Folks who did cam install yourself... How did you get the engine back in?

RideZX6R · 04-01-2019, 12:00 AM

Having a hell of a time getting the engine back in with the car on jack stands. We've jacked up the trans, lowered the car... Tried a lot...

Oil pan seems to not easily be able to clear the cross member with the trans...

How did you do it?

L78toLT1 · 04-01-2019, 08:24 AM

I just got the shortblock back in my M6 car on jack stands last weekend – I am waiting on some custom thickness head gaskets or I would have installed the heads while it was on the stand, however, working with just the block does improve access for installing the headers, motor mounts, starter, etc. I shimmed between the heads and block to check clearances and lifter preload beforehand, so I will just need to throw on the heads and bolt everything up with the motor in the car.
Before I started in with the shortblock, I loosened the rear trans mount bolts to allow the rear of the trans to drop/pivot and jacked the front of the trans up until it contacted the tunnel. I then loosened the cradle bolts as much as possible, I removed the middle ones, then screwed them back in a couple of turns, then loosened the rest of the bolts until the cradle was resting on the center bolts. This allowed the cradle to drop maybe 1.5 – 2 inches while making sure I had sufficient thread engagement to prevent the cradle from dropping on my head. This provided just enough clearance for the pan; I used a pry bar to coax it across the cradle. Ensure that the gap between the trans and motor is uniform, then slide them together. You may have to turn the motor a bit to get the clutch splines lined up.
Good Luck! I will PM you my contact info if you would like to discuss.

Scargoes · 04-01-2019, 04:48 PM

Does the motor mount to the front subframe/cradle or the unibody? I would think the subframe. That would make sense for instillation as a module. I don't know where I'm going with this... sorry.

What about dropping the subframe and holding the engine in place with the cherry picker and then lifting the subframe into place after the engine is located in it's aproximate location.

Glad to see you are making progress. Your build thread on the other forum is dead. Wish I could be more help.

Dubchitts · 04-01-2019, 05:32 PM

I had to mount the trans to the engine with it on one hell of an angle.

I don't recommend that

Look up ACTs clutch install on YouTube. You only barely have to loosen the subframe bolts to gain the clearance to get the motor mated to the trans and get past that crossbar

04-01-2019, 12:00 AM	#1
RideZX6R Probably tired right now Drives: 1Lap1LE \| EV6 FE \| 18 F150 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: At the office (CLT, NC) Posts: 1,133	Folks who did cam install yourself... How did you get the engine back in? Having a hell of a time getting the engine back in with the car on jack stands. We've jacked up the trans, lowered the car... Tried a lot... Oil pan seems to not easily be able to clear the cross member with the trans... How did you do it? __________________ -Seven '17 SS 1LE - 1LAP 1LE (Now with more 427!) '18 F150 Platinum Powerstroke diesel '22 Kia EV6 First Edition '18 RS3 (1 of 2) Cumulus Blue '24 911 T (ordered) Formers... '19 RS5 Sportback Sonoma Green \| '07 Cayman S 6MT \| '16 Audi S3 Prestige Viper Green (APR Stage 3+) \| '19 Mustang Shelby GT350R \| '17 SS 1LE MBM 575whp all-motor

04-01-2019, 08:24 AM	#2
L78toLT1 Drives: Hyper Blue 2016 2SS 6M Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: North Ga Posts: 1,787	I just got the shortblock back in my M6 car on jack stands last weekend – I am waiting on some custom thickness head gaskets or I would have installed the heads while it was on the stand, however, working with just the block does improve access for installing the headers, motor mounts, starter, etc. I shimmed between the heads and block to check clearances and lifter preload beforehand, so I will just need to throw on the heads and bolt everything up with the motor in the car. Before I started in with the shortblock, I loosened the rear trans mount bolts to allow the rear of the trans to drop/pivot and jacked the front of the trans up until it contacted the tunnel. I then loosened the cradle bolts as much as possible, I removed the middle ones, then screwed them back in a couple of turns, then loosened the rest of the bolts until the cradle was resting on the center bolts. This allowed the cradle to drop maybe 1.5 – 2 inches while making sure I had sufficient thread engagement to prevent the cradle from dropping on my head. This provided just enough clearance for the pan; I used a pry bar to coax it across the cradle. Ensure that the gap between the trans and motor is uniform, then slide them together. You may have to turn the motor a bit to get the clutch splines lined up. Good Luck! I will PM you my contact info if you would like to discuss. __________________ Baby Blue 2016 Hyper Blue 2SS/6m/MRC/NPP/Silver Rally stripes/ZL1 wheels & brakes/GForce DS and axles/ZLE Cradle Bushings/FE4 ARB front & rear/SEMA Grill/Rotofab dry/95mm TB/Magnuson 2300/Full LT4 fuel system/JMS boost-a-pump/E85 Sensor/Ported CID heads from LME/Cammotion PD cam/Thompson Motorsports forged shortblock/catted Kooks 1 7/8 headers /JRE remote tuned

04-01-2019, 04:48 PM	#3
Scargoes Drives: 2018 Hyper Blue 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Dessert Posts: 486	Does the motor mount to the front subframe/cradle or the unibody? I would think the subframe. That would make sense for instillation as a module. I don't know where I'm going with this... sorry. What about dropping the subframe and holding the engine in place with the cherry picker and then lifting the subframe into place after the engine is located in it's aproximate location. Glad to see you are making progress. Your build thread on the other forum is dead. Wish I could be more help. __________________ 2018 Hyper Blue Metallic 2SS 1LE with Nav, PDR, and track alignment 1:34.20 Willow Springs Big Track

04-01-2019, 05:32 PM	#4
Dubchitts Drives: '17 Red hot 2ss, 16 Focus RS Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 845 View My Garage	I had to mount the trans to the engine with it on one hell of an angle. I don't recommend that Look up ACTs clutch install on YouTube. You only barely have to loosen the subframe bolts to gain the clearance to get the motor mated to the trans and get past that crossbar __________________ "Spitfire" 427ci 2017 Red Hot 2SS// 6 Piston Brembos//Adrenaline Red Interior, Knee Pads//M6//MRC Afe Air Filter//BMR MM010 Motor Mounts, Safety Loop//Custom OTR Intake//Flex Fuel Kit//Gforce 3.5" Aluminum Driveshaft//GM 95mm TB//Katech Oil Pump, Piston Squirters//Kooks 1-7/8 LT//LT4 Fueling//Mighty Mouse Wild//Monster Clutch LT1-S Triple Disc//MSD 2-Step//Pray Performance Custom Spec Cam, Ported Holley Hi-Ram//Sikky 12" Shifter w OEM Knob Mod//Tick Level 1 Tr6060//Labor by Me//Tune By Pray Performance

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