front axle removal to drop in engine..

[iamsynthetic]

97 s-10
4x4
5 speed manual
v6 4.3

Hey guys.. I'm having trouble getting the engine back into the bay to line up with the transmission. I have rolled the front drive axle downward to clear the engine out. My problem is getting it back in. The transmission is still in the truck. I've loosened the crossmember and tried to give it as much loose support as possible. I'm having a hell of a time trying to get the engine in the bay and get the clutch assembly to line up on the transmission shaft. It seems like I can get it passed the axle and get the engine to drop down, but it ends up just pushing on the transmission shaft and pushing the transmission downward. With the engine sitting on the front drive axle it looks like I could get it to line up pretty well, but when I try to push it back and get it lined up I get stuck with it just sitting on the transmission shaft. Do I need to remove the front drive axle completely? This seems like it would make it alot easier. Any suggestions on another way to try this would be great. I've thought of trying to jack it up higher, lower it, jack the body up, etc.. give me some suggestions guys..

[steelhorserider0891]

jack up the front end of the trans..lay under the truck and have someone else lower the engine down so you can line up the shaft with the clutch..you may have to put the truck in neutral so you can turn the trans by hand to get the splines of the clutch and trans to line up..but make sure the truck can't fall if your under it, do it safely. more than likely when your puttin the engine down your catchin the bottom of the clutch on the top of the shaft in turn pushin the whole trans down..wouldnt hurt to take a prybar under the truck with you, ya might need it. id jack the trans up to the floor (without smashin anything you need) then put the motor down & and it should got right up to it, then turn the driveshaft..should pop right in......did you use the alignment tool for the clutch? (if thats why you took it out). make sure your engine is hangin fairly level on your lift..let us know if ya get it..

[iamsynthetic]

I've sorta been trying that method, but probably with a few people too little. The main thing is that I am catching the bottom of the clutch assembly to the top of the transmission shaft, like you said. When I get down there I have to get it to drop past the front axle, then I have very little room to move. It seems like everything is in the way at that point. Like my steering wheel drive shaft. I have to move it to the right a few inches, then down a few to line it up. Like I said I'm right there and it looks like it could line up. But when I try doing that it catches my transmission shaft. I will definately put it in neutral and try some prying. By the way I did use a clutch assembly tool, and the engine is probably as level as you could ever get it. I'll try a few more attempts on saturday... thanks. Anyone know how hard it is to remove the front axle, or should I even bother with that?

[steelhorserider0891]

you didnt say if you have the front of the trans up agaist the floor pan..if its jus hangin by the crossmember and the drive shaft then its angeled down to far..id raise it right up agaist the floor..and honestly i dont think the front axle assembly needs to come out. hell if nothin else undo the trans from the crossmember and the two drive shafts and put a floor jack under it and slide it back.. then set your motor in, and slide the trans to the motor..it came out with the front axle in the truck so it has to go back in with the axle in..maybe try to tilt the back of the motor down till you get the shaft started into the clutch..your prob jus gonna have to try diff things and it will eventually go back in..

[Answer069]

I have a 98 with a 5 speed and you don't have to drop the front axle completely but you DO have to lower it down a bit because the oil pan is so deep you cant' line up the clutch with the input shaft on the transmission. I had my engine rebuilt in Jan 07 and my mechanic had to do this to get the engine back in the truck.

[iamsynthetic]

exactly answer069... well guys I'm going to battle this one till I win today. If nothing else then I'll attempt to try what you said steelhorse... Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.. At least today I'll have more then a few hands working on it...