I am going to replace the 400 in my 79 F250 shortly. The Truck has a 4 speed tranny , 4 wheel drive, with a PTO out of the transfer case. My question is should I leave the tranny in the truck
when I pull the engine? Do I unbolt the engine at the bellhousing, or unbolt the tranny from the back of the bellhousing? Do I need to drop the tranny down or just support it with a Jack. I Heard it's a real %&*!@ on these trucks to get the tanny back in if you remove it.

Any suggestuins would be appreciated.

 

Should not be too difficult unless you are a one armed north dakotan. You should just leave teh tranny in if you want to keep it. If not then just take the whole assembly out together. If you just want the engine out then you have to unbolt the tranny bellhousing bolts, should be 6.

 

Manuals are old stone fence technology and easy to pull apart. Automatics give people problems with seating the torque converter. Use a pilot tool when assembling the clutch.

Never pull the engine and transmission back together with the bolts. Clean the threads in the block and bolts then screw them together with your fingers only.

 

1) It all depends on what you want to do and what you are comfortable with. I've done it both ways. Both ways have there plus's and minus's. It's a lot easier to take the motor out with the transmission in, but, IMO, it is easier to put the motor in if the transmission is out. There are less steps to engine removal and installation by just pulling the motor though. If all you care to do is work on the motor, then just pull the motor and leave the transmission in. I like to drop the t-case and tranny for a couple of reasons though. I can then fully inspect the mounts, the t-case and tranny for cracks or damage, and linkages for possible problems. If you take the tranny out, pull back the floor covering and remove the cover over the tranny, that is what it is there for, manual transmission removal. Its not real hard to drop them or install them, it just takes some extra time. I do it by myself, without any special lifts, just a floor jack.

2) Unbolt the bell housing from the motor.

3) If you pull just the motor, then you will need something to support the transmission.

4) See the last two sentences of answer #1.

Good luck.

 

If you are not working on the trans, then leave it in the truck. Why do more work than you need to... unbolt the bell housing from the engine and support trans with jack.

Like Torque1st said, use a clutch alignment tool when installing clutch to flywheel (tool comes with most clutch packs). Makes it much easier to get motor and trans together.

Marty