The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Correct way to pull 283 and 4 speed?

So what is the right way to pull a 283 and 4 speed?

After 4 hrs of fighting it, I finally got the engine out. I threw everything at it including the kitchen sink to separate the bellhousing from the engine. Finally I used a ratchet strap to hold back of engine, another to hold back of transmission, and a third to pull the transmission backwards while I used chisels and prybars to get them apart.

Didn't help that the top half of the motor mounts were gone? Only thing holding engine in place was its weight.

Then once I got the engine out, the next 1 1/2 hrs was spent trying to get the transmission out? It can't move due to crossmember. I ended up twisting it 30 degrees, and forcing it backwards. Broke a bucket that helped catch it, but at least I didn't break the transmission.

I see no good way to remove or install without picking the cab up. I could not do that because I have a rocker cut out of it and want everything stable until I put the new one back in.

If I am going to go to the trouble of making cab pretty I am going to have to have cab off to install engine and transmission. Or did I miss something?

Here are some pics of my endeavor

One major mistake- - - -you should have unbolted the transmission from the bell housing. It attaches with four bolts, two of which come through from insisde the bellhousing, just above the sheet metal cover for the flywheel. Then the engine and bellhousing can be lifted out together.
Jerry

Jerry,

Maybe if there was not so much crud I might have realized that if I saw the bolts. But the shift fork goes through the bellhousing?

Another thing I noticed was the only thing holding the engine in place what the weight of the engine. I unbolted the mounts from the frame and figured that was easiest way to go. As i lifted the engine the brackets fell to the floor.

A much simpler way to handle that heavy transmission is to put a 4X4 timber through the windows of the cab and suspernd it with a short piece of chain from a couple of cover bolts and a cable come-along, then unbolt it, slide it back a little, and lower it with the cable. Us old geezers learned to use leverage and lifting points instead of brute force a long time ago. An engine lift through an open door is another way to handle a big 4 or 5 speed.
Jerry

Ferris If you never do anything you wont learn much. Not bad to have an experienced helper,my driveline teacher was a true junkyard dog, really learned from him.

Ferris Very common to find the engine just sitting in there,mounts all tore loose or oil soaked and melted away. Remember how you used to see engine and tranny laying out on the hiway after a crash ?? That's why thay made captive mounts. Another thing I detected on learning was how college level "sheepskin" teachers learned from their much younger students. That was because those students had worked with old geezers like us,who learned it the hard way !!

I enjoy learning new things even when times get frustrating. Appreciate the advice and tips. I am now at a point that I am able to share my knowledge to people. Just not today.

As what Jerry said. I use a cherry picker thru the passenger doorway. Connect it to the gearbox, then unbolt the gearbox from the bell housing and lower it to the floor. Disconnect from the cherry picker and slide it out from under. I like the 4x4 timber thru the window frames idea if one doesn't have access to a cherry picker.

cmayna When I was young would take the tranny bolts out,climb in the cab pull the tranny out by the stick lower it to the floor.

Wow! If that isn't manly or what!! Knowing that just gives one more options, especially if you had spinach for breakfast and you made sure the stick is securely fastened.

I learned that trick while working on a huge Spicer 5 speed in a Peterbilt, broken down on the side of the road- - - - -no way to get it to a shop! We pulled the trans, took it back to the shop and repaired it, then reinstalled it the same way.
Jerry

That's how I always did it. The first time I helped my big brother do it, I got to be underneath and catch it on my chest. That didn't workout.

I would do that too, NP-540 series are heavy.

Ed