I'm going to pull a 440 engine out of 69 Chrysler without removing the transmission. Based on prior experience with removing and installing big block engines (of which I have none), what is the best way to do it: should I leave the torque converter attached to the engine, or should I disconnect the torque converter before I remove the engine? I guess the same goes for re-installation.

When I was young and stupid, I pulled a 318 out of a 73 Charger, and I think I disconnected the engine from the converter before I pulled it. If i remember right, that was one of the biggest pains of doing the job, having to bump the engine with the starter to get access to the bolts, and then work on them in that narrow area with a wrench. Also when I was slightly less young but maybe even stupider, I replaced a 727 transmission in a 73 340 'Cuda (a genuine 340 'Cuda, I should never have sold it), and I disconnected the torque converter to get the tranny out. That one caused me a lot of problems later when the bolts came loose and I had to find replacements for them, when there was no internet (boy did that suck).

I don't know that in either case I actually had to remove the torque converter; it might have been hard to get the tranny out without removing it (lying on my young stupid back under the car), but with the engine dangling from a hoist, I think it wouldn't be too hard to slide the engine forward a little before lifting it, especially since I've got the radiator out of the car.

Opinions?

Leave the TC in the trans. You'll never get the engine back in with the TC bolted to the flex plate without breaking and bending things.

I agree un do the convertor.My buddy pulled a 390 from a C6 and pulled the convertor with the motor.He broke the front shaft off.Besides no trans fluid running out of the convertor. Rocky

The only situation I know of where you do not leave converter with trans is when eng is locked so severely that it cannot be rotated to get at the 4 bolts for removal. when you get the 4th bolt out, slide the converter back a little, so you know it's free.

You'll wreck your front pump seal by leaving the converter attached, not to mention good luck getting the engine far forward enough to clear the trans without literally having to tear the engine out.

UNDO IT!

Turn the crank to get to all four.

Easier to undo them and also just simply the right way.

Personally I'd get engine leveler and pull as a unit, MUCH easier. Done that many times, just grease the heck out of it.

-Daty

After 45 years of knuckle busting, you ALWAWYS unbolt the TC from the flex plate. Saves so much time in cleaning up the trans fluid that will come out of the TC when it gets pulled out of the pump.

Mark the torque converter, and flex plate with paint so you can line them back up, if you take them apart. They only bolt up one way, and this will save you some trouble when bolting them back together.

Make a small metal bar with a hole in it to bolt to the transmission and hold the torque converter in place, so it can't slide out of the seated position in the transmission.

leave the torque with trans,no mess,easier clearance to lift engine,mark 1 flex-converter with paint pen for easier re-alignment

PS, before reinstalling engine be sure the torque converter clicks in twice or you will burn the trans pump out,also a floor jack and block of wood to hold trans up

I'd think if you tried to pull the motor w/ convert you'd mess up the trans. unbolt it and push it back into the trans. Mark it w/ bright paint, it only goes on one way.

Okay - I will not try to pull the engine with the torque converter attached. I will either unbolt it from the torque converter or pull the engine and transmission as an assembly. Thanks for the input!