Suggestions On Stabbing Engine

I'm so glad to discover that others have had the same experiences I have.

My first experience was removing and replacing the transmission and transfer as a unit - using my belly for a jack. And with no alignment tools. Alone.
Thankfully I had a stash of cuss-words my grandfather left me.

 

My goal is tomorrow morning, but it is a relief to know others have been here. The last time I stabbed an engine was in my early 20's Pontiac V8 BUT it was an automatic and it stabbed quickly just having to line up the bolt holes. So I was expecting the same.

 

Just an FYI, check the crankshaft end play while there is nothing bolted to the back of the engine. Then check again after the engine is bolted to trans. It shouldn’t have changed. If it did, pull it back out and find out what is binding. This happens sometimes when the two are pulled together instead of seating the two and then tightening the bolts. Patience my friend, it’ll go.

 

Success! Got it stabbed today after 3+ hours after in the hot Texas sun and humidity. I tried the lining up the splines at 12 with little success. What actually helped the most was I used a couple large screw drivers to act as guiding pins. I then turned the crank but not having lots of success. Then I decided to total remove the cover plates around the shifters so I could get a good look at all sides being even and measuring them and discovered something magical, an inspection plate on the bell housing. I'm guessing most of you knew of this but it was news to me and allowed me to see the splines. Things went much better getting the splines lined up but I did still have to use the bolts to draw the engine to the bell housing even though it was lined up what appeared to me as perfect. I just could not get it to slide in that last inch (I'm assuming the piglet bearing part) no matter how much engine/ tranny shaking, wiggling, jacking, etc. But drawing the bolts a little on each side went smoothly. But in the process I forgot all about taking any pics.

Now I can roll Willie into the air conditioned garage to finish hooking every thing up and work on the Geo front brake conversion.

 

great feeling when they slide together! congrats.

 

I tried stabbing an engine once. I broke my knife. Yuk yuk yuk.

 

Cheap knife.