HUMPTY DUMPTY-engine install

[dan01ster]

All the King's horses and all the King's men ( really just me and another Jeepster buddy) are about to try to put the Jeepster back together again Monday night. My question...what's the best way to get the engine/trans/T.case back into the Jeepster. The front clip is completely off now so can I simply screw the engine/trans together and insert while the T.case gets attached from underneath at the rear. OR, will the engine mounts support the engine alone, while the trans/ T.case are inserted once the Jeepster goes up on the hoist. The T.case cross member is already in place but nothing else but the axles are under the body right now. The cross member was a real PIA to get attached ( studs in frame problems) and don't want to remove to get this job done. BTW have a 225/T400 combo. Have engine crane and trans jacks plus full shop resources of Jeep dealership. The orginal dismantling was done at the resto shop...sooo don't know how they did it. TIA.

[clffhnger]

I once put the engine trans and transfer case together in my CJ3B all at once. I had to have the front wheels up on ramps to angle it in. But it worked.

[dan01ster]

Tom...do you suppose that notorious adapter ring between trans and engine is up to taking all that unsupported weight behind it until T.case comes to rest on rear support? "LORD" knows those "RINGS" are hard to come by unless you're a HOBBIT. Thoughts anyone?...... Can harldy wait for part 2 of the trilogy!

[michael]

with the access you have, I'd remove the tranny from the TH-400 (only four bolts, and the flywheel bolts). Set in the engine, and put a jackstand under the rear of the engine. That makes for a very solid base for the engine. Set the floorjack under the tranny and wheel it right into place with the T/C attached to it. With the cowl on, I think it would be a little risky to put all that weight on just the motor chains.
Yes, you have to remove the cross-member again that way, so it may not be worth it to you.
If you go that route successfully, please post so we all know for next time.
Cheers,
Michael
(yes, LOTR II will be a SERIOUS cool movie, and I'm not even a huge Tolkein fan).

[RRich]

If you haven't already separated the T-case and are dead set on doing it, be sure the tranny's mainshaft stays pushed in all the way when you separate them, and the common bearing between t-case and tranny stays in the trans. Else the mainshaft moves back about 1/4", and the needles between the mainshaft and the input gear drop out - then it's complete dissassembly time to get it back together.

I think the easiest way is with it all assembled, yes it's tail heavy, but no real problem.

But - You said the crossmember was a PITA. I'll bet it was because the weldnuts came loose inside the frame. You'll have to address that someday anyway, might as well do it while you have room and a hoist.

Easy way on that - when they spin, cut off the bolt head with a grinder, drive the stub into the frame out of the way with a punch till you have just a hole.
Weld a 6" or so piece of weld rod to a nut. Slide the nut in through a frame hole using the weld rod as a handle. Align it with the hole, poke the bolt up from the bottom, tighten. The nut inside won't spin because it digs into the remainder of the weldnut's spot weld.
Later if you remove it and it's rusted, simply grind the head off again and do it over.

Damn, what a luxury, a hoist and a hoist type trans jack -- some people.

[GRQster]

Allright,
Ya'll quit asking and answering questions in code and ya might get some help!
[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Engine and tranny, OK. Mounts alone should not be asked to support all of the weight. Use jack stands once it's close.

[clffhnger]

I got around the crossmember mounts another way. Just drill thought the whole frame (bottom rail and top rail) and use longer bolts with nuts on top of the frame. That way if you have to pull it apart later, it's a cinch.

[Caver Dave]

Dan,
When Toad & I put the first drivetrain in the Mossy, it ALL went in together. This was done with the entire front clip in place. The 304, TH400, & D20 were bolted together and lifted with a chain hoist. To keep the rear from sagging, a ratchet strap was placed around the rear output of the TC back to the hoist's big hook. When the strap hit the firewall, it pulled the rear up and leveled it off. Then it was lowered down and bolted in. We used a shop jack to hold up the tranny/TC until the crossmember mods were made and it was affixed to the frame.
Afterwards, we just looked at each other in amazement that it worked so well[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]. (And were pissed that we didn't take any pics of the assy. going in...nobody would believe it anyway [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]).

It's possible to put the tranny transfer case and engine in at once (have done it on another jeep) just make sure everything is alligned and to have extra time in case of any problems.