I am getting ready to drop my rebuilt big block back in to my 68 vert with manual trans.  I am hoping to gain from the years of experience on this site.  Here's the question, what is the easiest route to take.  Drop motor w/bell housing in then connect trans??  Set trans on cross member then drop motor in, then slide trans forward??  Appreciate all experienced responses.  Sorry if this has been covered in the past, searched but couldn't find any detail.

Well,  I've never pulled or installed an engine on a vette, but I've done countless removels installs on other chevys, it doesn't matter what car they all have front side mounts and a rear crossmember, and I've come to the conclusion that its best to install the motor, clutch assy, bell housing, and transmission all bolted together as a unit, the 4-spd frame has a welded in crossmember, and the 4-spd is a tight fit in the tunnel, think about it, you got one guy on the hoist trying to line the front mounts to frame mounts to put in the cross bolts, thats easy, but you still have to keep the engine connected to the hoist because there's nothing to hold up the back of the engine, thats cool, but when you go to install the trans pilot shaft into clutch disc in a tight space the guy on the bottom is going to have to try to muscle the trans in left or right up or down, while the engine is going to be doing the same thing because back of the motor is floatin on the chain hoist, you'll fight it all the way, the single unit method  the tailshaft goes in low the motor goes in high, the guy on the bottom either by hand or with a jack raises the tail onto the crossmember while guy on the hoist drops the front of the motor onto the frame mounts, like puttin on a slipper,  well not really, you'll still have to jockey the motor and trans  around, and top and bottom guy has to work in tandum,you know what I mean if you have done it before, if not get someone to help you who has, its better that trying to push two wet noodles together, it will be easier if you remove the radiator support and exhaust manifolds, no fan, water pump, alternator, you want it short as possible stem to stern, make sure all the wires cables are out of the way not to pinch anything goin in it'll be a tight fit. good luck.

Bob,

Hey Jim, thanks for the note.  Long time no talk.  I did pull the motor without bell housing first then took bell housing and tranny out in that order and thanks for the offer, I might need a strong back and weak mind.  :)

Bob,

The radiator & condensor were out, but the core support was in.  I had 2 very experienced mechanics helping me but it's not very comfortable lifting that mass over those fenders.

Anthony