The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 61 C10 engine removal

Good Morning -

I have 61' short step side c10. It has its original 235 and 4-speed manual transmission. My question is I need to remove the engine for a rebuild. When I did my 61' c20 with a 283 and Powerglide, I left the trans in place and just pulled the motor. What have you done? Is the best way to drop the transmission from the bell housing, then remove the engine? Driveway/garage set up for the work. Thanks - GPK1961

I would remove the transmission first.
Fred

I see no need to remove the tranny if you are going to remove the engine. The 4 spd trans has a bell-housing that is mounted to a cross member, therefore, it is well supported. Remove the starter, disconnect the engine from the bell-housing.
You might have to remove the floor pan to gain access to the upper bolts on the bell-housing, however, a long extension and a universal drive socket might do the job.
I would not suggest trying to remove the eng/trans as one unit. Wm.

Dont waste your time trying to remove the engine without removing the tranny first.

If you have a removable tranny cross member, you may want take it out together. Provided you have the radiator and all that out of the way. It all depends on the cross member removal to get it to swing down and of course the shifter stick must be removed. It's nice if the whole front clip is off, of course.
The all in one method is nice because that tranny is very heavy to handle from crawling under and will crush you. Getting the bell housing off motor can also be a pain. The 4 speed is cantilevered with major loss of support after bell housing is taken off motor.
Bottom line is that removing both together is a viable option. With some advantages.

Thanks for the advice! I'll post some pictures once I get started. GPK1961

You have to remove the trans, clutch and fly wheel to unbolt the bell housing from the engine if its a 235.

John

I have removed several V-8's and 6 cyln engines from '63/68 4spd trucks without removing the trans/bell-housing. The rear portion of the trans does need to be supported because as I recall the only mount for the trans is the rear motor mount to the bell-housing.
Guess I'll have to crawl under the '66 C10, six foot bed truck I have to refresh my memory. Wm.

61 with 235 is a different animal compared to 63 and up . where they used 230- 292 and 283, all with the same bell housing , the v8 60 through 62 had the same housing but with hydraulic clutch. 235-261 housings bolt to the block from inside the housing no exterior bolts .

Interesting, did not know the '62 and earlier were so much different. I know that the 235 style of engine was around from the early '40's until '62. I have a '40 1.5 ton 4x4 (ex military G506) and a '40 3/4 ton panel with the 235 and 4spd trans. Wm.