Any Tips for Installing a Trans?

[Bill Harris]

Trans last. While it is possible to install the engine with the trans attached, it is hard to do on a Ford with the oil pan in the front. You will wind up having to stand the engine/trans combo almost vertically in order to get the trans into the tunnel and still have the oil pan clear the radiator support. You have to have the hood off and you have to be sure that your cherry picker can actually lift the assembly high enough to get it in. The fact that the front end is high due to lack of engine weight only makes it worse. Trust me, been there, done that, and it is not pretty.

A C4 isn't all that heavy and in my younger days I could bench press it into place, and I am a little guy and do virtually all the work on my car(s) by myself. Now I put it on a floor jack and lift it into place, usually using my legs to pump the handle while guiding with my hands. I would not want to see a You-Tube video of the process. One problem with the trans on a jack is getting the car high enough to get it under the car and clear the bellhousing. A small block bellhousing isn't too bad. My 429 bellhousing is ridiculously tall and I have had to get the trans onto the jack while under the car and that is a major PITA.

Having two guys makes it much, much easier.