mounts.

[jimk]

Get a couple long bolts the size of the big ones that bolt the trans to the engine, cut the heads off, file some flats on the shank so they can be wrenched out later and thread them into the engine holes.  Use these as guides to start the alignment.  You will quickly see how much the engine needs to be tilted up/down/right/left and the pilot will slop right in.

[JordanBbradley]

I did dent, I dented with a large hammer, but only on the side where the slave cyl is. I tilted from the oil pan, until there is about 3-4 inches from the distributor from hitting the firewall. The engine is cocked to drivers side a lot. Wiggling ensued, I still can't get the input shaft closer than about an inch away from the receiving hole. Should I loosen the motor mounts? if so where, and I don't have an engine jack.

Feels bad guys

 

Jimk, I guess my big problem is how do i tilt the motor and move it around?

Edited February 26, 2016 by JordanBbradley

[M3M3]

tilt the engine back until the dizzy is almost touching firewall.  loosen the  engine mount bolts a bit to allow flex.

 

you can also unscrew the bolts holding the subframe to the frame rails about a half inch each.  this lowers the engine just enough to get some room.  

Edited February 26, 2016 by mlytle

[jgerock]

What shift tower are you using?  Is it a modified E21?

[JordanBbradley]

Thanks mlytle, i'll try my damnedest and report back tomorrow.

 

jgerock - Ireland's shift tower, everything i got was from them aside from the trans. 

[jimk]

unscrew the bolts holding the subframe to the frame rails about a half inch each

Good point!  I've done that also and have some lonter bolts for there too.

[chasmrider]

hey Jordan, I just did that job. I dropped the whole engine subframe assy. that made putting everything together easy.  when I reinstalled it  went right in.

[JordanBbradley]

@@chasmrider, Nice! looks like some quality work. I'm stuck crawling around under my car on jack stands in the garage, Thank goodness I'm young!  

[Jace]

it's probably snagged on the spiggot bearing. it took me a lot of jiggling to get it mated up properly, putting the bolts in a few of the bellhousing bolts was what helped me. GL!

[NickVyse]

everything they said - plus did you change your clutch? If so did you line it up properly when reinstalling?

[chasmrider]

hey Jordan, one thing I would recommend is replace your clutch M/C and slave cyl.  , I didn't  and had to while the trans was in the car. the M/C is easy but the top bolt on the slave is difficult to reach.

[chargin]

"you can also unscrew the bolts holding the subframe to the frame rails about a half inch each.  this lowers the engine just enough to get some room. " - 

 

Great idea that I never thought of while I was there........