Getting opinions on whether it's better to attach the hydramatic tranny to the 317 y block while they're both out of the car, or after engine is in? They're both freshly rebuilt and back home.
My engine hoist is a 2 ton so the weight is no problem. But it has 4 holes in the arm that adjusts from 1/2 ton up to 2 tons. A problem I'll have is that the reach of the arm is too short to go far enough into the engine bay. And 1/2 ton setting will probably bend the arm with the full engine and tranny together.
I just remember what a pain it was to take all the bolts off of the flywheel, even when it was out of the car. Yes, I took them out together but I had disassembled a lot of the engine before removing it from the car. It is now totally together and weighs a lot more. I don't remember if I had taken the front bumper off before or after removing the engine, so this may be a moot question. There may be adequate room to get the engine in with that removed.
I do like the idea of putting them in together, especially being able to put all those bolts in without squirming around under the car.
I'm sure many of you have had experience with this problem and I will be very appreciative of any advice, as usual. And like many, if not all of you, my body just doesn't work as well as it used to.

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri