V1 Mating engine/subframe to body.

[PHENDERSON]

Has anyone mounted the engine while attached to the subframe and suspension to the body? I really dont want to disassembled anything if I dont have to. Just looking for some pointers or ideas. Right now the engine is sitting inside the frame and the frame is about 6 inches above and 6 inches forward so it's close. The subframe is currently sitting on a dolly, the car is on jackstands with the front wheels on. I think im going to take the front wheels off and put the front of the car on a dolly and see if that gets me closer.

 

[Ross]

Yes, that works. I have left the subframe with the engine & transmission, lower control arms all assembled. The driveshafts and rear uprights are half assembled. I usually lower the DF frame down until it is 5" above the subframe, then attach and bleed the clutch line. Join the subframe to the DF frame, then put the top of the rear struts into position.

 

[PHENDERSON]

The issue im having is the plumbing for the supercharger cooling is smashing into the gas tank. I think it's because I need to be much lower coming in with the frame. I know it fit last time, i dont remember there being interference there last time. Does anyone have a picture of a LSJ goblin showing the area around the supercharger/tank/firewall area?

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Which engine/transmission mount holes (the sides) are you bolting into? Using the rearmost mount holes will gain some space between the engine components and the fuel tank.

 

[Wes]

As someone who has mated and unmated mine several times over the the years, I have a method lol. I suspend the frame from the ceiling using a harbor freight 440lb a/c hoist and lift the motor and trans with a regular engine hoist. Front wheels stay on the ground so it's not completely hanging off my rafters but it's not a lot of weight. That way both are swinging free and I can adjust the height of either. A little push or pull here or there to get the bolts started and then crank the engine lift up to pull both together.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Engine/transmission on a furniture dolly, lift the frame over these using an engine crane and set the frame down on jack stands. Attach to the engine/transmission and lift into the engine bay from below to align the the side mounts. Mount the subframe from below with a floor jack. Align all bolts while everything is loose and tighten everything up. I can do this by myself in less than 1 hour - I've done this multiple times.

 

[PHENDERSON]

I did it, entirely by myself...this entire build has been a 1 man show.

Any way, for those in the future in the same situation I was able to keep the engine attached to the subframe with all the suspension components and axels attached. I first dropped the engine/subframe (ES) onto a dolly and lifted the frame up with an engine hoist just high enough to roll the engine into place. Then I slowly lowered the rear of the frame down a little bit on each side at a time until the rear of the frame was resting on a dolly. Then I took the front wheels off and rested the front of the frame on a dolly. At this point the engine was off both twisted and out to far. I just used jacks to lift either the frame or ES a little to shove things around closer to fitting. I put the bolts up through the rear of the subframe sticking out about a half inch so I could catch the frame on them. I got 1 rear bolt lined up then worked on the opposite corner of the front of the subframe. I had to use a pry bar to get the front lined up enough to slip a bolt in. Then the other rear side went easier and the last corner was lined up after getting the other 3 in place. Then I just tightened up the 4 corners a little bit at a time watching for interference as it lifted the ES up into place. Once they were close to tight the engine mounting holes were very close and a small push with a pry bar and they were in place. It sucked, took a while, but it's possible even by yourself.