Bob,
I think if you asked five different people how to do this you would get that many different answers. I would leave the engine on the hook, but would let it rest on some large blocks, high enough that you can see and reach the bolts on the pressure plate.
Your alignment tool is probably a plastic deal. You can stick that through the bellhousing, stabbing the pressure plate AND the disc in one shot. Stick the snout in the pilot bearing and let the tool support everything. The pressure plate will just dangle, but that's fine until you need to shove it up and start some bolts. The bolts are arranged in groups of two (I think) so the pressure plate will have to match those spacings.
Line up the pressure plate and stick two bolts in it, loosely. I don't know if I would use the starter to turn the flywheel just yet. I would use a large screwdriver in the starter hole jammed against the ring gear. It should turn easily and allow you to install the remaining pressure plate bolts (spark plugs out).
This is where I would take a different path than most. I would smear some never seize on the transmission input shaft, pull the temporary alignment tool and stab the real tranny into the assembly. If you are going to install the engine and transmission as a unit, put the clutch arm and throwout bearing on before you stab the tranny unless you plan on pulling the transmission and doing this later.
Now you can rotate the flywheel and fully tighten the pressure plate bolts. Install the transmission bolts and you are finished.
Is your truck disassembled so that you can install the engine with the transmission attached?
Make sure your flywheel is tight on the crank and if you have lock tabs, they should be hammered over. If no lock tabs then a bit of blue Loctite on a clean bolt and clean hole will do.
This is a mini-novel and might not be how everyone does it, but it's how I would do it...I think! Good luck.
Stuart
