The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hello,
I need your advice and I want to ask a question about your experience how to put engine together with gearbox under the hood. I have to do this at my garage with small help of my friends. I have only 2 tons cherry picker, no repair pit or any car lift.
Do you think that easier way to put the engine (connected with gearbox) is lift them on cherry picker and seat on k-member or dissasembly the front suspension, raise the front of the car and "seat the car on K-member"?

Do you know what is the weight of engine+gearbox (440+727)?
Thanks
Jarek

Well it don't weigh 2 metric tonnes that's for sure.
I'd split the engine and trans, drop the tranny in from underneath and tie up the bell housing to the firewall with some welding wire.
Drop the engine in on a crane from straight above, easy hookup to the trans from there.
I think that the engine / trans combo is too heavy and cumbersome to drop in from above in one piece

I would drop the K-frame and front suspension, assemble the engine (without carb) and gearbox on the K-frame on a wooden dolly (easily made), lift the front of the car up and slide the engine/box under the car.

I have tried ALL of the various methods over the years and, although this method takes longer to prepare, it is by far the easiest, most stable and safest way of doing it. There is very little weight in the front of the car and being on the rear wheels makes it very stable.

Moving an engine this heavy on a crane has many dangers. Most cranes that are capable of lifting an engine over the engine bay are inherantly unstable and the engine only has to swing slightly to pull the whole thing over. Been there, done that, almost killed the wife.

The factory fitted the engine from under the car because it was easier. It also protects the engine bay paint from getting damaged.

Link;

viewtopic.php?p=29595#p29595

Here is what I built to take the weight of the engine, transmission, assembled on the K-Frame with front suspension components. The Caster wheels are rated for 1600 LBS. ,(Combined), Dave is correct, the weight of the engine and trans, suspended up high, makes it VERY easy to tip over and cause injury, death, or heavy damage to the car and engine. Lowering the front of the car with an empty engine bay and no front suspension is very easy, and much safer.I plan on using the 'Cherry Picker" to lower the front end of the car over the engine assembly. Plus you can add the exhaust headers to the engine then lower it over the assembly. Much easier to do this way!

If you wish to use the 'traditional way' then this is what you need to angle the engine downward into position. It's VERY handy!

Hi
I also worried about combinaion: engine and cherry picker. I had a problem when I removed the small block engine from Chally....
I will use my wheel dolly to put the engine on it.
Thanks