Doing a top end swap on the sb 350 in my 85 Chevy truck. It has a 6" lift. Been tossing around whether if it is worth it to pull the motor or swap the heads and cam with it in the truck. If I left it in the truck, I would remove the front clip but don't know how far I would go with removal of the body parts. If I remove it, I'm not sure if a standard cherry picker would lift the motor high enough to clear everything since the truck is lifted. I'll handle those details when I make up my mind but just wondering if it's worth pulling the motor. Any thoughts?
CK5
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Pull motor for a top end rebuild?
- Thread starter Redfred
- Start date
Throw some teeny little roller tires on it when you pull the motor or flatten the tires, that's what I had to do when I pulled my 350 out of an 86 k10 lifted 8 inches. Or you could take the tires off and put jackstands under it on as low as they would go without the truck hitting the ground.
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
Only 4" lift on mine but I removed the tires and wheels and installed a bare set of rims, lowered it down on those.
You can always remove grill and core support and come straight out.
fug all that.... pull the hood and rad and do it all in place.... it's a SB, them heads don't weigh nothing...
Kain
3/4 ton status
^^this
I remember in my early 20's when I worked at the Concrete Co, doing a new top end in my 340 Power Wagon in a dirt parking lot, UNDER the hood, in a rainstorm over 2 days.... 
climb in, close the hood...
climb in, close the hood...
I've pulled heads off in the truck before--it's not that bad a job if your younger and healthy,and I thought I was last time I did it almost 20 years ago--but after bending over the fenders for 2 days,my back was wishing I had just pulled the motor right out...you tend to rush things and not do as good a job when your uncomfortable and want it over and done with..
You can take the tires off and rest the front axle on blocks or stands to lower the truck enough to use the engine crane to pull the motor--just do all the usual "under the truck" stuff first like removing the torque converter bolts and exhaust manifold studs,starter,etc,before lowering it..
You can take the tires off and rest the front axle on blocks or stands to lower the truck enough to use the engine crane to pull the motor--just do all the usual "under the truck" stuff first like removing the torque converter bolts and exhaust manifold studs,starter,etc,before lowering it..
I'm 50 and do WAY crazier top end gig's in the boats with BB heads all the time...
ya just park your arse on the rad support.. you guys are doubling the labor of the gig..
ya just park your arse on the rad support.. you guys are doubling the labor of the gig..
I did top end on a 454 in a truck with 6" lift and 35s. Didn't have any other tires to lower it. Course that was 10 years ago...
If you want it even lower, jack up each corner to stuff that tire, then chain the axle to the frame. Don't know how well it would work on the 2nd side you do, though. Or if you have a front winch, that can hook on the front axle and suck the suspension down. I suppose you really only need the front low.
89yimmiJ
1/2 ton status
Do it in the truck and be done with it. Plenty of room to sit inside the bay. In the Time you spend swapping wheels, lowering down, setting up cherry picker, pulling out the engine stand, Unbolting bell housing, cursing, etc. you could be halfway done with the job in the truck.
