match making 258 and trans together

Good news is I just finished my rock slider side steps this weekend. Bad news I took the jeep out for a test drive got about 4 miles from my house and went up a hill. My tired 258 started to loose power overheat and oil pressure went to 0 and did not come back. I got it home under its own power and it still moves along, but I'd say the motor is due for a rebuild.

I pulled it out fairly easy Sunday afternoon. I decided to cut my exhaust instead of fighting with 20 year old manifold bolts but all went well. 3 Hours from start to finish.

I will rebuild it later and am still half thinking about other motor ideas, but lets start with the basics.

Whats the easiest way to put engine clutch trans and transfer case back together?

I pulled the motor with the clutch and bell housing on. Removed the 4 bolts out of the trans instead and left the trans and cross member bolted in the jeep for now. When I go to put it all back together it looks like it might be a challenge to slide the motor in lign up the transmission and get the input shaft through the center of the clutch from under the jeep. Is it easier to pull the trans and match it and the clutch up on the garrage floor then slide them into the jeep together as one piece? What about the transfer case? Go for the tripple play in one shot?

I did this on a chevy and leanered trans and engine go together outside. then fall in place assembles. On a dodge I worked on The trans would not clear the bottom of the fire wall and I had to take it all apart. I have done lots of ford cars and have usually been able to do engine and trans together as one big heavy piece. (for the record the 1000lb max suggestion on the absolute end of the engine hoist is somewhat forgiving if you need it to be.) I have pictures of a fully dressed 1965 ford cast iron big block and c6 trans and transfer case hanging from the hoist fully extended almost 7 feet in the air. It went in and out of the truck smoothly and neither I nor the truck were crushed in the process.

So what's the "easy way to play match maker with a 258 and 4 speed" I am really trying to avoid removing the front grill btw. Those fender bolts look really rusty and my fenders and grill are nice and straight. I don't want to destroy them just to get easy engine access.

Thanks

 

it might take two people but I opt for the way you removed it...re-install, leaving the trans in the Jeep.
if replacing the clutch, just make sure you use the spline pilot tool to line everything back up before re-installation.
won't be that difficult in my opinion

 

Having done both I will have to say its easier to assemble everything outside and the slide it in as a unit. Adding the transfer case is up to you. It is an easy install once the engine/tranny are in place.