engine removal and reinstallation

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

Now this is interesting. Theresa says that '59 has a one year only starter. I 
have always thought that the starter used on Imperials was the same for 1959, 
1960, and 1961. In '62 Imperial finally changed to the gear reduction drive 
unit that we are so familiar with for so long.

Paul

In a message dated 7/15/2004 9:48:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Chad Smith" 
<hemi_powered@xxxxxxx> writes:

>Cheers Kate!  I have seen the sorry little man down the street laying on his 
>back under his Dodge pickup with a tranny on his torso trying to heft a 
>transmission up into his truck having not heeded this very advice.  It was 
>quite a sight, I think that tranny may have weighed just about as much as 
>him...LOL
>
>I have watched my father, brother, and husband (all mechanics) hoist 
>engine/tranny out as one unit for many, many years, and for those very good 
>reasons that you listed.  I appreciate your two cents, it is nice to hear from 
>you.  An experienced mechanic should be able to take the entire thing out in 
>not much longer than just the engine.  As you mentioned, not only worth the 
>time...but definitely worth saving the risk of ruining any parts.
>
>In my case, the starter for my 1959 is a one year starter.  A replacement, 
>while not only hard to find, is very costly compared to other Mopar starters. 
> My father has his own version of the penny saved story, and goes like this "A 
>penny saved is better than a penny earned...you've already paid taxes on it." 
> Unless you have money to burn, and time to hunt down those ever elusive 
>parts, your point is well taken.
>
>Thanks again!
>
>Teresa Smith
>1959 Imperial South Hampton Custom
>Kennewick, WA
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Kate Triplett<mailto:ad_ablurr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 7:57 AM
>  Subject: IML: engine removal and reinstallation
>
>
>  Ok guys, just two cents from a 5'-4" 140 pound woman with too many 
>permanently mashed knuckles and a healthy respect for iron tonnage.
>
>  It may be one heck of a lot more work to pull all the radiator support 
>hardware, grille, etc to get that engine and tranny out as a unit, but I can 
>guarantee you that it is worth the extra effort!
>
>  NOT having to lift nearly half a ton of fragile metal parts out of a rats 
>nest of iron protrusions and hoses, wires etc and getting it high enough and 
>angled enough to have the tailshaft clear the floor AND not hang up and damage 
>anything in the process is worth the extra time by itself.
>
>   The OTHER important benefit of having the front end stuff out of the way is 
>that you will not have to mate up the engine and transmission while you are 
>under the car, swearing a blue streak and hurting your (already bashed) 
>fingers, and those of the other person you will have to have helping you reef 
>the darn thing in!
>
>   I have seen too many shadetree mechanics do considerable damage to input 
>splines, bolt flanges, starter parts, etc., to take this advantage lightly. 
>Mating up an engine and transmission on the ground outside is a job. Doing it 
>blind while half of the parts are not in sight and just that little bit out of 
>alignment is a long and painful stay in purgatory. A little extra time will 
>likely save you untold misery and possible injury - to you and the car!
>
>  As before, just my two hard-earned cents....
>
>  Kate Justet Triplett
>  Kate's Custom Gunleather
>  Monroe, WA
>  "Lucille" 1968 Crown 4 door HT
>