Got a reman 5.4 from Ford. Im having trouble installing the engine and mating it to the tranny and torque converter. Ive got the trans jacked up til its touching the tunnel. I can't seem to get the angles right to mate the trans up because the engine has to be too high to clear the motor mounts. I cant drop the engine into the motor mounts until the flexplate clears the bellhousing, but the engine can't go low enough for that without being in the motor mounts. Im getting worried that I may damage something if I try too hard. I thinking about taking the trans loose and backing it up a few inches, getting the motor set in and then pushing the trans forward to the engine. I'd take the motor mounts off but it seems like it would be a total PITA to get them back on with the engine in there.
Just wondering what others have done. Thanks

 

What about tilting the motor back just enough for the flex plate to clear the bellhousing, then tilt the engine forward as you lower it? It's that or pull the tranny back a bit. Also, are you lifting just the front of the tranny up or the whole tranny? You'll get more angle if the back of the tranny is not getting lifted.

 

I put a jack under the front of the trans, and left the back resting on the crossmember. And I have an equalizer on the engine hoist so I can try to match the angles up. I toyed with taking the transmission loose last night, and I don't think I'm going to go that route any more. I ended up taking the motor mounts off and I can now maneuver the motor much more easily. Now its just the task of trying to get the torque converter bolts lined up and the bell housing dowels all at the same time