engine install tips and tricks?

[nallj92]

ok, its time to decide what goes in first,
the engine is on the stand painted and ready to drop, the tranny is ready to go too, i have installed the front diff, centerlink, idler, pittman, and new steering box.
( quick tip on the steering "rag" joint slop, i went to the junkyard bought a $15 u joint off a astro van steering shaft, cut and welded to the original, works perfect, cheaper than the $100 GP and thers always more of them too.)
the front clip is off so its pretty open.(no fenders core support, inner fenders, etc.)
what should go in first? i was thinking of putting all the engine bracketry on the engine before going in, including the plugs wires, manifolds crossover, oil coolers PS pump and lines, turbo lines, and lower intake. I would like to install the engine trans in as a combo i have the cherry picker and enough jack stands to lift a 18 wheeler. then once in install the transfer case. and so on.
this is the tenative plan, im not in a hurry to drop it so i want to do it right, i have the red ty im driving now,
any tips or tricks would be great,
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!
TIA

justin

 

[Syclone#892]

Well the way I did mine was engine/tranny together. I also had the core support off, I am positive you could not put the two in together with it in the way. I had the front diff in place but no bolted up which in my case was key, if I had bolted it up it would not have gone in before I had to shift it around a few times.
If you look at the pics in my sig you will see exactly how my motor looked when I put it in. Only thing I would do differently would be to install good spark plugs on the stand instead of place holder(atr headers suck for #1 plug access :evil: ) and I would have installed the turbo.
I would not suggest installing the distributor it is very easy to destroy it, what I did was on the stand line it so the dist goes in then take it out and after you have the motor mounts in then install dist then go to the converter bolts and such.
Don't know if you have them or not but I would suggest getting Jeff Scotts motor mount plate with es poly mounts, I have not noticed any increased vibration and they are a far better design the the stockers.
Just about everything you listed in your description was what I had assembled and it will be even easier for you with stock manifold because the driverside header is so high it made it a real tight fit.
Sorry for the long post hopefully I have helped you out some though and good luck

 

[nallj92]

david, thanks, those pics help alot,
i have a better idea to do just what you did, thanks, oh also, what kind of paint did you use on the bracketry(that holds the alt, PS air) i need to paint mine soon and need some good paint to use? im guessing some 500 deg, aluminum paint would work fine. right?

 

[Syclone#892]

Glad the pics helped, would have taken more but they did not turn out well in the garage.
The paint I used was just a rattle can, cast iron laquer my dad had at work. It turned out to make the upper intake real close. I think it will hold up fine as they are not in the direct heat but time will tell. Main reason for using the paint though was I wanted to clean them up quickly because I had ran out of time/money as I had planned on ditching the stock brackets and going with some brackets and pulleys from march.
If I had planned on keeping the brackets and such I would load all the stuff up and have it powdercoated, it will hold up and if you do a lot of parts the same color it is cheaper than piece by piece.
I will be putting up a few more pics probably tonight, truck runs but I have many little things to go over so thats why it still looks like trash.

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

justin,

I am at about the same position that U R, and I have been asking the same questions. I'm ready to install it.

What I have so far is that the Engine/Trans combo will not go in w the Front Diff. in. And the Front Diff will not go in w the Tie Rods installed. So, here is my plan :

1.) Replace my Front Pinion seal which I think was leaking and then put the Front Diff. in w the Tie Rods out. Hope I can get the Upper FD bolt tightened.

2.) Install the Tie Rods and tighten all the steering linkage nuts.

3.) Install the engine and then the Trans separately.

One other problem w doing the Engine/Trans is that U have to slant it severely. I have my truck jacked up pretty high, and I don't think I have enuf headroom in the garage (it has a ceiling) to get the Engine/Trans combo that high.