[MrWrestlingII]

Anyone able to drop their motor, with RA exhaust manifolds bolted up, in a 68-72 A-body w/AC. It sure would be nice to install them before hand but am not sure it can be done w/o major hassle. I do have an engine load leveler for the install so that should make it easier. I’d like to get the motor in with manifolds and tranny bolted up.

I had to take the manifolds off to pull the motor, but I’m thinking some of that problem was because of studs on both the heads and collectors eating up some clearance. If I try it with them on I’ll use bolts to the heads and switch over to studs after the install.

Thanks for any input,
Todd

[GOAT WHORE]

I had to put the driver side on after engine was lowered. I put it up thru the bottom.

[Craig Hendrickson]

It depends on whether you have the trans attached or not. If not, then the whole assy drops straight down (with hood off), so RARE manifolds are not a problem in this case.

[GOAT WHORE]

That's interesting to know Craig, I did have my tranny attached when I did mine.

[Kitch428m21]

Piece of cake!

[Craig Hendrickson]

Originally Posted by Kitch428m21

Piece of cake!

Nice picture which illustrates the point exactly.

Also, some guys have asked me about RARE manifolds on the 1961-63 Tempest. They also fit that although a bit close on the D-side. And watch for the brake line clearance. Same deal though, drop the engine in without the tranny.

As the Russian character in the movie "2010" said, "piece of pie!" :-)

[MrWrestlingII]

Interesting,

If I drop it straight down, what about the flywheel/clutch? Can’t tell from the picture if it’s on or not. And just to double check if I go with this method it will clear my ac box, brake booster, wiper motor etc? Looks like the firewall is clear in Kitch’s pic.

Not sure which would be worse- installing the tranny from underneath, done that too many times and don’t like it much. Or doing the drvr side manifold from underneath, haven’t done that before as the body was off the car the last time I did this - now that was easy.

One way or another it’s going in tomorrow morning…

Thanks again,
Todd

[GOAT WHORE]

Went nice and easy for me.

[wrenchmen]

I was able to install the engine with both ram air manifolds, the flywheel, clutch, pp and bellhousing into my 70 Lemans without any problems.

My car is non-AC, and I had the hood off and the radiator removed.

I didnt try it with the trans bolted up.(I had a lift)

Your engine looks good!...I like those valve covers.

[MrWrestlingII]

Got the motor in yesterday. I couldn’t get the tranny shaft to mate up with pilot bearing so it went in w/o the tranny installed. Will have to get the clutch linkage installed and do it from underneath with someone on the pedal. I dropped it in with just the right side manifold installed. Installed the left side manifold from underneath, it went in pretty easy with the motor hoisted up a few inches from the motor mount.

I bit the bullet and bought an engine load leveler for the job (OTC 4305), and glad I did. Nice tool that really made the job easy, wish I would have had it when I pulled the motor.

Thanks everyone for the help
Todd