Thanks for the info... I dropped the old engine out from the bottom - along with the transmission. I will be ordering the motor mounts this week - which should allow me time to examine the bellhousing problem. From what you are stating, the easiest way to put it back in is from the top. Sounds good - thanks -

 

Yes I find it easier to put in from the top. Once you have it set in you can leave it for a coffee break. So if your needing to stop you will not have to leave the engine on the floor. It is not backbreaking as fromthe floor.

 

You were correct about the bellhousing problem - by just using the cover plate from the old bellhouse that was sandwiched between it and the engine, some of the holes do not align up.... I wish I knew about this problem earlier...

 

I had to take mine to a machine shop to get them to build up new bolt holes for the tranny. That was a aluminum bellhousing from a newer ford truck. I had to buy that also. A cast housing they cannot build up. Once built up they mark for the bolt holes and redrill and tapand die them. That is how I changed mine to a 200 now I'm going back to the original 170 engine since I plan to restore it back to original. My other truck will be customized to be a extended cab Econoline truck. Look at my gallery is a picture of one similar.