Topic: Engine installation


alsmith39    -- 04-17-2016 @ 2:18 PM
  I have a 1940 Ford Delux 4 dr. A few years ago I removed the engine and had it rebuilt last year. After doing other things to the car my grandson and I tried to install the engine. We have not been able to get the engine lined up properly to get the trnsmission to fully engage with the bell housing. The tranny was not removed when the engine came out. Any hints or suggestions would be appreciated.
Does anyone know of a video or book that could be of some use ?


ford38v8    -- 04-17-2016 @ 2:55 PM
  The transmission should be loosed from the mounts, supported on a transmission jack to be able to wiggle onto the engine. If you haven't used a plastic spline locater, available from suppliers, the job is even more difficult.

The preferred method of removal/assembly would have been to drop the rear end, lift out the transmission, then pull the engine, or to remove the radiator and grill, and pull the engine/transmission in one unit.

Alan


trjford8    -- 04-17-2016 @ 2:57 PM
  Remove the transmission and bolt it to the engine. Much easier to line up the mainshaft with the clutch disc. Did you install the clutch and pressure plate with an alignment tool for the disc? Install the motor and transmission as a unit.


carcrazy    -- 04-17-2016 @ 11:20 PM
  It is possible to install the engine back into the car without removing the transmission. You will need to: remove the wooden floor boards from the driver's and front passenger's area; loosen the mounts at the rear of the transmission; place a floor jack under the transmission near the front of it; align the clutch disc splines with the center of the flywheel with the plastic clutch alignment tool or an old loose transmission input shaft; remove the hood (after marking the locations of the bolts that hold it to the hinges); remove the radiator; use a balance bar on the engine so you can drop the engine into the car with the rear portion lower than the front; once you get the engine low enough so that the top of the bellhousing on the block is inline with the top of the transmission housing, lower the front of the engine so that the engine crankshaft centerline and the transmission input centerline are in line; gently push the engine back to engage the trans. input shaft; if the trans. won't fully engage the engine, put the trans. in gear and rotate the engine crankshaft by turning the bolt that retains the crank pulley on the front of the engine; once the engine and trans. are lined up and contacting install the bolts that retain the trans. to the engine bellhousing; you will be able to access the top bolts from inside the car through the openings where the floorboards were. It is a tough job but doable. Let us know how you make out.


TomO    -- 04-18-2016 @ 6:38 AM
  Usually you have to jack up the trans so that the top of the bell housing is near the bottom of the opening in the firewall, then have the engine at a slight angle with the front higher than the back.

When the input shaft of the trans is started into the clutch, make sure the teeth are lined up and then wiggle the engine up and down and from side to side until the shaft enters the clutch and you can start a long bolt in a couple of the holes. Then adjust the engine hoist to align the engine and trans and slowly bring them together.

The clutch disc must be aligned with the flywheel so that the input shaft of te trans can slide easily into the pilot bearing on the flywheel.

If you have to realign the clutch disc, do not loosen the pressure plate, just put wooden wedges between the pressure plate fingers and housing to release pressure on the disc and insert your alignment tool. Check to see that all of the pressure plate bolts are tightened evenlt, remove the wedges and the alignment tool.

Tom


cliftford    -- 04-18-2016 @ 7:02 AM
  TomO suggests using bolts. Get 2 bolts about 4" long, cut the heads off, taper the ends slightly, and cut a slot in the ends with a hacksaw, Screw them into the bell housing at the 9 and 3 positiion and that will help to line things up.


alsmith39    -- 04-18-2016 @ 12:37 PM
  Thanks I always know I will get good info.


alsmith39    -- 04-20-2016 @ 9:03 AM
  This may be a dumb question, but where do you get the plastic spline tool?


carcrazy    -- 04-20-2016 @ 10:59 AM
  The plastic clutch disc alignment tool comes in the clutch replacement kits that include the clutch disc and pressure plate. The tools are also available separately from MAC's Auto Parts, Speedway Motors, and hopefully your local auto parts store. They cost about $8.


TomO    -- 04-21-2016 @ 9:49 AM
  Check with members of your Regional Group. One of them may have the tool or a transmission input shaft.

Tom


40 Coupe    -- 04-27-2016 @ 4:47 AM
  If you have a spare transmission input shaft it too can be used to align the clutch plate spline with the pilot bearing in the rear of the crankshaft before tightening down the pressure plate.


alsmith39    -- 04-27-2016 @ 5:25 AM
  Thanks to all who have added information.


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