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
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