The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 54 drive train

Can anyone please tell me how to get the old motor an tranny out? So fare I have the motor mounts loose,all wires,gass line,carb links,even the 4 bolts on the back of the tranny where it is connected to the drive shaft tube.motor and tranny are still to gether,would like to pull together if possible.also have the fenders and hood off of the 54.it slides forword about 3" but will not come out!!PLEASE someone tell me what I am over looking!

If you wish to remove the engine and transmission together as one unit first remove the cab.

Otherwise remove the transmission, then remove the engine.

Grigg

You don't have to remove the cab! After removing the 4 bolts on the torque tube is there is a u-joint? I assume you have removed the shift lever?, stomp starter, clutch linkage, accelerator linkage?, choke cable, battery cables, fuel line?, speedo cable?, heater hose? With all the sheetmetal removed it should be purty simple to take the engine and tranny out. If I've missed something, someone will add to this.

I'm familiar with the 4 speeds, and they will not come forward over the transmission cross-member without removing the cab.
(Removing the cab is not the easy way... but if you really want to leave a 4 speed on the engine that's the only way to get them out together, or torch the cross-member.)

Are the 3 speeds small enough to slip over the transmission cross-member? If so the radiator and support may need to come out first to make room?
Dropping the transmission still seems like the easy way to start.

Grigg

Thanks Yakimabowtie,it was the clutch linkage!!! got it now.lol

I think that removing the engine with the three speed connected is not a problem but the 4-speed does not come over the clutch-housing cross member (the rear motor mount cross-member).

There is no transmission cross-member (nor rear mount on the manual transmissions) in 1954.

I would not recommend taking the cab off to get the engine and transmission off UNLESS you are doing a frame-off restoration. In that case, I have even lifted a 54 engine and hydra-matic transmission together off the chassis.

I usually either remove the transmissions first and then the engine; or, I unbolt the transmissions, leave them in place, and remove the engines.

Tim

I've only once removed a motor from a '54 Chevy and it was a 3-speed. I had already removed the cab so it was pretty easy...

Can you remove the motor and Hydra-Matic as a unit on automatic trucks? Since the crossmember center can be unbolted that would not be an obstacle.

You do not have to take off the hydra-matic transmission cross member if you are simply lifting the transmission off the chassis (frame-off restoration with the cab removed).

Tim

You can remove the engine and hydro as a unit with the cab on. I don't remember if I dropped the crossmember to remove the engine. Either way, the crossmember only has 3 bolts on each side.

You are correct, Lonnie.

The engine rear motor-mount cross-member is bolted on in a 1/2 ton Hydra-Matic equipped truck. Take that cross member off and the engine/transmission could come out the front (with the cab on).

Tim

Its bolted on in 3/4- and 1-ton trucks also.

I don't know about the bigger trucks.