Engine swapping with or without transmission?

[jmabarone]

So I'm getting ready to replace my engine and I was wondering if it'd be better to leave the transmission attached to the engine to pull it out (and put it back in). I don't know that I'll have enough extensions to get to the top trans. bolts...

Thanks,
Jake

 

[adsm08]

Top trans bolts can usually be had with a wrench at the top.

 

[scotts90ranger]

get yourself a 13mm or 1/2" ratcheting wrench (they are somewhere inbetween which is handy, they're metric bolts though) and you can do the top two bellhousing bolts from the top or botom, I think I did all 8 of mine last time from the bottom but the top is sometimes easier (on the Turbo there's a couple coolant lines running across the back which makes those two more interesting). these engines are long, leave the tranny in place, put a ratchet strap over the top of the frame rails (connect the hooks to the inside bottom of the frame) to hold it in place, and put a piece of 2x4 on top of the radius arm crossmember for good measure.

 

[jmabarone]

get yourself a 13mm or 1/2" ratcheting wrench (they are somewhere inbetween which is handy, they're metric bolts though) and you can do the top two bellhousing bolts from the top or botom, I think I did all 8 of mine last time from the bottom but the top is sometimes easier (on the Turbo there's a couple coolant lines running across the back which makes those two more interesting). these engines are long, leave the tranny in place, put a ratchet strap over the top of the frame rails (connect the hooks to the inside bottom of the frame) to hold it in place, and put a piece of 2x4 on top of the radius arm crossmember for good measure.

thanks for the tips. my previous experience with engine swapping is from older BMWs, and it is generally easier to pull the engine and transmission out and put it back in together as well.