Putting the engine back in

[paulbell6]

Hi all, I will hopefully be putting the engine and gearbox back into the Stag soon and I am wondering how far to go with the ancillaries etc and also whether I should fit the gear box into the shell first and then marry it up to the engine when installed. I understand from previous threads that the best way to get the combined engine/box assembly into the shell is to have the rear of the car raised off the ground, but i cant help thinking that it will be a little less traumatic installing the two units individually.
If i leave things off like the starter motor, steering pump and alternator am I asking for trouble?

Any advice as always will be gratefully received.

Thanks

Paul

[V Mad]

I have just fitted my engine and gearbox. I did them separately and getting all the bell-housing bolts in was very slow and frustrating so next time I will attach gearbox first and fit as one unit.

I would fit starter motor before fitting engine and exhaust manifolds if the tubular type.

[staginhiding]

Hi Paul

Having done this job both ways I would always put engine and box in together.

If you want to leave some bits off,go for the carbs,power steering pump,fan and maybe alternator.

Im with V mad on the S Motor as its a pain afterwards,however I would fit the exhaust manifolds first even in standard form, although with them off it makes an easier job of bolting up the engine mounts.

The other option to raising the back of the car is to take the front wheels off and lower down onto blocks as low as possible but leave room for the gearbox to slide backwards.I usually rest the gearbox flange on a trolley jack and let it slide..

[Firept]

Paul.
Having done this recently I would put them back as one unit.
I did a temporary extension to the engine crane jib with some 1" angle iron that I could then hold the engine and gearbox level until it was in the correct position then let the gear box tail down slowly and feed in at the same time once the tail of the box was almost on the floor when it picked up on a skate dolly ( wood with 4 castors) and then I could take off the temporary extension then just lower and push and it slid in beautifully.
I left off the PS pump, fan and the exhaust manifolds so that I could get to the engine mount bolts easy but fitting the exhaust manifolds was trying but not impossible. I also nought off flea bay a proper lifting sling and this worked great much better than chain and I put this right round the engine and did not use the engine lifting eyes at all.



Paul.

[Stagdad]

Another vote for engine and box together outside the car then in as one unit,no more traumatic than trying to get the bellhousing bolts done up in situ.Had the box out on its own last month and it just reminded me how awkward that job is.


Cheers Steve

[mjheathcote]

Taking my engine out...(no that's not me!)



...and putting it back in (yes that is me, but 20 years ago now!)



From what I can remember it was quite painless, no issue with silly heights to get it in or out.
Don't look too closely with the lifting arrangement in the first photo

[paulbell6]

Thanks guys, I think I expected you to say to put it back as one unit, so that is how it shall be, and the starter motor can go in at the same time. Not sure where to get the flowery quilt from though, is that compulsory?

Thanks again

Paul

[WealdenManinKent]

Some of the lower exhaust manifold to block bolts are a pain to get to fit and torque in situ so deffo fit before install. Many photos show whole lump going in and suggest is the easiest way to fit as much outside before install, also saves crawling around so much under the car after. Keep your rear end (car) high to make it easy
Roger

[jleyton]

Not sure where to get the flowery quilt from though, is that compulsory?

Paul

I wondered about that - I thought he was putting the engine to bed

Cheers

Julian

[mjheathcote]

I wondered about that - I thought he was putting the engine to bed

Cheers

Julian

I did get a bit carried away

[Stagdad]

I did get a bit carried away

And check out the textured garage ceiling or have you blagged the stag into the living room Mike lol

[jleyton]

I did get a bit carried away

I'm just jealous because I always forget to protect my bodywork

Cheers

Julian

[mjheathcote]

And check out the textured garage ceiling or have you blagged the stag into the living room Mike lol

Well spotted!
I was in my early 20's back then, still living at home...
i took over the family double garage for 5 years to do my bare shell restoration, my dad had a thing back then over artex ceilings and as well as plastering the garage he did the ceiling as well!

[Westfaling]

Definitely install them together. Starter motor and exhaust manifolds installed. If you have a oil pressure gauge adapter put that on in advance too. Also install the gearbox wiring loom. Oh and make sure the power steering lines are fitted before the lump goes back in they're a pig to do later. I have an engine tilting device which makes removal and installtion a one man job. You don't need the front raised very much but make sure the axle stands allow room for the engine crane (if you're using one) will fit between them. If you are using a fixed position hoist then the car needs to move back and forward - bit hard to raise the front with this method! As mentioned a trolley jack under the end of the gearbox helps to maneuver it backward. if you are doing a Federal car you need to leave of the vacuum accumulator tank.
Nick

[Mike Stevens]

I recently put mine back in with gearbox and engine already mated together. This was, however, just the short block and I lifted it up in from below. Then I fitted heads and all the ancilliaries etc.

Not a lot of use to know that if the engine is now all complete! However, it is useful to know that the short block will go in from below.

Cheers,
Mike.