59 Apache engine compartment – Part III

Hi ya’ll, this has been an exciting day! I finally installed my sbc 350 engine and TH350 transmission into the 59 Apache! This is Part III of the engine compartment series and this should close the series, unless I decide to keep adding to it. If you’ve missed out on Part 1 or II, the links are here for you to go back to: 59 Apache engine compartment – Part 1 and 59 Apache engine compartment – Part II.

Moving right along, all the prep paid off getting the engine compartment ready for the engine, especially the engine supports which had to be welded in.  The mock-up engine (The Mock Up or Replica Engine) which I had put in and take back out~ many times, proving to be a superb tool!  I had rolled my engine on the engine stand in front of my truck, then lifted the engine up with the Harbor freight engine lift. I’m now ready for my husband to get out here to help! ; )

I will not be rolling the engine lift towards the truck because these engine lifts do not roll very well, especially the way it is in the picture, but instead will be rolling the truck under the engine, then just lower the engine into place. ; )

Darn, that was easy! I’m always a little paranoid about the lift plate held by four little bolts holding up a 5-600 lb engine! But no problems! Do you see a sigh of relief here? ; )

I’m so happy! The engine is beautiful sitting in its new home~ and gee I hope I never have to take it back out!!

This is just a shot of the TH350 transmission and the universal cross member that I used.

The suspension, I wish I had measured the height of the truck without the engine to compare and see how much the Posie springs went down! But the truck sits just the way I wanted it to sit (stance wise).

This concludes this short blog. I may add-on to it when I have the engine running, maybe a short video of the first start-up! I think that would be fun, and hopefully Herb, my engine builder will here for that day!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog, and feel the excitement! Please subscribe to Classic Cars and Tools and you’ll get updates as I post! ; )  dne’