[46Chris]

Leaking rear main seal, along with some noise in the trans. Car is in the shop, and my mechanic and I are getting ready to pull the engine/trans. He said it's been years since he pulled one of this vintage, and was wondering if there is a better attach point than the head bolts. We're going to start pulling tomorrow (maybe).
Thanks in advance for the help - Chris

[Bill Stoneberg]

Chris, When I took the engine out of my 47 I took the head off first and then used the head bolts. One in the front, one in the back. It also helps to have a engine leveler on as the engine really needs to tilt. If you remove the radiator,I didnt need to remove my grill but that was on a Super not Roadie.

Good luck/

[Aaron65]

I pulled the rocker shaft and used the shaft bolt holes...only 2 of them, didn't use a leveler...had no problems. I've seen others use one of the thermostat mounting holes and a rear exhaust manifold stud hole too. Use a decent sized chain and you should be OK...good bolts too...make sure they're fairly tight. Oh yeah, I held the hoist's hook in place using a bolt and nut in the two links on either side...I did have to orient the chain so the back of the engine would tilt down a bit...good luck!

[rusty1951]

On installing the engine, would it be better to install with the head on or install the head after the block is in. I would worry about getting dirt into the short block.

[Aaron65]

Photobucket

Here's a pic of the engine going back in...

[Aaron65]

By the way, this was a scary moment...that's a lot of engine quite a ways in the air!

[rusty1951]

Did you install a engine/trans combo? Or was the the tranmission already in the car?

[simplyconnected]

That IS a lot of engine, Aaron65. The factory uses a plate, bolted onto the heads (V-8). The plates have a big hole for a hook. If the engine/tranny are one unit, they bolt the plates to the back of each head. If it's just the engine, the plates get bolted to the back of one head, and the front of the opposite head. Once set on its mounts, the plates are unbolted and re-used. It is very important to tighten the plates to the heads.

I would like to see more pictures of your engine decking.

[Aaron65]

Engine coming out

[Aaron65]

Engine in car--in case anybody's interested