Pulling motor tips/tricks
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: everywhere and nowhere
i have a question as well, if anyone has a chance input, i have a 351 in my truck, and it just died, it finally exploded, and the new one is gettin ready to go in, is it easier to unbolt the torque converter while it is in the transmission, or should i just pull the converter out with the motor, or is that even possible. i havent pulled this motor out in so long that i dont remember, i didnt mean to clutter up ya thread mustang, but it goes along the same line!
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Ok I have the engine all disconnected, on a lift, and ready to come out. I unbolted the engine from the transmission, and am trying to pry the engine off the tranny. I shook annd pulled that motor all over the place, up down, jack on tranny pushing slightly up/down...i wrestled with it for over an hour and it barely moved. It's still only off the tranny by a 1/2-1". What the heck is wrong with this and why won't it separate...I didnt want to have to pull the tranny w/ the motor as it seems a more difficult task being it has a transfercase on the end. Clearance wise i can just pick up the motor but it just wont separate off the tranny....any ideas or suggestions?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
From: Eureka, Ca.
Did you take off the inspection plate? the sheet metal cover at the bottom of the trans.
Did you unbolt the torque converter, it has 4 bolts.Did you remove the stater? Check for more bell housing bolts.
Did you unbolt the torque converter, it has 4 bolts.Did you remove the stater? Check for more bell housing bolts.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 3
From: Cloud USA
Yes, it should just slide right off, Sometimes it helps to jack the tranny up as high as it can go, I am sure it is binding on the input shaft because the engine and tranny are at slightly different angles. Just take your time, specially if you need to reuse the clutch because the fingers can get bent very easy.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
So do I need to take that metal cover off? How do I do that it seems like it won't easily come off. I just wrestled with it for another hour and something aint right here. Its all unbolted, you can see a gap around the top 1/2 of the transmission/engine... but if you look at where the rear seal is...there is barely a gap at all...
I can grab the motor and try turning it and it will rotate a little but i've pried on that thing as much as i can and it won't come off. Right now I took the lift off the engine so I could put it in the garage (so it doesn't rain on the lift) and the engine is back on the motor mount. There is still a gap at the top of the tranny, this is really ticking me off and I don't know what to do...
I can grab the motor and try turning it and it will rotate a little but i've pried on that thing as much as i can and it won't come off. Right now I took the lift off the engine so I could put it in the garage (so it doesn't rain on the lift) and the engine is back on the motor mount. There is still a gap at the top of the tranny, this is really ticking me off and I don't know what to do...
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: clarks mills, PA
did you pull the driveshafts so youi could slide the tranny back? how about the shifter? if you have then make sure the studs on the tranny mount are out of the crossmember. one more thing the inspection cover stays on the motor side because it is behind the flywheel . if you have done all of the above then they should slide apart
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
I didn't unbolt the tranny, the shifter, or driveshafts. I intended for that all to stay because I was told I could leave the tranny where it is. The tranny still moves around a lot in the rubber mount when I shake the engine. I don't understand why the engine just won't come off the transmission...I didn't think I had to take all this other crap apart. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
From: Eureka, Ca.
You don't usually. But you seem to be having a problem here. One more time : unbolt the inspection plate from the trans at the bottom half of the bell housing. that is about the only thing that is left to hang it up.
New User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Jack the transmission up so that the angle of the bellhousing matches the engine and wiggle it back and forth until it releases the transmission. if the transmission will not go high enough then remove the engine mounts so that it will drop low enough to clear any obstruction.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,555
Likes: 40
From: Concord, NC
Justin, I think it's just binding up at this point. The transmission input shaft slides out of the clutch disk, and if you have it 1/2 inch apart already, all the bolts should be free and clear. Work on alignment vertically; make sure the engine and transmission are on the same plane front to rear, otherwise the bind will keep them together. Do you have an engine leveler on the hoist? If not, maybe try to hook the chain up so that it holds the engine at a slightly different angle, and also try jacking up the front of the transmission.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
I do have it on a leveler hoist...it's 1/2-1" apart at the top of the bellhousing but where the crankshaft is, hasn't separated much. I've already unbolted that inspection plate but...does it just slide out?