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Hi everyone! To which headbolts should the hoist be attached?

Hoist attached to the head

I ran into a snag installing the engine. The headbolts 3rd from the right and fourth from the left rear are replaced with eyebolts, just like the manual says. But the engine is front heavy, and I think the rear of the engine needs to pointed downwards so the transmission shaft can slide in. Is the manual trying to play a joke on me, or is it just wrong? Or is there something I don't know?

I am trying to install the engine with the front mount and bellhousing attached. I thought the engine would go in without difficulty (famous last words).

I had a booger of a time putting my 248 in. I changed angles several times before I finally forced it in. Must be something about GMCs. Keep trying.

I have an engine leveler, I can put it at any angle needed with ease. They are not expensive,Just googled it, 25$ online

Back when I used a chain hoist and a tree, I would stand on the engine and wiggled it in. It usually required pointing the back end down quite a bit. The last 30 years I have used a leveler and it still takes some wiggling.

Thanks everyone!

I will get an engine leveler and make life simple. Maybe the manual is not entirely wrong, they show some kind of equalizer bar apparatus. I am thinking that the rear of the engine needs to be about 6 inches lower than the front mount to start with, and then it needs to move towards horizontal and rearwards.

Once you've used a leveler, you'll be hooked and hoping to help others install their motors.......

cletis, i never had a problem setting an engine in my trucks once i removed the tranny bolts that i still has in the bell housing so i knew where they were when i was ready for them . once removed it slid right in. once you use a leverler you never go back or at least im not.

No question about it.

just when you think it cant get cheaper looking. it does. mine is from there but has more to it then that. it still has that same stupid handle that comes off when you crank it the wrong way but it still works the wayits supposed too.

OK, the engine leveler works great! Except when you ask the help to lower the rear of the engine, the help turns the crank the wrong way. Does anyone else have that trouble?

I am having trouble getting the engine to slide in the last inch or two. Is there some trick to getting it in the last couple inches? Maybe the splines aren't aligned? Maybe the transmission and engine aren't lined up properly? Maybe the clutch isn't lined up properly?

I think that you mentioned that you had the clutch off this motor. Did you use a tool to align the clutch back up before tightening the pressure plate? If you didn't the splines will not be aligned with the hole.

I have never installed an engine with the transmission already in place. I am always amazed that it can be done that way. To me, even installing the transmission itself is tricky to get that last half inch in.

Hi Fred, I used a clutch alignment tool, but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if I didn't get it aligned exactly correct.

The engine was so close, just a half inch away, but it backed out and now it's maybe a couple inches. I'm going to try again after breakfast.

When I'm stabbing an engine in I make sure the transmission is in gear, put a socket of the crankshaft bolt and a long breaker bar and turn the engine a bit. Sometimes this will help giggle things enough to get the input shaft to go in the pilot bushing. Don

Boooo yeah!! The engine is in!

It just needed a little more adjusting, heaving and wiggling. It must have taken me 4 or 5 hours. How long does it take everyone else? Thanks everyone for your help. I'd still be knocking myself out if it wasn't for the engine leveler.

The transmission bolts were a little tough to get in place. I used a tapered punch to line up the holes so nothing cross threaded.

Now comes the easy part: hook everything up, clean out the mouse crap, and go for a spin!

Front mount
Transmission
Clutch
The hard way
The smart way