Engine Install

    It was time to install the engine and transmission.  I first got the rented engine hoist out of the truck and set up.  I needed to decide how to secure the engine to the hoist.  Without a leveler, I needed to make some sort of angle-changing device.  I started by securing each of the engine mount points with carabiners and a webbing strap that went through the hoist attachment point.  I then added some extra straps to help catch the weight if the carabineers or strap failed.

I decided that I would adjust the angle by using a strap running from the end of the transmission to the bottom of the hoist.  By tightening that strap I could tilt the engine down.  But first I wanted to get everything above the car and in place.  I lifted the engine up and carefully rolled it over to drop it into the car.

I attached my strap to help change the angle of the engine and transmission.  This worked pretty well.  I will need to remove it later to get the engine farther in.  I repeated this process of adjusting the angle and inching the engine forward many times.  Finally, the engine was getting into place, but I could not seem to lower the engine into the bay because the air intake inlet kept hitting the chassis.  After struggling for a while, I decided I needed to try another method.

I took the engine almost completely out of the engine bay - enough to reposition and try again.  This time, I kept the transmission as high as possible in the transmission tunnel by using the rolling jack under the car.  I tried to keep the engine angle as flat as possible.  This helped with getting everything positioned.  After quite a long time of slow small adjustments, I got the engine in place.  I then attached the remaining engine mount to the engine and dropped it onto the chassis.

Once everything was in place, I got the transmission mount screwed into the chassis.  I then worked on getting the engine mounts screwed into the chassis.  One side was easy.  On the other side, I struggled to get the rubber mounts lined up with the chassis holes.  I used a screwdriver to align the hole then slip a bolt through.  By doing this, I got the rubber mounts in place.  I then screwed the engine mounts into the rubber mounts.  And the engine was finally in!