OK, got a guy about 70 miles away that has a complete 429 engine with bell housing and radiator and near new carb for sale . Out of a 1984 truck, my truck with the bad 370 is a 1981. I have been told the engines are identical and will hook up to tranny and engine mounts, hopefully clutch bracket mount is also the same.

So will be testing the engine to see if it runs smooth in a couple of days so want to take the old engine out now.

I disconnected the clutch bracket that bolts to the engine, took off the starter, removed the radiator,all wires, Power steering pump and alternator so how do i disconnect it from the Bell housing?

It looks like there are either 6 or 8 bolts that tie the bell to the engine and then 4 bolts that mount the front of the engine to the crossmember going under the engine and to the side rails of the frame.

The bell and transmission have 2 side mounts for support to the frame. Is it as simple as removing all the bolts and pulling forward a bit and then up ?

(Hood is off) I have a trackhoe with chain to lift the engine out but never done this before and not sure if there are internal bolts and the tranny has to be dropped first? Hope not since the Hydraulic PTO pump and shaft is all hooked up and would be a lot of work to do that.

 

I would attempt to leave the bell bolted right where it is. You should have a front mount as well. See if you have enough room to pull the engine straight forward several inches. You will need to do that to get clear of the input shaft .

Is there removable inspection cover or part of the bell housing? You could go through there to pull the loosen the pressure plate which will make the clearing easier.

So hook up, lift enough to take the weight off the mounts, pull the bolts and jiggle the whole thing. Once is separates, move it forward. Once clear, up you go.

I would pull the radiator also. Be sure all your electrical, fuel lines, heater hoses, ground straps etc are disconnected and clear.

That 429 ought to bolt right up. A couple minor differences may come up.

 

Got the two big bolts that hold down the front of the engine to the cross member and the 6 bolts holding the Bell to the engine out today. Talked to my mechanic and he said there are a couple of dowels between the engine and bell for alignment when putting it back together and to try tapping a pry bar between the two and break free while having engine chained with up lift pressuere or , what I did, a hydraulic jack under the rear of the engine with a little upward pressure.
He said I might need to wiggle the engine back and forth a little to break free of the bell, pull forward to clear shaft and then up.

So, got the hood off and will get track hoe out tomorrow with a chain and see what happens.

 

Well, guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Managed to wrestle the old 370 out with a chain and track hoe doing the lifting. it was tricky on balancing it as i pulled it up but now just waiting to get another 370 or preferably 429 to put in.

Might as well put in a new clutch and throwout bearing while everything is open, since i really didn't have a chance to test drive this Pig when i got it so maybe the clutch is on its last legs too.

Need to go on U-Tube and catch a video on how to remove the clutch from the flywheel and remove the throwout lever. Never dealt with a clutch before, do you take the pressure plate into a clutch shop and they rebuild it?

 

Once you unbolt the pressure plate from the flywheel, the clutch disc will fall out and the entire pressure plate will follow.

Clutch disc, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and pilot bearing/bushing are all replaced. You can take the flywheel in to have it resurfaced for a fresh start with the new disc.

Be sure to get identical replacements. While I'm sure pressure plates can be rebuilt, if they are you would be exchanging for a rebuilt vs. waiting for them to do it at a shop. I would be no one does it like that now, if they ever did. You can put an eye out with them springs....

The throw out lever or fork, should stay in place with the bearing clipping to the end of it. Check the pivot for slop.