engine removal question

[mark '87 930]

you guys that have removed/installed engines into these second series trucks, do you remove the front grill/rad assembly, or do you use a cherry picker?

Just curious because that front end is very high.

If the front end comes off, how much work is involved?

I presume the hod comes off either way.

[_Ogre]

i've changed many with just the radiator and hood removed
i also pull the trans off the bell housing

stock trucks are easy because the truck sits high enough that you don't need to jack it up
makes it easy to use a chain fall, you can roll the truck out

when i did the last install in truk the frame was bare; no clip, no cab. made it real easy

[OrrieG]

Since you have all the wiring, hoses, etc. all ready disconnected there are only 8 bolts holding on the whole front clip/radiator brace assembly. The stock six is long and heavy, especially with the cast iron bellhousing. Hard to do with a cherry picker with the fenders and grille on, ok with chain hoist and tall a frame. I have always just pulled the dog house, makes it easy to work on cleaning up the firewall, frame, etc.

[mark '87 930]

Dog House = front grille/radiator/brackets?

[OrrieG]

Fenders, inner fenders, radiator support and radiator, grille (can be removed to make it lighter). Set it on the ground, add the hood and you have a place for the dog to sleep.

[mark '87 930]

I've never heard that. It's actually very funny and i could picture it... I also don't know if you're being sarcastic or not!

[OrrieG]

google it, I'm not the only one that uses that term, been around since at least the 60's....

[mark '87 930]

That's awesome. I'm gonna use that now.

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by mark '87 930

That's awesome. I'm gonna use that now.

Crawl in and take a selfy, then when the wife tells you " your are in the dog house" you get a hall pass to work on your truck

[62lwbc10]

I pulled out my 350 with TH350 attached with a standard engine hoist with truck at stock height. Had to help the tranny tail over the radiator area and had to max out the height of the hoist but it worked

[G&R's57GMC]

I've pulled my 6 with the hood and front clip, manifolds & bell housing ON, I just pulled the Rad and trans. (4 speed).
I needed to replace the cam timing gear.

Used a standard engine hoist with the truck sitting on its tires (stock height).

[mark '87 930]

Crawl in and take a selfy, then when the wife tells you " your are in the dog house" you get a hall pass to work on your truck

I'm totally doing that.

[Dan in Pasadena]

8 bolts?

2 where core support bolts to frame, one per side.
2 at top rear of fenders bolted to cab, one per side.
2 at bottom rear of fenders (?), bolted to cab one per side, I guess.
Where are the other 2?

[OrrieG]

Inner fender panel to firewall.

[mr48chev]

I see no need to take the front end apart to remove it if you intend to remove it. Two guys can easily lift it off and carry it around. One guys with a cherry picker and straps hooked to the right spots for balance on the front end should be able to do it easily too.

Still mechanics in Chev garages never pulled the nose off these trucks to pull the engine when they pulled them out every day of the week. They usually used chain hoist at that time period too.

At home The big problem may be that your cherrypicker won't lift it high enough to clear the front. That could be because it won't actually lift high enough or the ceiling in the garage is too low.

If you do lift it out I'd take the waterpump off for clearance, unbolt the engine from the bellhousing (after you remove the clutch and flywheel) and lift it out.

[OrrieG]

Actually not taking it apart is better because you do not need to deal with fitment issues when putting it back together. Just keep track of the location and number of shims at the radiator support bolt to frame, and upper and lower fender bolt to cab locations. In the 80's when I was younger and stronger myself and one other person could lift it off after the hood was removed. Dealers were usually just doing an R&R and not interested in cleaning up the firewall, frame, front suspension; all which is easier with the clip off.

[mark '87 930]

I don't have a chain hoist and not sure i could easily get one in, but a cherry picker i can do. Is it possible/easy to remove one fender, inner and outer, and then just pull the engine out from the side? I'm thinking the hood and then the drivers side fenders...

[OrrieG]

Removing the fender is more work than the whole front clip....