I'm getting ready to pull the motor and trans out of the 76 (460w/C6). I've been reading A LOT and think that I have most items lined out and organized. I picked up the hoist and engine stand on Saturday. This is my first rodeo so I wanted to touch base with the brain trust and see what tips and trick that you may have. I still have a couple of items to get disconnected but will have everything ready by June 27th when we plan on pulling it out. Is there anything that you can recommend based on your experiences??

 

Well..... let's see.... I have always made sure the front of the tranny was either blocked up or supported in some way because the front will tilt down when you pull the engine away from the tranny. Where the tranny is bolted to the cross member is not the balance point.
We always just took the hood off and started unbolting stuff. Sometimes the bolts from the engine to bellhousing or tranny are in a tight place (if the body is on). Skinny fingers required sometimes.....LOL.

Any particulars you might be worried about?

 

Be sure that all bell housing to motor bolts are out, easy to miss one, and if you do, an ear on the bell will easily
break off. Also, when you mount the motor to the stand, you might have to support the front as the engine stand
will bend with the weight. I used a 2 by. You may have a heavier stand than mine.

 

Mark everything, take pictures, put bolts and nuts back in thier locations as you remove them. Easy to get things mixed up no matter how many times you do it.

 

Are you pulling them together or separate?

If it were me...I have done this several times.
I would pull the engine and then drop the trans. Get a transmission jack

 

Yep. You cannot take too many photos and videos. Before I do anything, I do a 360 degree / 3D video. Photograph everything before, during, and after. During reassembly, you'll be so happy you used camera/phone. Have plenty of ziplocs, and Sharpies of black, silver, and gold color. Sticky labels are good for labeling wires and hoses. Make diagrams to help reinstall fasteners in correct locations, number the fastener heads with Sharpie, bag them, and mark the bags. This is especially helpful on bellhousing, water pump, and timing cover. And before you start, get everything as clean and grease free as you can.

 

I have been taking pics, printing them and placing the pics in the ziploc with the specific items. I'm horrible about losing items!!!

 

I was going to try and pull them together then separate them once it was out. Based on what I read, 2 of the bell housing bolts are a booger to get too. However, I also thought of moving it forward then removing those two bolts then dropping the trans out the bottom.

I have a 2 ton hoist. I assume that the two together are in the 1200 lb range. If not, I can always use a tractor to pull it.

 

You could always just cut a hole in the front and slide it right on out.

 

I'm imagining what that guy said as he began the engine pull...."Crap, I forgot to bring my tools. Oh wait, here's a reciprocating saw!"

 

LOL.... yep, those words have come out of my mouth before.... BUT, I think I could restrain myself in a case like the above picture.....

 

The entire front clip can be removed as a unit. If that fits with your overall plan, it might be the best way to go, especially if you are removing engine and tranny together. Take care to remove all the retaining bolts including the two that hold onto the fender from a hidden location in the door jamb.
Another area to look at is the exhaust system you have still attached to the engine. Headers or any of the pipe attached to the exhaust manifolds will get caught up with the motor mount brackets. Removing those brackets can make the job so much easier.
Don't forget to plug up the tranny output shaft to prevent trans fluid spilling all over. I just use the front yoke of the drive shaft.

 

Once you start to actually lift the engine, stop periodically, and look at the engine from all sides, to make sure that you didn't miss a wire, or that nothing is hanging up on the engine.

My dum bass just about lifted the front of my Fox Mustang off of the ground by the TFI wire harness, and distributor and TFI module! Don't know how I failed to notice, as the TFI and dizzy are right up front... Oh well, it all still worked when I put the new engine in, and was still good yesterday when I drove that car.

 

I have done this as well. Its a lot more work but removal and install will be much easier...you wont have to worry about mating the engine and transmission back up in the vehicle.
The 460 and C6 are large components...unless you have help of the front clip removed I would not attempt to pull them together. (Not saying it can't be done...just might be painful)

 

My take on pulling an engine. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14696880

14 bolts complete front clip comes off. Makes for a WAY easier time than leaning over a fender and core support chasing bolts.